JSE Main Market slips on Thursday

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dipping 16 percent but with the value 184 percent greater than on Wednesday, following trading in 56 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday, with 22 rising, 23 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 15,739,565 shares were traded for $290,871,744 compared to 18,751,692 units at $102,393,251 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 281,064 shares at $5,194,138 versus 317,825 shares at $1,735,479 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 584,813 units at $2,510,650, compared to 644,082 units at $1,987,042 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 3.34 million shares for 21.2 percent of total volume, followed by NCB Financial with 3.24 million units for 20.6 percent of the day’s trade as Stanley Motta ended with 2.04 million units for 12.9 percent market share, Wigton Windfarm closed with 1.83 million units for 11.6 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.25 million units for 7.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 201.95 points to finish at 356,569.64, the JSE Main Index shed 2,566.81 points to 323,526.73 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.90 points to end trading at 71.43.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 60 cents and ended at $75.05 after closing with an exchange of 112,578 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied 80 cents to $52 with 27,619 stocks changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.93 to close at $41.94 in switching ownership of 721 units. First Rock Real Estate climbed 50 cents to end at $9.50, with 600 stock units clearing the market, GraceKennedy fell $1.48 in closing at $76.02 while 182,784 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers advanced 95 cents in closing at $20.15 after an exchange of 2,032 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $1 to close at $10 in an exchange of 334,799 shares, Margaritaville increased 79 cents to $16.59, with 1,000 units crossing the market, Massy Holdings gained $2.01 to end at $103 after investors exchanged 1,549 units. Mayberry Investments lost 40 cents and ended at $8.30, with 9,296 stocks crossing the market, NCB Financial dropped $4.11 to end at $69.99 after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $52 with shareholders swapping 3,241,324 stock units, 138 Student Living advanced 40 cents in closing at $4.51 in trading 32 shares. Pan Jamaica declined 50 cents and ended at $46 in an exchange of 5,984 units, Sagicor Group shed 50 cents to close at $44.50, with stakeholders exchanging 17,585 shares, Seprod dropped 50 cents to close at $70 while trading 11,984 stocks. Supreme Ventures rose $1.18 and ended at $28.79 with a transfer of 692 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 59 cents to close at $11.50, with 1,809 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share fell 50 cents in closing at $18 after a transfer of 28,872 shares and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $1 to end at $54, trading one unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.