Main Market trading plunges

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market plunged on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 80 percent and the value 68 percent lower than on Wednesday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 52 on Wednesday, with 21 rising, 21 falling and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,505,100 shares were exchanged for $37,890,404 versus 27,243,669 units at $116,951,925 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 100,093 shares at $688,916 compared to 523,917 units at $2,249,075 on Wednesday, while trading month to date averages 423,304 shares at $1,921,505 versus 454,491 units at $2,040,439 on the previous day. Trading in July ended with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.63 million shares for 47.9 percent of the volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 549,264 units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 511,801 units for 9.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 757.11 points to close at 353,308.06, the JSE Main Index fell 457.71 points to 320,755.70 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.20 points to undefined 70.32.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated 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 ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 98 cents in closing at $74.98 with 86,364 shares being traded, Berger Paints fell 50 cents to close at $7.05 with shareholders swapping 200 stock units, Caribbean Cement increased 50 cents to $52 after trading 8,861 units. First Rock Real Estate lost 70 cents to end at $8.10, with 2,010 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings climbed $1.75 and ended at $439.75, with 102 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers declined 90 cents to $19.20 with a transfer of 5,492 shares. JMMB Group gained 76 cents and ended at $27.91, changing hands 27,686 units, Key Insurance dipped 40 cents to end at $2.56 after exchanging 330 stock units, Kingston Properties shed 44 cents in closing at $6.95 as investors traded 14,986 stocks. Kingston Wharves rallied 40 cents to close at $28.90, with 3,673 stock units crossing the market, Massy Holdings dropped 75 cents and ended at $100.25, with 4,035 units clearing the market, Mayberry Investments declined 65 cents to close at $8 after a transfer of 19,470 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $12.33 in closing at $81.99 with investors trading 1,000 stocks, NCB Financial rose 65 cents to end at $72.40 after 104,630 stocks crossed the exchange, 138 Student Living increased 40 cents to $4.65 in trading 50,330 units, Proven Investments gained 50 cents in closing at $23 in an exchange of 2,211 shares, Pulse Investments advanced 55 cents and ended at $2.66 after traders swapped 132,000 stock units, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $33 in switching ownership of 53,613 stocks. Seprod shed $1.99 to close at $67.01 with an exchange of 10,929 units and Supreme Ventures dropped $1 to $28 with investors transferring 33,173 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $9.75 to $55.25 while exchanging five stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.