Sharp fall for JSE Main Market

Stocks pulled back in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 40 percent and the value 16 percent lower than on Tuesday, after trading occurred in 60 securities compared with 62 on Tuesday, with 23 rising, 20 declining and 17 ending unchanged and ending in a sharp decline in the market index at the close.
A total of 7,001,247 shares were traded for $56,070,502 down from 11,588,245 units at $66,472,610 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 116,687 shares at $934,508 compared with 186,907 units at $1,072,139 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averaged 152,373 stock units at $1,004,452 compared with December that closed with an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.78 million shares for 25.4 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1.43 million units for 20.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 637,525 units for 9.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 5,765.35 points to end the day at 362,383.22, the JSE Main Index sank 3,566.78 points to lock up trading at 324,258.49 and the JSE Financial Index fell 1.79 points to close at 70.51.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden climbed $3.01 to close at $33.11 with an exchange of 10 units, Barita Investments increased 89 cents to $73.89 with investors swapping 6,134 stocks, Berger Paints popped 95 cents to end at $1.82 and ended at $57.66, with 10,876 stock units crossing the exchange, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $3 to $37 in trading 29,286 shares, General Accident sank 42 cents to $4.43 with 112,787 stock units clearing the market. Kingston Wharves rallied 45 cents to end at $26.95 as investors exchanged 18,030 stocks, Mayberry Group dropped 70 cents in closing at $7.90 after 7,314 units passed through the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose 49 cents to close at $89.50 and closed after 5 shares were traded. NCB Financial shed $1.50 and ended at $66.50 with an exchange of 152,874 stocks, Pan Jamaica declined 70 cents to $50, with 2,028 units changing hands, Proven Investments fell 98 cents and ended at $22.50 in an exchange of 8,932 stock units. Scotia Group dipped $1 to end at $38.50 with investors trading 13,371 shares, Seprod advanced $2.91 in closing at $82.90 after switching ownership of 3,375 units, Stanley Motta fell 68 cents to close at $5.36 with investors trading 1,939 stocks. Supreme Ventures gained 95 cents to $25.95 in an exchange of 43,554 stock units and Wisynco Group rose $1.25 to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $22.30, with 71,584 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share gained $3.99 and ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $22.99 with a transfer of 3 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.