Main Market slides on thin trading

Trading dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent and the value 76 percent lower than on Tuesday, with trading in 61 securities compared with 59 on Tuesday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 22 ending unchanged.
Trading netted 7,107,320 shares for $37,509,746 compared with 8,349,044 units at $156,852,014 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 116,513 shares at $614,914 compared to 141,509 units at $2,658,509 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 954,617 units at $3,852,247, down from 1,031,265 units at $4,148,315 on the previous day and March with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.49 million shares for 20.9 percent of total volume followed by General Accident with 1.35 million units for 19 percent of the day’s trade in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.20 and Lasco Distributors with 1.17 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,794.74 points to lock up trading at 360,220.92, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,004.10 points to lock up trading at 322,943.86 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.36 points to cease trading at 68.72.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8. 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 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden climbed $1.12 to $40 after a transfer of 907 units, Barita Investments increased $1 to finish at $72 with investors swapping 1,931 stocks, GraceKennedy slipped 97 cents and ended at $73 with a transfer of 76,208 shares. Guardian Holdings popped $10 in closing at $370 after trading 88 stock units, Jamaica Broilers gained $1 to close at $34 after an exchange of 15,572 shares, Jamaica Producers rose $1.14 to end at $23.02, with 12,001 stock units crossing the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 50 cents to $10 with traders dealing in 14,970 stocks, NCB Financial declined 53 cents and ended at $63.97 after 24,433 units crossed the exchange, Pan Jamaica lost 50 cents to finish at $47.50 with investors trading 11,241 stocks. Sagicor Group fell 65 cents to close at $41 as 12,998 units passed through the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped 50 cents in closing at $7 after an exchange of 4,782 shares, Scotia Group shed $1.10 to end at $44.50 with investors dealing in 29,354 stock units. Seprod rallied $2.17 to close at $82.17 in an exchange of 12,882 shares, Supreme Ventures dropped 50 cents to close at $24.50 with investors transferring 17,220 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.21 and ended at $14 in an exchange of 202 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $5 in closing at $210 with an exchange of 16 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share rose $50 to end at $1200 in trading 4 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.