Main Market trading drops

Market activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with the volume of shares trading declining after funds flowing into the market dropped 31 percent from that Monday leading rising stocks to exceed those declining but the market indices slipped at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,006.71 points to settle at 448,908.04, the JSE Main Index slipped 541 points to 395,486.96 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.31 points to settle at 93.66.
A total of 58 securities traded compared to 57 on Monday, with 26 rising, 20 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.5. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 18,631,554 shares traded for $85,039,171 versus 16,149,953 units at $124,025,246 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 5.34 million shares for 28.7 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.93 million units for 21.1 percent of the day’s trade. Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 3.34 million units for 17.9 percent market share, while Pulse Investments ended with 1.82 million units changing hands for 9.8 percent market share.
Trading averaged 321,234 units at $1,466,193, compared to 283,333 shares at $2,175,882 on Monday and month to date, an average of 600,518 units at $4,875,800, compared to 641,631 units at $5,377,722 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped 78 cents to close at $71.22 while exchanging 9,542 shares, Caribbean Producers gained 43 cents to end at $18.20 in an exchange of 497,281 stocks, Eppley popped 33 cents in closing at $42.33 in trading 34 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $2 to $45 after 516 stock units changed hands, First Rock Capital rose 56 cents in ending at $11.67 after trading 7,450 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded 11,074 stocks with the rice falling 63 cents to end at $28. Jamaica Stock Exchange advanced $1.30 to $23.30, with 47,422 units crossing the market, JMMB Group lost $1.07 in closing at $47 with the swapping of 213,313 stock units, Kingston Propertiesdeclined $1.15 to close at $8.20, with 13,822 stock units crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $13.20 in ending at $115, with an exchange of two shares, NCB Financial fell $1.50 to end at $108 after exchanging 53,112 units, Palace Amusement rallied $34 to close at $1000, in exchanging just two stock units. Portland JSX increased $1.05 after ending at $9.80 after 1,524 stocks changed hands, Proven Investments advanced 55 cents to $38.50 in switching ownership of 8,968 shares, Scotia Group increased 50 cents in closing at $35.50, with 127,996 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures declined $1.50 to close at $23 with an exchange of 39,446 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments shed 60 cents to $14.80 trading 204,058 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference shares rallied $1.44 to $16.50 after switching ownership of 301 units and Eppley 7.25% Preference share rose $2.98 to $23 with the swapping of 201 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.