The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back on Thursday, with more stocks prices declining than rising even as the volume of stocks traded more than doubled with a 231 percent increase as 34 percent greater value passed through the market than on Wednesday, with 56 securities trading up from 53 on Wednesday, with 17 rising, 23 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 13,269,863 shares were exchanged for $57,335,875 versus 4,010,188 units at $42,902,377 on Wednesday.
Trading on Thursday averaged 236,962 units at $1,023,855 versus 75,664 shares at $809,479 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 166,859 units at $977,324 compared to 130,510 units at $953,197 on the previous trading day. October closed with an average of 231,243 units at $1,464,224.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 5.77 million shares for 43.5 percent of total volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 2.88 million units for 21.7 percent of the day’s trade and Pulse Investments with 1.55 million units for 11.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 2,217.91 points to 394,298.42, the JSE Main Index declined 1,738.67 points to 344,902.91 and the JSE Financial Index dropped 0.72 points to settle at 82.56.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined $1.48 to $95 with the swapping of 5,489 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.40 in closing at $61.50 trading 9,217 stock units, First Rock Real Estate shed $1.44 after ending at $13 in exchanging 201,319 stocks. Jamaica Producers rose $2.80 to finish at $20.60 with the swapping of 2,795 units, JMMB Group advanced 70 cents to close at $37.30 with 23,906 stocks clearing the market, Kingston Wharves lost 50 cents to settle at $37 with 54,906 units changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 87 cents in closing at $13 in switching ownership of 200 stock units, PanJam Investment dipped $1.50 to end at $54.50 after closing with 1,491 shares clearing the market, Sagicor Group dropped $1.10 to $50 after the trading of 29,692 units. Scotia Group fell $2.40 to close at $33 in an exchange of 87,784 stock units, Seprod shed $3.45 to end at $67.50 with investors transferring 8,839 shares, Supreme Ventures dropped 76 cents in closing at $26.70 in an exchange of 8,082 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments fell 41 cents to end at $4.19 with a transfer of 80,815 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dipped 95 cents in ending at 52 weeks’ low of $5.35 after an exchange of 39,000 shares and 138 Student Living preference share lost $11.90 to close at $43.10 with 42 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.