JSE Main Market suffers big drop

Market activity surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on  Wednesday, as the volume of shares trading climbed 79 per cent, with the value jumping 205 percent higher than on Tuesday and ended with declining stocks exceeding those rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 7,446.51 points to 443,142.76, the JSE Main Index dropped 5,441.59 points to 390,042.16 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.22 points to settle at 92.45.
Trading ended with 59 securities up from 58 on Tuesday, with 24 rising, 27 declining and eight ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.6. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending by the end of August 2023.
Overall, 25,782,899 shares traded for $428,646,320 versus 14,387,651 units at $140,647,485 on Tuesday. Kingston Wharves led trading with 7.09 million shares for 27.5 percent of total volume, followed by Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 5.57 million units for 21.6 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway ended with 5.43 million units for 21 percent of market share and Wigton Windfarm ended with 1.28 million units changing hands for 5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 436,998 units at $7,265,192, compared to 248,063 shares at $2,424,957 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 693,901 units at $7,327,393, compared to 717,999 units at $7,333,227 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investmentsrallied 39 cents to close at $90.35 after 12,993 shares crossed the market, Eppley fell $2.45 in closing at $40.05 with an exchange of 271 stock units, GraceKennedy climbed $3 in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $113 with the swapping of 320,475 units. Guardian Holdings increased $8 to end at $528 after exchanging 7,050 stocks, Jamaica Broilers gained 52 cents to close at $28.99 in exchanging 9,642 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 74 cents to $23.99 in switching ownership of 27,127 stock units. JMMB Group declined $1.04 to $44.85, with 369,209 stocks crossing the market, Key Insurance dropped 37 cents to end at $4.60 after trading 14,801 shares, Kingston Wharves shed $6.50 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $34, with 7,091,004 stock units changing hands. Massy Holdings advanced 93 cents to close at $98.95 in an exchange of 39,040 stocks, Mayberry Investments popped 45 cents to $7.95 in exchanging 38,974 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 77 cents to close at $11.51, with 5,565,183 units clearing the market. NCB Financial rose $2.75 to end at $112 and closed with 61,157 units changing hands, Palace Amusement advanced $49.99, ending at $1000, with 96 stocks crossing the exchange, Portland JSX gained $2.44 in closing at $11 in trading 5,359 stock units. Proven Investments dropped $2 to $36.50 while exchanging 12,315 shares, Sagicor Group shed 40 cents to end at $55, trading 56,121 units, Seprod fell $2.48, ending at $59.50 after trading 3,345 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 79 cents to close at $15.50 with an exchange of 1,967 stock units and Wisynco Group lost $1 in closing at $23 after trading 789,735 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% surged $397.63 in, ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $3047.63 after 25 units crossed the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% Preference share rallied $13.50 to end at $120 after exchanging 445 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.