Main Market trading drops to close out the week

Trading declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday with a 39 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued  22 percent below Thursday’s outturn, from trading in 56 securities compared to 63 on Thursday, as the market closed with prices of 25 rising, 21 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,856,108 shares were exchanged for $73,363,572 down from 17,712,923 units at $93,659,946 on Thursday.
Trading averages 193,859 units at $1,310,064 versus 281,158 shares at $1,486,666 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 231,366 units at $3,641,549 compared to 236,526 units at $3,962,243 on the previous day. trading in February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.63 million shares for 42.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.56 million units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade and Wisynco Group with 1.07 million units for 9.8 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 269.67 points to 372,921.71, the JSE Main Index climbed 948.24 points to settle at 330,441.27 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.64 points to close at 77.83.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $3.80 to end at $57.04 after exchanging 38,525 shares, Eppley shed 50 cents to close at $39.50 in trading 1,300 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $4.04 to $44.44 after 333 units passed through the market. First Rock Real Estate fell 70 cents to $11 with the swapping of 21,103 stock units, GraceKennedy dropped $4.99 in ending at $80 with 89,984 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings climbed $23.50 in closing at $509.50 in an exchange of 3 stocks. Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to finish at $38 after transferring 247,946 stock units, Key Insurance shed 53 cents to close at $2.61 with investors exchanging 24,899 shares, Kingston Wharves rose 98 cents to $32 with 1,613 stocks changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 64 cents to end at $12 in switching ownership of 513,273 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $9 to end at $90 after trading 12 shares, NCB Financial popped $1.95 to $72 with a transfer of 15,018 stock units. Palace Amusement gained 49 cents in closing at $2.99 after clearing the market with 161,399 shares and Supreme Ventures lost 45 cents after ending at $24.05 as investors exchanged 27,819 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share jumped $50 to close at $1250 in switching ownership of 100 stock units. Eppley 7.50% preference share fell 61 cents to close at $5.99 in exchanging 1,872 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $15.88 to end at a record $78.50 with the swapping of 373 stock units, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $7.44 to $77.44 after a transfer of 2 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $15.90 in ending at $90.10 after an exchange of 20 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.