More declines for Main Market

Falling stocks just edged out those rising in trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with trading in 60 securities compared with 62 on Tuesday, with prices of 20 stocks rising, 22 declining and 18 ending unchanged, with a surge of 127 percent in the volume of stocks traded and 102 percent greater value than on Tuesday.
The market closed with an exchange of 26,696,028 shares at $155,976,938 from 11,767,625 units at $77,270,952 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 444,934 shares at $2,599,616 compared to 189,800 units at $1,246,306 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 315,276 units at $1,911,868 compared with March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
General Accident led trading with 15.0 million shares for 56.2 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.39 million units for 20.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 2.76 million stock units for 10.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 1,899.54 points to end trading at 365,600.06, the JSE Main Index fell 1,250.30 points to 326,412.67 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.41 points to settle at 69.97.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2024.
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, Berger Paints declined 34 cents and ended at $5.50 with investors trading 682 shares, Caribbean Cement lost 35 cents to close at $58.45 in an exchange of 9,434 stocks, Eppley gained $4.83 in closing at $39.49 as investors traded 635 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $3 to end at $37 after investors ended trading 3,031 stock units, General Accident popped 35 cents to $6, with 15,003,418 shares crossing the market, Guardian Holdings skidded $6 to $360 in an exchange of 535 stock units. Jamaica Broilers advanced 40 cents and ended at $33.50 with investors dealing in 873,488 stocks, Lasco Distributors rose 54 cents to $4.80 with a transfer of 89,960 units, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 53 cents to close at $5.78, with 38,241 shares crossing the exchange. Margaritaville gained $1.02 to end at $17 in trading 596 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $2.24 to $82.24 after an exchange of 55 units, Pan Jamaica sank $1.50 and ended at $48.50 with investors trading 44,310 stocks. Proven Investments popped 45 cents in closing at $22.45 in switching ownership of 302 units, Scotia Group dropped $1.43 to $45.90 with traders dealing in 2,177 shares, Seprod shed $1.24 to close at $83.40 while exchanging 24,514 stock units and Supreme Ventures increased $1.49 to $24.49 after a transfer of 111,813 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $200 to close at 52 weeks’ low of $2700 with 196 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.