Main Market trading drops back on Wednesday

Trading activity dropped back sharply on Wednesday from Tuesday’s levels on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with a 28 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 74 percent lower value than on Tuesday, as the market returned to more sedate levels that characterises trading in recent days, following trading in 58 securities down from 53 on Tuesday, with 21 rising, 23 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 12,287,636 shares were traded for $53,452,673 down from 17,113,084 units at $207,420,352 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 211,856 shares at $921,598 compared to 322,888 shares at $3,913,592 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 157,781 units at $1,556,998, compared with 146,335 units at $1,691,498 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.98 million shares for 56.8 percent of total volume followed by Carreras with 1.78 million units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.52 million units for 12.4 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 4,070.89 points to settle at 350,072.19, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,220.52 points to settle at 314,087.19 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.00 points to finish at 69.27.
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 around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 95 cents and ended at $71 with stakeholders exchanging 333 stock units, Caribbean Cement lost $1.41 to close at $49.59 in trading 834 shares, Eppley rallied 75 cents to $33.95 after a transfer of 270 stocks. First Rock Real Estate popped $1.30 to end at $8.80 as investors exchanged 2,371 units, GraceKennedy shed $1 in closing at $71.50 with a transfer of 20,186 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $20 to $420 while exchanging 236 units. Jamaica Broilers fell 95 cents to close at $34, with 12,228 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Producers climbed $1 and ended at $21 in an exchange of 22,386 stock units, Margaritaville dropped $1.19 to end at $16.01 with shareholders swapping 1,000 shares. Mayberry Investments dipped 90 cents in closing at $7.10 after investors traded 4,434 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $1.66 to $73.51 with an exchange of 33 units, NCB Financial increased $1.99 in closing at $66.99, with 47,222 stocks clearing the market. Pan Jamaica advanced $2.95 to close at $50.45 with investors transferring 11,414 units, Proven Investments lost 73 cents and ended at $23 after 1,859 stocks passed through the market, Sagicor Group gained $1 to end at $43 with traders dealing in 7,726 shares. Seprod fell $4.99 to $75 after an exchange of 18,465 stock units and Stanley Motta popped 58 cents to end at $5.78 after trading 5,481 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $7.35 in closing at $41.65 after exchanging 47 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $100 and ended at $2800 with investors dealing in 1 unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.