Main Market falters on Wednesday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market lost ground at the end of trading on Wednesday, even as the volume of stocks traded rose 217 percent and the value 27 percent more than on Tuesday, with trading occurring in 56 securities as was the case on Tuesday and ended with prices of 20 rising, 27 declining and nine ending unchanged.
A total of 11,780,581 shares were traded for $62,395,782 compared with 3,715,775 units at $49,296,741 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 210,368 shares at $1,114,210, up from 66,353 units at $880,299 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 133,806 stocks at $913,657, compared to 108,586 units at $847,593 on the previous day, but trading remains below August’s level with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
JMMB Group 7.5% led trading with 3.56 million shares for 30.2 percent of trading, Transjamaican Highway was next with 3.18 million units for 27 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 797,850 units for 6.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,333.01 points to 353,792.21, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,522.83 points to 319,240.94 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.36 points to end at 70.59.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed $1 to $79 trading 283,275 shares, Berger Paints fell 59 cents and ended at $7.11 in an exchange of 311 stocks, Caribbean Producers skidded 35 cents to end at $9.65 with an exchange of 5,525 stock units, Carreras increased 40 cents in closing at $8.70 with a transfer of 147,606 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.36 to close at $35 in switching ownership of 3,572 shares, First Rock Real Estate declined 60 cents to $8 as 5,153 stock units passed through the market, GraceKennedy lost 47 cents in closing at $72.18 after a transfer of 51,533 stocks, Jamaica Producers dropped 85 cents to end at $18.65 with an exchange of 4,474 units. JMMB Group rose 6 cents in trading 83,965 shares to close at $27.55 after the price hit an intraday low of $25.01, Key Insurance fell 37 cents to close at $2.50 with 1,449 units crossing the market, Kingston Properties lost 59 cents and endedat $6.75 with investors swapping 8,600 stocks, Massy Holdings dropped $3.54 to $100.30 after exchanging 63 units. NCB Financial fell $1 to $70 while exchanging 42,609 shares, Portland JSX rose 35 cents to $8.35 after an exchange of 100 units, Pulse Investments dipped 38 cents to end at $2.15 with investors transferring 198,513 stock units, Salada Foods shed 44 cents to $2.60 with traders dealing in 95,849 stocks. Scotia Group rallied 75 cents to $33.75 and closed with an exchange of 29,305 shares, Seprod declined $2 to close at $71 with investors dealing in 13,284 shares, Stanley Motta popped 50 cents to $5.21, with 9,494 stocks crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments skidded 55 cents and ended at $11.05 as investors exchanged 140,422 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share advanced 98 cents in closing at $6.98 in trading 437 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5%  preference share climbed $235 to close at $1335 in an exchange of 120 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.