Main Market trading near rock bottom

Trading plunged at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 28 percent with a value 43 percent less than on Wednesday, from trading in 58 securities compared with 64 on Wednesday, with prices of 18 stocks rising, 22 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 6,279,937 shares trading for just $25,513,093 down sharply from 8,754,488 stock units at $45,138,514 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 108,275 shares at $439,881 down from 136,789 units at $705,289 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 427,212 units at $4,884,843 compared to 531,722 units at $6,341,385 on the previous day and July with an average of 602,415 units at $5,405,031.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.60 million shares for 41.4 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 948,466 stocks for 15.1 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 746,701 units for 11.9 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 234.32 points to wrap up trading at 350,589.54, the JSE Main Index skidded 148.64 points to 308,690.08 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.15 points to conclude trading at 64.89.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden lost $6.88 to finish at $32.11 after 206 stocks passed through the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $4.88 and ended at $36.01 after a transfer of 100 units, GraceKennedy increased 44 cents to $73.45 with investors trading 7,551 shares. b>Key Insurance sank 58 cents to close at $2.60 in an exchange of 2,561 stock units, Kingston Properties slipped 65 cents in closing at $9 with 697 shares clearing the market, Benefitting from b first quarter results to June, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 30 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.50 after an exchange of 95,939 units, and leaving just four offers for sale of the stock with less than 190,000 shares, an indication of a big move in the price to come. Massy Holdings sank 90 cents in closing at $78 crossing the market 3,185 stocks, NCB Financial popped $1 to $51 as investors exchanged 17,316 stock units, Pan Jamaica fell $3.88 to close at $46.12 after 26,798 shares crossed the market. Proven Investments dropped 55 cents and ended at $17.60 with investors trading 4,465 units, Sagicor Group advanced $1 to finish at $41 with 13,402 stocks crossing the exchange, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 90 cents to end at $9.46 with a transfer of 20 stock units. Scotia Group shed $1 in closing at $43 after 13,807 shares were traded, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 68 cents to $8.71 with an exchange of 2,000 units and Wisynco Group gained 35 cents to end at $20.40, with 117,795 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped 66 cents to close at $48 in trading 417 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% declined $2.90 and ended at $105 after an exchange of 6,941 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.