Main Market faded into the weekend

Rising stocks edged out decliners in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, but stock trading firm beat out all of the above, following a 47 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at 40 percent lower value than on Thursday, with trading in 63 securities compared to 61 on Thursday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 19 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 4,649,405 shares trading for $79,455,741 down from 8,718,855 units at $132,519,420 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 73,800 shares at $1,261,202 compared with 142,932 units at $2,172,450 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 831,372 units at $3,540,38 from 891,863 units at $3,722,377 on the previous day and March that averaged 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Kingston Wharves led trading with 890,307 shares for 19.1 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 810,423 units for 17.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 672,372 stocks for 14.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 3,372.85 points to end the day at 358,878.15, the JSE Main Index fell 2,142.25 points to lock up trading at 322,041.87 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.09 points to conclude trading at 68.74.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden popped $1.45 and ended at $39.45 with investors transferring 9 shares, Barita Investments slipped 85 cents to $71.15 after an exchange of 18,855 stocks, Berger Paints rallied 36 cents in closing at $5.70 with a transfer of 7,753 units. Caribbean Cement sank $1.40 to finish at $56.50 with 446,118 stock units crossing the market, Eppley lost $1.09 to end at $38.90 as investors exchanged 300 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $2.97 to close at $37.02 in switching ownership of 529 units. GraceKennedy dropped 94 cents to end at $73 with traders dealing in 187,546 stocks, Guardian Holdings fell 50 cents and ended at $369.50 after 98 stock units passed through the market, Jamaica Producers dipped 67 cents to end at $22.22 with 1,082 shares changing hands. Margaritaville increased $1.42 in closing at $15.53 in an exchange of 4 stocks, Massy Holdings climbed $1 to finish at $91 with investors swapping 24,992 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 50 cents to close at $10 in an exchange of 100,402 stock units. NCB Financial skidded 50 cents to $62.50 after investors traded 11,015 shares, Pan Jamaica rose 50 cents to close at $48 with an exchange of 12 stocks, Sagicor Group gained 64 cents in closing at $41.14 with 4,040 units clearing the market. Seprod advanced 80 cents to end at $82 and closed with 6,857 stock units changing hands and Wisynco Group rose 32 cents and ended at $21 with an exchange of 32,814 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gained $4.99 to finish at $115 with investors trading just one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.