More declines for JSE Main Market – Wednesday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered more declines in the market indices on Wednesday with an almost equal number of rising and declining stocks and a fall in volume and a modest rise in values of stocks crossing the market.
At the close, JSE All Jamaican Composite Index fell 403.42 points to close at 552,749.99, the JSE Market Index declined by 366.20 points to close at 503,058 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.00 points higher to 136.25.
The market closed, with 40 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets, with 14 advancing, 13 declining and the prices of 13 stocks closed unchanged. JSE Main Market activity ended, with 38 securities accounting for 9,385,975 units amounting to $145,118,400 in contrast to 15,225,126 units valued $142,466,453, on Tuesday, from 37 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds – Financial stocks dominated trading, with 2.4 million shares and 26 percent of volumes traded followed by Wigton Windfarm, with 1.4 million units for 15 percent of the day’s trade and QWI Investments, with 1.37 million shares for 15 percent market share.
The market closed, with an average of 246,999 units valued at an average of $3,818,905 for each security traded, in contrast to 411,490 units for $3,850,445 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 448,856 units for $10,376,356 and previously, an average of 464,870 units for $10,941,397 for each security changing hands. The market closed out November, with an average of 653,621 units valued at $8,699,916 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks ending, with bids higher than their last selling prices and one closed, with a lower offer. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.1, with the Main Market ending at 18.6 times the current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Barita Investments rose 50 cents to close at $72, with 2,031 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to end at $68, after trading 36,091 stock units, Jamaica Broilers fell $2 to settle at $39, with 107,419 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves gained 80 cents to end at $61.80 trading 7,756 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped $1 to end at $12, with 156,568 stock units trading, NCB Financial Group lost $1 to close at $200, in swapping shares, 45,342 shares. PanJam Investment gained $1.99 to end at $101.99, with 24,456 shares crossing the exchange. Portland JSX lost 75 cents to settle at $7, with 18,180 shares changing hands. Proven Investments lost $1 in trading 14,915 to close at a $49, Salada Foods slipped 95 cents to end at $30, trading 198 shares, Scotia Group rose $1.50 to settle at $55.50, in transferring 526,827 shares. Seprod added $1 in trading 26,364 units to close at $50, Sygnus Credit Investments put on $1.10 to close at $24, with 78,111 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group climbed $1.47 to $24.49, with 564,12 5 shares changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed, with 209,219 units valued at US$67,632, with the market index adding 3.60 points to close at 226.28. Proven Investments dipped 2 cents in trading 202,519 shares to close at 32 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments in exchanging 6,700 shares gained a cent to close at 15 US cents.