Main Market trading and prices drop

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 63 percent and the value 20 percent more than on Wednesday, with trading in 54 securities compared to 50 on Wednesday, with 18 rising, 26 declining and 10 ending unchanged
A total of 5,709,003 shares were traded for $49,903,876 versus 15,400,994 units at $41,503,503 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 105,722 shares at $924,146 versus 308,020 stocks at $830,070 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 265,883 units at $2,743,229, compared to 275,557 units at $2,853,106 on the previous day. February closed with an average of  183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.41 million shares for 24.6 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.22 million units for 21.4 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 770,011 units for 13.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,601.7 points to 362,231.27, the JSE Main Index fell 2,550.95 points to 321,157.86 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.43 points to close at 75.20.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced $1 to $81 trading 15,166 shares, Caribbean Cement fell 48 cents to close at $56.52 in an exchange of 62,955 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $2.39 to end at $38.02 after 4,269 stocks changed hands. GraceKennedy rose $1.50 in closing at $81.50 as investors exchanged 121,844 stock units, Jamaica Broilers lost 40 cents after ending at $32.60 in swapping of 39,738 stocks, Jamaica Producers declined $1.05 to close at $20.70 in switching ownership of 4,000 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 82 cents to $13.89, with 18,116 units crossing the market, JMMB Group shed 80 cents to end at $29.10 with investors transferring 78,082 shares, Key Insurance gained 50 cents in closing at $3.50, with 70,472 units crossing the market. Kingston Properties dipped 62 cents to $6.30, with an exchange of 133,315 stock units, Kingston Wharves increased $2.24 to $33.29 after a transfer of 5,235 stocks, Massy Holdings popped $10 in closing at $90 with an exchange of 35,865 shares. NCB Financial shed $1.50 to close at $71 with the swapping of 12,507 stock units, Portland JSX fell $1.59 to $9.90 with an exchange of 13,434 shares, Proven Investments climbed $1.73 to end at $28.23 while exchanging 907 stocks. Scotia Group dipped 88 cents to end at $34.06, with 13,977 units clearing the market, Seprod advanced $2.79 to close at $66.82, with 176,511 stocks changing hands, Sterling Investments increased 44 cents in ending at $2.96 after trading 13,068 units. Supreme Ventures lost 75 cents in closing at $24.25 in an exchange of 91,005 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 77 cents to end at $9.97 with just one unit passed through the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $56.46 ending at another record high of $350 with a transfer of 2,037 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% popped $450 in closing at $3000 with the swapping of 3 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.