Losers edged out Main Market winners

Market activity ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 49 percent and the value 36 percent lower than on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as declining stocks edged out rising stocks.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,314.48 points to 439,935.70, the JSE Main Index rose 956.58 points to close at 386,290.42 and  JSE Financial Index fell 0.13 points to settle at 92.46.
A total of 56 securities traded, the same as on Tuesday, with 22 rising, 25 declining and nine ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 12,344,026 shares were exchanged for $106,516,410 down from 24,048,471 units at $165,423,987 on Tuesday. Trading averages 220,429 units at $1,902,079, compared to 429,437 shares at $2,954,000 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 241,000 units at $3,955,613, compared to 242,290 units at $4,084,390 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 532,209 units at $5,709,319.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.73 million shares for 22.1 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024, with 1.40 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund chipped in with 1.39 million units for 11.3 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway, 1.10 million units for 8.9 percent of the day’s trades.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement popped 49 cents to close at $61, trading 59,517 shares, Caribbean Producers shed 34 cents to end at $13.96 in an exchange of 166,067 stock units, Carreras fell 30 cents in closing at $9.60 with an exchange of 268,574 stocks. Eppley dropped $4.33 at $38.67 after exchanging 1,363 units, GraceKennedy lost 32 cents to end at $107 after 34,348 stock units crossed the exchange, Guardian Holdings climbed $9 in closing at $520 after exchanging 3,173 shares. Jamaica Broilers declined $1.25 in ending at $27.05 with 110,937 units changing hands, Jamaica Producers advanced 32 cents to end at $21.95 while exchanging 16,979 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 55 cents to $18.50 after an exchange of 23,072 stock units. JMMB Group rallied $2.99 to close at $45.99, with 474,181 stocks changing hands, Margaritaville lost 40 cents to close at $22.60 in trading 64 units, Massy Holdings rose $1 in closing at $91 after 50,121 shares crossed the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.75 to end at $14.75 with the swapping of 83,664 stocks, 138 Student Living climbed 83 cents ending at $5.18 in switching ownership of 400 shares, Palace Amusement shed $30 to $920 in exchanging two units. PanJam Investment rallied $11.50 to end at $64.50 with 26,096 stock units crossing the market, Sagicor Group climbed $1.50 to close at $57.50, with 138,329 shares clearing the market, Salada Foods declined 40 cents to $5.50 in exchanging 38,244 stock units. Seprod fell $1.49 to $70.01 after exchanging 96,172 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 70 cents in closing at $14.80 after trading 78,324 units and Wisynco Group fell 60 cents to $19.40, with 212,894 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share, gained 36 cents in closing at $3.21 after trading 37 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.