Main Market activity drops

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on a subdued note on Thursday, following a 26 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with the value dropping 55 percent below Wednesday’s activities, from trading in 63 securities up from 60 on Wednesday, with prices of 22 stocks rising, 21 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading in 13,202,248 shares for $46,987,343 compared with 10,506,094 stocks at $105,145,741 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 209,559 shares at $745,831 compared to 175,102 units at $1,752,429 on Wednesday and for the month to date, an average of 297,066 units at $2,315,719 down marginally from 302,362 shares at $2,410,726 on the previous day and July with an average of 602,415 units at $5,405,031.
On a day of low trading, only three stocks achieved the one million volume mark as Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 5.63 million shares for 42.6 percent of total volume followed by Radio Jamaica with 3.05 million stocks for 23.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.42 million units for 10.8 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 537.76 points to close at 352,440.40, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,365.34 points to 309,510.89 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.10 points to end the day at 64.95.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden declined 60 cents to close at $39.34 after investors exchanged 536 stocks, Barita Investments popped 45 cents to $73.45 in trading 11,508 units, Berger Paints climbed 49 cents and ended at $6.84 after 1,767 shares passed through the market. Eppley rose $2.79 to finish at $37.79 with investors trading 548 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $1.10 in closing at $40.90 after an exchange of 613 shares, GraceKennedy dropped 50 cents to end at $72.50 with investors swapping 60,762 units. Guardian Holdings sank $50 in closing at $300 with a transfer of 1,838 stocks, Jamaica Broilers dipped 70 cents to $32.79, with trading of 27,079 stocks, Key Insurance fell 65 cents to $2.35 with trading of 11,363 shares. Lasco Distributors slipped 54 cents and ended at $4.15 after a transfer of 152,421 stocks, Pan Jamaica sank $1.59 to finish at $48.90 with investors dealing in 7,826 units and Seprod lost $1.95 to end at $83 in an exchange of 20,001 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $7.01 to $189.99 with 4 shares changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied $7.57 to close at $109 after an exchange of just one unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.