Winning stocks edged out losers on The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, the JSE Main Index slipped by 1.19 percent and wiped out just over 4,000 points, as declines in Guardian Group and Sagicor Group inflicted most of the damage. At the close of the market, the volume of stocks traded fell 38 percent and the value declined by 45 percent compared with Wednesday, following the exchange of 59 securities, up from 57 on Wednesday, with prices of 25 rising, 22 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 14,157,671 shares trading for $109,166,935, falling from 22,998,547 stock units at $198,140,943 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 239,961 shares at $1,850,287, falling from 403,483 units at $3,476,157 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, closed with an average of 245,285 stock units valued at $1,948,483, in alignment with 247,021 shares at $1,977,838 on the previous day and January, with an average of 271,336 stock units at $2,043,022.
On a day of low trading activity, Transjamaican Highway was the only stock trading in excess of a million shares after it closed trading with 10.43 million units for 73.6 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Energy ending with 846,956 stock units for 6 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028, with 482,716 stocks for 3.4 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,821.13 points to settle at 393,889.97, the JSE Main Index declined 4,058.20 points to end at 338,256.11 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.69 points to conclude trading at 61.95. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 17.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden rose $3.47 to $33.97 after trading of 100 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $3 to $112 following trading of 36,114 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2.03 to finish at $47.03 after a transfer of 1,762 shares. Guardian Holdings sank $26.95 and ended at $338.05 after an exchange of 27,045 stock units, Jamaica Producers rallied $1.25 to end at $24 with 584 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves shed 40 cents to close at $36.60 in trading 19,539 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing increased 36 cents to $6.56 with 2,535 units passing through the market, Massy Holdings climbed $1.25 to end at $75.25 with an exchange of 12,565 shares, Sagicor Group lost $2.89, in closing at $37.61 with 111,070 stock units clearing the market.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund slipped $1.20 to finish at $6.78 with investors trading 25,009 shares, Scotia Group gained $1.27 and ended at $51.40 with 69,702 units switching owners, Seprod popped $3.89 to close at $82 with traders dealing in 6,621 stock units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 93 cents to $11.48 in an exchange of 32 stock units and Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to $23, with investors trading 255,924 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.95 and ended at $37.05 after an exchange of 507 units. Sygnus Credit Investments 10% dipped $3.50 to $103 with investors dealing in 500 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% gained 89 cents to end at $100 with one stock unit crossing the exchange.Prices of securities traded are for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.