Trading ended with an 85 percent increase in the number of shares changing hands at 3 times the values than on Tuesday at the close of Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with the market indices declining for a second consecutive day even as more stocks rose than declined.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell by 1,177.07 points to 423,586.24, the Main Index declined 925.66 points to 386,406.15 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.30 points to close at 99.52.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands versus 43 on Tuesday and closed with prices of 21 stocks rising, 14 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio closed with an average of 16.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 10,349,742 shares for $116,591,215, up from 5,599,223 units at $35,696,430 on Tuesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 20.5 percent of the volume after an exchange of 2.12 million shares followed by Jamaica Broilers with 19.05 percent for 2.02 million units, QWI Investments with 16.9 percent for 1.75 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 15.7 percent for 1.62 million units changing hands.
Trading for the day averaged 235,221 units at $2,649,800, compared to 130,214 shares at $830,150 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 288,359 units at $1,155,210, in contrast to 292,746 units at $1,031,829 on Tuesday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 40 cents to end at $82.50, with 1,246 shares changing hands, Berger Paints rose $2.29 to $14.30 trading 4,744 stocks. Caribbean Cement shed 60 cents to close at $61.50, after exchanging 103,117 stock units, Eppley finished at $23.95, with gains of $1.95, with 1,472 stocks switching ownership. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $3.99 to $45, with 434 stocks crossing the exchange, Grace Kennedy ended $3.18 higher at $67.98, in exchanging 504,922 units, Jamaica Producers lost 91 cents to close at $19.81, after 79,708 shares crossed the exchange. JMMB Group slid 45 cents to t $32.55, with a transfer of 12,304 stock units, Key Insurance gained 39 cents to close at $6.30, in exchanging 920 stocks, Mayberry Investments lost 53 cents to finish at $5.31, in trading 1,020 units. 
NCB Financial rose $1 in ending at $139, with the swapping of 25,215 shares, 138 Student Living rose 65 cents to $4, in exchange of 200 units, Pan Jam Investment gained 41 cents to settle at $68.50, after clearing the market with 5,825 units, Sagicor Group lost 75 cents to end at $49.25, with an exchange of 8,531 units. Scotia Group closed at $44.30, with gains of 30 cents after exchanging 12,713 shares, Supreme Ventures rose 35 cents to $17 trading 14,379 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments finished 40 cents higher at $17.40, with the swapping of 74,012 stock units.
In the preference segment, Community & Workers Credit Union slipped 30 cents to $1.80 after trading 500 shares and Eppley 7.5% preference share rose $1 to $7 trading 138,753 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
