JSE majors in big drop on Wednesday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with sharp fall in the indices as prices continue to swing in either direction. At the close 27 securities changed hands including 1 trading in the US dollar market. At the close of trading, 10 stocks advanced and 12 declined in the main market.
Trading levels in main market ended at 2,784,846 units valued at $79,404,060 compared to 2,777,139 units valued at $49,314,132 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 58,000 units valued at US$17,945.
The All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 1,831.35 points to close at 248,105.96 the JSE Market Index fell sharply by 1,668.57 points to finish at 226,052.64 but the JSE US dollar market index gained 6 points to close at 222.59.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 107,109 units valued at 3,054,002 compared to an average of 106,813 units carrying an average value of $1,896,697 on Tuesday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 92,865 units with an average value of $2,358,559 versus 85,743 units with an average value of $2,010,837 on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $8,925,067.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 1 cent to close at $6.86 with trades of 108,947 shares, Berger Paints closed at $12.05, losing 10 cents with an exchange of 21,661 shares, Cable and Wireless closed 7 cents lower at $1.28 with 92,912 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed at $31.80, with gains of 80 cents trading 12,184 units. Carreras closed at $72 with 10,962 shares being exchanged, Grace Kennedy tumbled $1.75 to $41.50, with 30,568 units traded, Jamaica Broilers gained 49 cents to close at $16.50 exchanging 82,604 shares, Jamaica Producers closed $1 lower to $15, with trades of 122,336 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, losing 95 cents with an exchange of 384,712 units. JMMB Group added 24 cents to close at $18.50, with 8,392 units changing hands, Kingston Properties closed at $16 trading 1,035 shares, Kingston Wharves closed at $33.49, with gains of $2.49 and an exchange of 21,155 units, Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents to close at $4.60 with trades of 12,244 shares, NCB Financial Group added $1, closing at $62 after exchanging 318,152 shares, 1834 Investments lost 3 cents to close at $1.45 trading 15,888 units, 138 Student Living lost 1 cent to close at $4.49, with an exchange of 1,246 units, Pan Jamaican closed 85 cents lower to $34.15 with 91,726 shares traded. Pulse Investments traded 10,105 shares at $8, Radio Jamaica gained 4 cents to close at $1.89 while trading 73,739 units, Sagicor Group closed at $34, with a loss of 52 cents trading 1,043,448 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund added 30 cents, closing at $10.30 with 5,044 shares changing hands, Scotia Group advanced $1.29 cents to $40 trading 196,692 units, Seprod lost 50 cents to close at $40, with 44,200 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.01, with a loss of 34 cents while swapping 68,195 shares. Proven traded 58,500 ordinary shares at 30.95 US cents, for a gain of almost 1 cent, JMMB 7.5% preference share closed at $2 with trades of 204 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.05, with an exchange of 6,495 units.