Market closes out month down

Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, culminated in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 7 declining, as 21 securities changed hands. A total of 5,217,834 units traded, valued at $54,942,294, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower. The increase is probably due to month end window dressing by some portfolio managers would want to impact the value of the funds under management at the end of the month and quarter.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 160.31 points to 72,238.36 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined by 179.24 points, to close at 79,483.81.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement, with 109,500 shares changing hands, ended 4 cents higher at $2.40, Grace Kennedy put through 19,208 units with a gain of 70 cents to $58.20, Jamaica Producers had 122,728 shares changing hands, gained 25 cents to $15.75, Mayberry Investments with 5,420 shares closed 4 cents higher at $1.50 and Sagicor Group traded 738,840 units, with an increase of 65 cents, to $9.90.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints with 3,500 units, closing at $1.66, Cable & Wireless with 453,827 shares at 29 cents, Desnoes & Geddes 45,000 share at $4.77, Pan Jamaican Investment 417,537 shares trading to close at $49.10, Proven Investments 27,700 ordinary shares, to close with the price at 18 US cents and Seprod with 40,000 shares, closed at $10.90.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the close of the main market are, Carreras, down 8 cents to end at $34.55, in trading 93,336 units, Jamaica Broilers with 500,000 shares lost 50 cents to end at $4, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 42,087 ordinary shares trading, lost 5 cents at $6.95, National Commercial Bank had 452,630 units changing hands, with a 5 cents loss, at $17.94 and Scotia Group with 351,187 shares, closed 5 cents off at $19.25 .
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 222,593 units, with a gain of 5 cents to $3.50 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 110,462 units at $2.