Jamaica Stock Exchange started the second quarter of 2020 with losses in the leading indices after racking substantial gains ahead on the month-end. The market closed with 40 securities changing hands with prices of 22 stocks advancing, 21 declining and two trading firm.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,819.45 points to 414,283.45, the JSE Market Index dropped 1,643.55 points to 377,598.56, but the JSE Financial Index rose 0.33 points to 103.63.
The JSE Main Market activity ended with 22,417,248 units valued at $113,463,573, in contrast to 46,241,343 units valued at $672,264,195 from 42 securities on Tuesday.
Trans Jamaican Highway led trading with 9.3 million shares for 42 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.1 million units for 18.3 percent of the day’s trade, and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.7 million units for 7.5 percent of the market’s volume. QWI Investments was the only stock trading more than one million units, with 1.4 million shares.
The Market closed with an average of 560,431 units valued at an average of $2,836,589 for each security traded, in contrast to 1,100,984 units valued at an average of $16,006,290 on Tuesday. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.2, while the Main Market ended at 14.5 times 2020/21 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments tumbled $5 to $54, after exchanging 51,460 shares, Berger Paints closed $2.96 higher to $14, in transferring 50,404 units, Caribbean Cement dumped $6.50 in trading 162,574 stock units and closed at $39. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund ended at $39, with a loss of 50 cents after swapping 13,580 shares, First Rock Capital shed 44 cents to finish at $9.55, with 8,508 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy ended $3 lower to close at $57, in trading 82,834 shares. Jamaica Broilers climbed $3 to $33 after transferring 99,832 stock units, Jamaica Producers ended at $21.01, after losing $1.99 and exchanging 17,100 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 50 cents to close at $23, with 105,597 shares traded. JMMB Group closed $1.44 lower to $38.54, in swapping 110,895 shares, Kingston Wharves added 59 cents to finish at $43.50, in trading 12,358 units, Mayberry Investments picked up 44 cents to close at $5.99, with 81,015 units crossing the exchange. NCB Financial Group advanced to $154.99, with gains of $4.99 and swapping 57,909 units, 138 Student Living climbed $1.34 to $6.99, after transferring 15,500 units,
PanJam Investment ended at $78, with a loss of $1 trading 63,834 units. Portland JSX gained 70 cents exchanging 2,090 units and closed at $8, Proven Investments ended at $36.60, after climbing $1.60 and transferring 14,113 stock units, Sagicor Group closed $4.40 lower to $48, in swapping 101,381 shares. Salada Foods ended the day at $30, after gaining $1 trading 200 units, Scotia Group dropped $1.49 to finish at $46.50, with 29,841 units changing hands, Seprod added 50 cents to transferring 254,512 shares and closed at $47.50. Stanley Motta shed 75 cents with an exchange of 6,000 units to end at $5, Supreme Ventures gained 57 cents and closed at $13.57, in swapping 561,955 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at $17.03, with a loss of 97 cents trading 99,934 units and Wisynco Group closed $1.39 lower to $13.30 exchanging 1,657,479 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the day’s last transaction unless otherwise stated.
