The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered more losses in trading on Thursday after the market reopened from the Ash Wednesday break as declining stocks had two to one ratio over rising ones after trading levels increased over Tuesday.
First Rock closed at a new low of $13.
The market closed with 46 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 12 advancing, 22 declining and 12 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 41 securities accounting for 27,834,480 units valued at $185,509,886 in contrast to 31,839,670 units valued at $148,017,425 from 39 securities on Tuesday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 15.7 million shares for 56.5 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 6.6 million units for 23.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Group with 762,613 shares for 2.7 percent of the market share.
The Market closed with an average of 678,890 units valued at $4,524,631 for each security traded, in contrast to 565,203 units at an average of $3,795,319 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 596,981 units valued at $2,909,960 for each security changing hands compared to 592,330 units valued at $2,812,748 for each security traded. Trading in January resulted in an average of 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 for each security.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows thirteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two finishing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 18.6, while the Main Market ended at 17.9 times 2019 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments lost $1 to close at $67 with 34,249 shares changing hands, First Berger Paints fell 41 to close at $15.50 while trading 17,636 stock units, First Rock Capital closed $2 lower to an all-time low of $13, with an exchange of 87,805 shares. Grace Kennedy rose 50 cents to settle at $68, after trading 499,415 units, Jamaica Producers lost $1 to $21, after transferring 98,535 shares, JMMB Group shed $2.36 to end at $40.75, with 548,151 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves dropped $3 to close at $55, after exchanging 12,902 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell $1 to end at $7.50, in swapping 9,298 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 45 cents to end at $11.45, in swapping 15,250 shares.
NCB Financial closed $1.64 lower to $186 after trading 17,864 units, Sagicor Group dropped 50 cents to $66, in exchanging 762,613 shares, Salada Foods jumped $5.75 as 8,426 shares changed hands at $34.25. Scotia Group gained $1 and closed at $55, with 79,701 shares changing hands, Seprod lost $2 to close at $51 trading 16,104 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $26.99, after gaining 79 cents transferring 15,194 shares.138 Student Living preference shares declined by 50 cents to settle at $5.50, in swapping 3,555,944 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 157,614 units valued $41,526. The market lost 1.01 points to close at 226.17. Newly listed First Rock Capital, traded 15,539 units at 12 US cents, Margaritaville exchanged 1,551 units at 29 US cents, Proven Investments lost 1.9 cents and closed at 29.1 US cents, with 113,774 units changing hands. Sterling Investments shed 0.04 cents after swapping 350 shares to settle at 2.85 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 2 cents to end at 17.5 US cents in trading 26,400 units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
