JSE Main Market loses ground

Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market began the week with the major indices losing ground with rising stocks edging out declining ones.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,332.11 points to close at 544,032.31, the JSE Market Index dropped 2,102.93 points to 495,476.05 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.18 points to 134.33.
Grace Kennedy and Jamaica Producers lost $5 and $2.39, respectively, at the same time, Kingston Wharves jumped $5.57, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $3.14 and Caribbean Cement was up $2 to be some of the more significant movers at the close of trading.
The market closed with 46 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 19 advancing, 16 declining and 11 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 42 securities accounting 17,412,213 units valued at $219,477,578 in contrast to 18,625,847 units valued at $90,035,262 from 43 securities on Friday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund dominated trading with 5.65 million shares for 32 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.45 million units for 20 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund with 2.64 million shares for 15 percent market share. Other stocks trading more than one million shares were Grace Kennedy with 1.25 million shares and QWI Investments with 1.44 million units.
The market closed with an average of 414,576 units valued at an average of $5,225,657 for each security traded, in contrast to 433,159 units valued at an average of $2,093,843 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 528,016 units valued at $2,464,594 for each security changing hands, compared to 537,214 units valued at $2,221,990 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 nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.9, while the Main Market ended at 19.2 times 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments lost 50 to close at $72 in trading 8,851 units, Berger Paints closed 85 cents lower to $17, with an exchange of 900 shares, Caribbean Cement gained $2 to settle at $73, with 7,203 stock units changing hands. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 98 cents to $38, in swapping 3,200 shares, Grace Kennedy dropped $5 to end at $72, after transferring 1,248,922 shares, Jamaica Broilers closed at $38, after losing $1 in trading 2,849 shares. Jamaica Producers settled at $24.61, with a loss of $2.39 in swapping 21,511 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange advanced by $3.14 to $32, in exchanging 56,550 shares, JMMB Group lost 45 cents to close at $48, with 107,892 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves climbed $5.57 to $61.60, in transferring 32,070 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended 31 cents lower at $11.01, with an exchange of 22,155 shares, 138 Student Living gained 42 cents to settle at $4.22 trading 3,000 shares. PanJam Investment ended at $102, with a gain of $1 after exchanging 8,876 shares. Portland JSX lost $1.29 to end at $7.70, with 92,980 shares changing hands, Proven Investments gained $1 to $49, after transferring 29,275 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended 55 cents higher to close at $9.60 after trading 7,657 stock units. Scotia Group added 50 cents to settle at $56.50, with 91,557 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures ended at $25, gaining $1 exchanging 54,697 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments closed 36 cents higher at $10.96, after swapping 334,266 shares and Wisynco Group rose $1 to $23, in trading 74,342 units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 395,007 units value US$115,375. The market index plunged 10.07 points to close at 237.46. Margaritaville traded 251,150 shares and declined marginally from 34 US cents to 33.99 US cents, Proven Investments closed 2.5 US cents lower to 31.55 US cents, after swapping 13,933 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 3 US cents in exchanging 126,766 units to close at 15 US cents, and JMMB Group 5.75% preference share remained unchanged at US$1.72, after trading 3,158 units.