Stocks suffered losses in trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday following a 39 percent decline in the volume passing through the exchange and the value 67 percent less than in trading on Friday and ended with trading in 57 securities up from 55 on Friday, resulting in prices of 20 rising, 22 declining and 15 unchanged.
A total of 5,884,158 shares were exchanged for $75,612,128, down from 9,589,463 units at $231,326,583 on Friday.
Trading averaged 103,231 shares at $1,326,529 compared with 174,354 shares at $4,205,938 on Friday and month to date, an average of 179,166 units at $2,201,830 compared to 183,732 units at $2,254,459 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 205,236 stock units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.79 million shares for 30.4 percent of the volume traded, Transjamaican Highway followed with 985,284 units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 448,665 units for 7.6 percent market share. The All Jamaican Composite Index suffered a significant loss of 4,790.29 points to finish at 372,687.17, the JSE Main Index declined by a more moderate 2,606.82 points to 330,714.66 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.38 points to settle at 78.25.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley advanced $2.51 to $40 after trading 447 shares, First Rock Real Estate rose $1.55 to $11.65 with a transfer of 220,567 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1.55 to $77.20 after exchanging 148,988 units. Guardian Holdings climbed $19.99 in closing at $519.99 as investors swapped just 18 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rallied $2 to $35 in trading 12,001 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped $1.03 to close at $22.28 with 22,572 stock units changing hands. 
Massy Holdings gained 90 cents to settle at $79.90 in switching ownership of 23,305 units, NCB Financial shed $1.05 to end at $76.95 in trading 4,205 shares, 138 Student Living popped 69 cents to $5.70 after exchanging 2,000 stock units. Palace Amusement rose $1.45 to $5.95 after 211 stocks passed through the market, following the 600 to 1 stock split taking effect on the market, Proven Investments declined $2 to $27 after a transfer of 26,749 units, Seprod dipped $3.98 to close at $62 after swapping of 371,770 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell 80 cents to $9.20 after trading 553 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share climbed $50 to end at $1,200 with the swapping of 59 units, JMMB Group 7% preference share lost 42 cents 
in closing at $2.39 in switching ownership of 93 shares and 138 Student Living preference share declined $11.55 to $65.45with 20 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
