JSE main market slips in moderate trading

Temperature on the Jamaica Stock Exchange was far more subdued in trading on Monday with both volume and value pulling sharply from Friday’s levels and leaving the two major indices down at the close.
Trading activity closed, with the All Jamaican Composite Index declining 704.13 points to 350,366.88 and the JSE Index falling 641.55 points to end at 319,223.81.
Strong gains by Caribbean Cement, JMMB Group, NCB Financial and Seprod overwhelmed declines in Grace Kennedy, Sagicor Real Estate Fund and Supreme Ventures to help propel the Indices to new highs.
Market activities resulted in 25 securities trading including 1 in the US dollar market compared to 31 securities trading on Friday.
At the end of trading, the prices of 9 stocks rose, 12 declined and 4 closed trading unchanged. Stanley Motta closed with 2,211 units changing hands after falling 5 cents to close at an all-time low of $4.95.
Trading in the main market ended with 1,995,601 units valued $33,005,256 versus 3,900,466 units valued $77,632,786 on Friday.
The day’s volume was led by, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 456,103 shares accounting for 22.86 percent of the volume traded, followed by Wisynco Group with 349,103 units and 17.5 percent of the day’s volume and Carreras with 248,928 units and 12.5 percent of the main market volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 83,150 units valued at over $1,375,219, in contrast to 139,302 shares valued at $2,772,600 on Friday. For the month to date an average of 224,098 shares valued at an average of $4,076,157 versus 231,683 shares valued at an average of $4,230,129 on Friday. July closed with an average of 169,022 units valued at $3,514,756, for each security traded.
Stocks with major price changes| Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents and finished at $47 trading 14,929 shares, Grace Kennedy ended trading 193,538 shares at $58.01, after falling 49 cents, Jamaica Producers rose 70 cents and finished trading 43,354 units at $18, Mayberry Investments fell 95 cents to settle at $7.05, in exchanging 6,993 shares. NCB Financial Group fell $1 and ended trading 12,713 shares at $109, Sagicor Group gained 40 cents and settled at $38.05, trading 6,713 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund climbed $1 and closed at $12 exchanging 23,171 shares, Salada Foods gained 50 cents and ended trading 19,300 stock units at $18, Scotia Group traded 101,372 units at and closed $52.50, after adding 50 cents and Supreme Ventures lost 50 cents and ended at $15, in the trading of 17,810 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with Proven Investments trading 17,810 shares valued US$3,943 and rose 1 cent to close at 23 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index gained 3.05 points to close at 169.08.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.