JSE Main Market falls

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with a moderate fall on Friday as declining stocks outnumbered advancing stocks by 36 percent.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index lost 1,023.16 points to close at 544,986.47, the JSE Market Index dropped 907.78 points to 496,361.33 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.69 points to 134.09.
The market closed with 45 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 14 advancing, 19 declining and 12 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 41 securities accounting 22,042,921 units valued at $194,024,950 in contrast to 22,654,582 units valued at $171,374,765 from 42 securities on Thursday.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 8.4 million shares for 38 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 5.8 million units for 26 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund with 2.4 million shares for 11 percent of the market’s volume. QWI Investments with 1.8 million shares or 8 percent of the market changing hands, was the only other security trading more than one million units.
 The Market closed with an average of 537,632 units valued at an average of $4,732,316 for each security traded, in contrast to 539,395 units valued at an average of $4,080,352 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 561,737 units valued at $3,152,220 for each security changing hands, compared to 563,186 units valued at $3,051,311 for each security traded. Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.9, while the Main Market ended at 19.1 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments lost 65 cents trading 24,674 units in closing at $71.35, Caribbean Cement advanced $4.44 to $72, with 7,375 shares changing hands, Eppley closed 90 cents lower to $13.50 after transferring 3,605 stock units. Grace Kennedy lost $1.50 to end at $77.50, after swapping 12,295 shares, Jamaica Broilers gained $1.49 to settle at $35.49 after exchanging 39,326 stock units, Jamaica Producers Group added 66 cents to close at $26.50 with 12,462 shares changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 95 cents lower at $34 in trading 29,089 shares. Kingston Wharves climbed $4 to $69, in swapping 4,763 units, NCB Financial Group gained $3 to settle at $193, with an exchange of 445,524 shares, PanJam Investment closed $1.50 higher to $102 in transferring 299,006 units. Portland JSX lost 57 cents, ending the day’s trade at $8.42 and 1,050 units traded, Proven Investments closed 50 cents lower at $49.50, in swapping 10,070 shares, Pulse Investments declined $1.17 to $5.70, with 349,702 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group advanced $5.25 to end at $70 after transferring 56,597 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 35 cents to settle at $9.35 after trading 43,800 shares. Scotia Group declined $1.20 to $53.01, in swapping 133,078 stock units, Seprod lost 50 cents to end at $49 exchanging 3,160 units, Supreme Ventures dropped $1.20, to settle at $22, with an exchange of 35,688 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments gained 82 cents in trading 421,376 units and ended a 52 weeks’ high at $13.45 and Wisynco Group closed 50 cents lower to $22.50, after swapping 277,521 units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 105,311 units valued at over US$19,063. The market index lost 1.39 points to close at 233.59. JMMB Group 6% lost 1 US to close at US$1.04, after exchanging 1,279 units, Proven Investments gained 1 US cents to close at 33 US cents trading 13,745 shares. Sterling Investments closed at 3 US cents, with 6,160 units changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments lost half of 1 US cent to close at 17 US cents in transferring 84,127 shares.