Sharp drop for JSE Main Market

Trading ended with a second consecutive day of a sharp decline in the JSE Main Market index on Thursday, and the third day of a sharp decline since the start of October as all of a near 7,000 points rally on the final day of September has been wiped out with a fall of just under 11,000 points for October to date with trading in 58 securities compared with 52 on Wednesday, resulting in prices of 15 stocks rising, 25 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
The volume of stocks traded declined 66 percent and the value 64 percent lower than on Wednesday, with a total of 7,238,507 shares changing hands for $54,207,250 versus 21,242,982 units at $150,463,331 on Wednesday. There was trading in VM Financial Group 2026A traded 1,000,000 units at $100.27.
Trading averaged 124,802 shares at $934,608 versus 408,519 shares at $2,893,526 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 212,117 units at $1,542,996, compared with 243,186 units at $1,759,478 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.63 million shares for 50.2 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 938,987 units for 13 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 695,706 units for 9.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped a hefty 4,288.27 points to close at 347,171.16, the JSE Main Index dived 4,681.02 points to close at 316,267.74 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 1.87 points to close at 69.19.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending by August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dipped 94 cents in closing at $52.80 as 8,742 shares passed through the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained $1.80 to end at $39 in an exchange of 300 stock units, First Rock Real Estate rose 64 cents and ended at $8.64 as investors exchanged 110 units, Guardian Holdings shed $60 to close at $440 in switching ownership of 1,367 stocks. Jamaica Broilers fell $1.37 to $32.50 after an exchange of 3,380 stock units, Jamaica Producers skidded 90 cents in closing at $18.70 after trading 25,958 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 50 cents to end at $9.40 in trading 41,071 units, JMMB Group rallied 99 cents to close at $28.49 while exchanging 72,618 stocks. Kingston Wharves popped $1.30 and ended at $31.30 after trading 1,859 stock units, NCB Financial lost $3.44 to $61.07, with 69,894 shares crossing the exchange, Pan Jamaica dropped $1.15 to $50.35 with an exchange of 4,858 units. Proven Investments increased $1.83 to end at $21.98 with traders dealing in 17,729 stocks, Seprod dipped 73 cents to close at $73.45 after a transfer of 14,380 shares and Wisynco Group fell 84 cents in closing at $17.61 with investors transferring 161,658 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $6.17 to $47.32 with shareholders swapping 6 units, JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 skidded 45 cents to close at $2.55, with 938,987 stocks changing hands and 138 Student Living preference share shed $6.47 and ended at $113.85 with a transfer of 29 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.