The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed sharply lower on Thursday as the market continues to be pressured by the upper end of the channel the market is trading within, that has constrained the movement from a sustained breakout, since late 2015.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,096.36 points to end at 319,004.76 and the JSE Index dropped 1,910.02 points to 290,649.40. Trading on Thursday closed with 26 securities changing hands, leading to 11 advancing, 10 declining and 6 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
Trading saw a number of securities with the large price changes at the close. Caribbean Cement ended with a gain of $1.50 to $35, Grace Kennedy dropped back $10.20 to $44.80 after closing at a record high of $55 on Wednesday. Jamaica Producers dropped $1.99 to end at $15, Kingston Wharves lost $1.38 to $38.62 and Salada Foods climbed $1.55 to $12.05. 
Scotia Group added 75 cents to close at $52, but released the first quarter results to January, showing increased profit flowing mainly from gains on sale of CrediScotia and major savings, from reduced loan loss provisioning. This stock is one to watch, when trading resumes on Friday.
Main market activity ended with 4,885,315 units valued at $99,343,789 changing hands, versus 5,151,580 units valued at $52,948,353 on Wednesday.
Wisynco Group closed with 29.38 percent of shares traded, with 1,435,099 units followed by Victoria Mutual Investments accounted for 754,989 units or 15.45 percent of the day’s trades and Caribbean Cement with 621,412 units 12.72 percent of the day’s trades.
Trading results in an average of 195,413 shares valued at $3,973,752 for each security traded, compared to 183,985 shares valued at $1,891,013 on Wednesday. 
For the month to date an average of 878,567 units with an average value at $11,993,901 traded, compared to 1,185,335 units with an average value at $16,782,174 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with Proven Investments concluded trading at 21.50 US cents with 6,000 units valued $1,290 changing hands as the market index closed at 167.72.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Grace pulls back $10.20 to $44.80 – Thursday.
