Trading on Wednesday ended with the market indices retreating after 37 percent fewer dollars went after modestly fewer shares than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as the market continues to consolidate ahead of any new major information to move prices out of the current trading range.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,779.81 points to 433,804.38, the Main Index fell 2,520.23 points to 395,489.77 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.86 points to settle at 99.09.
Overall 47 securities traded, up from 45 on Tuesday and closed with prices of 17 rising, 16 declining and 14 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors traded 7,798,057 shares for $48,760,883, down from 7,896,941 units at $77,929,873 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 26.5 percent of total volume, in exchanging 2.06 million shares followed by Key Insurance with 16.7 percent for 1.30 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 14.3 percent for 1.12 million units and Ciboney Group with 14.1 percent of the day’s trade for 1.10 million units, with the price climbing back to 52 cents.
Trading averaged 165,916 units at $1,037,466, compared to 175,488 shares at $1,731,775 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 257,553 units at $2,251,139, in contrast to 265,470 units at $2,355,997 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Grace Kennedy gained 32 cents to close at $88.97 in trading 106,957 shares, well below the price of JS$110, the stock traded at in Trinidad, Jamaica Broilers lost 49 cents to end at $29.51, with 13,135 stock units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 60 cents in closing at $17.90 in switching ownership of 13,100 units, Key Insurance gained 60 cents to $5.58 with an exchange of 1,299,649 shares, NCB Financial declined $3.10 to $141.90 trading 12,235 units. 138 Student Living shed 78 cents to end at $5.16, with 8,477 stocks changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped $69 to close at $630 in switching ownership of 609 stock units, Pan Jam Investment shed 50 cents to $67 with a transfer of 7,825 stocks. Sagicor Group ended 38 cents higher at $48.88 after exchanging 155,797 shares. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.11 to $8.32, with 476 stocks clearing the market, Salada Foods climbed $2.80 to $44.50 in trading 2,804 units. Scotia Group gained 70 cents to end at $43.70, with 41,169 stocks crossing the market, Seprod closed 99 cents higher at $73 in switching ownership of 4,342 units and Wisynco Group declined 20 cents to $15.52 after exchanging 140,490 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.