Main Market trading drop drags index down

Trading activity slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 36 percent and the value 4 percent lower than on Wednesday, after trading took place in 51 securities compared with 49 on Wednesday, with 20 rising, 20 declining and 11 stocks ending unchanged.
A total of 8,555,217 shares were traded for $65,664,035 compared to 13,455,754 units at $68,332,119 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 167,749 shares at $1,287,530 compared to 274,607 shares at $1,394,533 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 232,031 units at $1,437,586, compared with 235,545 units at $1,445,789 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.87 million shares for 45.2 percent of total volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 1.36 million units for 15.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 980,131 units for 11.5 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 951.42 points to settle at 346,651.73, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,727.61 points to 311,809.96 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.17 points to close at 68.48.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. 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 up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley dropped 75 cents and ended at $33.20 after exchanging 1,087 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped 50 cents to end at $40 with traders dealing in 7,359 units, General Accident rallied 47 cents to close at $5.48 with investors dealing in 1,765 stock units. GraceKennedy shed 50 cents in closing at $72, with stakeholders exchanging 74,624 stocks, Guardian Holdings dipped $19 to $411, with 58 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents to $19.95 after an exchange of 10,698 units. Kingston Wharves fell 45 cents and ended at $27.50 after investors traded 2,077 stock units, Margaritaville skidded $2.55 to end at $14.05, with 15 shares crossing the market, Massy Holdings lost $6 in closing at $90 with an exchange of 1,068 stocks. NCB Financial declined 90 cents to close at $63.15 with investors transferring 57,166 stock units, Pan Jamaica shed $2.50 to close at $47 after investors traded 28,177 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.23 to end at $23.74, with 2,066 shares crossing the market, Seprod skidded $1.50 and ended at $71 as investors exchanged 95 shares and Wisynco Group fell $2.26 in closing at $19.24 after a transfer of 1,359,434 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.