Stock prices mainly rose on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market at the end of trading on Wednesday, but declines in the heavily weighted Kingston Wharves, NCB Financial and Scotia Group weighted down on the market index resulting in declines for the major indices.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,470.6 points to 411,963.97, the JSE Main Index fell by 1,333.36 points to 375,927.95 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.65 points to settle at 98.35.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands compared to 45 on Tuesday and ended with the prices of 19 stocks rising, 16 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio of the market averages 15.4 based on the ICInsider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed after an exchange of 101 percent more shares than on Tuesday, with an exchange of 15,544,884 shares for $85,008,558 compared to 7,742,444 units at $353,173,883 on Tuesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 42.9 percent of total volume for 6.67 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 18 percent or 2.81 million units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 8.6 percent for 1.34 million and 1834 Investments with 7.5 percent of the overall volume after 1.17 million units changed hands.
Trading ended with an average of 353,293 units changing hands at $1,932,013 for each security, in comparison to an average of 172,054 shares at $7,848,309 on Tuesday. The average trade for the month to date ended at 408,707 units at $4,938,590 for each security, in contrast to 411,824 units at $5,107,758. Trading month to date exceeds by a wide margin of September’s average of 265,170 units at $3,271,625.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments declined by $4.90 to settle at $86 after trading 299,640 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.50 to $57, in exchanging 7,962 units, Eppley gained 30 cents trading 198 units to close at $19.95. First Rock Capital rose 89 cents to end at $12.89, with an exchange of 11,853 units,
Jamaica Broilers finished $1.49 higher to settle at $27.99, in trading 22,005 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 50 cents with an exchange of 11,437 units and closed at $18. JMMB Group shed 45 cents to end at $29.05, with 281,974 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves fell $2.87 to settle at $44.63, after 3,940 units crossed the market, Margaritaville advanced by $5.56 to a 52 weeks’ high of $42.60, in exchanging 64 units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined by $20 to $148, with a transfer of 100 units, NCB Financial lost $1 in closing at $136, with investors swapping 23,951 stock units, Palace Amusement advanced by $339 to $1,489 in an exchange of just 3 units. Sagicor Group climbed $2.50 to $46.50, trading 13,607 shares, Salada Foods fell $1 to $28, in clearing the market with 1,000 units, Scotia Group lost 70 cents to close at $45.30, in trading 97,053 shares, Seprod rose 89 cents to end at $58, after clearing the market with 159,716 shares and Wisynco Group shed 79 cents to settle at $15.61, with 430,772 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment of the Main Market, Eppley 8.25% advanced $1.45 to $8.45 after an exchange of 235 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% climbed $1 to close at $102 trading 5,465 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.