Main market stocks slipped on Friday

Market activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 58 percent with an 87 percent higher value than on Thursday as rising stocks just exceeded those falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,760.54 points to 443,604.86, the JSE Main Index lost 1,705.22 points to close at 389,557.86 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.55 points to settle at 91.98.
On Friday, 54 securities were traded, down from 57 on Thursday, with 22 rising, 21 declining and 11 unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to compute appropriate stock values, averages 15.1. for the Main Market. 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, 7,435,594 shares traded for $128,125,542 versus 17,737,465 units at $68,560,146 on Thursday. Trading averages 137,696 units at $2,372,695, compared to 311,184 shares at $1,202,810 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 267,179 units at $1,856,762, compared to 332,525 units at $1,596,385 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.63 million shares for 21.9 percent of total volume, followed by Supreme Ventures with 1.41 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group with 1.12 million units for 15 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 49 cents in closing at $88.50 in trading 9,074 shares, Berger Paints advanced 30 cents to end at $11.30, with 423 stocks crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.50 to close at $65.50 as 7,350 stock units changed hands. GraceKennedy rallied 50 cents to $109.50 in switching ownership of 93,121 units, Guardian Holdings shed $1 in ending at $534 with an exchange of 2,608 shares, Jamaica Producers gained 30 cents to $22.80 after 7,565 units crossed the market. JMMB Group declined 99 cents to close at $44 with 1,116,258 stock units clearing the market, Kingston Wharves lost 62 cents in ending at $38.98 after trading 301 stocks, NCB Financial fell $3.88 in closing at $101.02 in exchanging 51,678 stocks. PanJam Investment climbed $1.50 to end at $67.50 while exchanging 801 stock units, Proven Investments increased 51 cents to end at $38.50 after exchanging 44,633 shares, Sagicor Group dropped 75 cents to $54.25, with 47,796 units changing hands. Scotia Group rose $1.40 to close at $37, with 91,201 units crossing the market, Seprod declined 87 cents to $71 in an exchange of 2,846 shares and Supreme Ventures rallied 50 cents in closing at $30.50 with the swapping of 1,406,282 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $1.99 in ending at $22 after exchanging 200 stock units, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 72 cents in closing at $7.23 in trading just two shares, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 42 cents to close at $2.79 in trading 1,078 units and 138 Student Living s preference share advanced $1.66 to end at $18.16, with 53 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.