Trading levels plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday with a 48 percent decline in the volume of stocks changing hands and the value 78 percent lower than on Tuesday, from the trading in 57 securities compared to 54 on Tuesday, with prices of 18 rising, 25 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 3,798,109 shares were traded for $31,876,506,down from 7,367,753 units at $142,989,772 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 66,633 shares at $559,237 down from 136,440 units at $2,647,959 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 134,731 stock units at $1,447,548 compared with 140,911 units at $1,528,175 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 985,010 shares for 25.9 percent of total volume, followed by Pulse Investments with 847,811 units for 22.3 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 497,978 units for 13.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,685.66 points to 388,532.60, the JSE Main Index fell 1,249.20 points to 342,372.38 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.37 points to close at 81.75.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14 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 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose $1.98 to $91.88 in switching ownership of 7,227 shares, Caribbean Producers gained 41 cents to end at $11.76 with an exchange of 18,770 units, Jamaica Broilers fell $1 in ending at $29 with investors transferring 165,025 stock units. Jamaica Producers rallied 87 cents in closing at $20.99 as investors exchanged 5,275 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 62 cents to close at $14.90 in trading 1,418 units, JMMB Group gained 49 cents to finish at $33.50 after 626 stocks passed through the market. 
Kingston Properties dipped 51 cents to $6.80 with 21,200 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves shed 48 cents to end at $35.40 in swapping 159 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 58 cents after finishing at $8.27 in an exchange of 9,044 units. NCB Financial declined $1.48 to $78.50, trading 30,418 stock units, 138 Student Living dropped 67 cents to $4.30 with a transfer of 15,687 shares, Palace Amusement popped $50 to close at $1,850 after 232 stocks cleared the market. PanJam Investment dipped $1, ending at $59 as investors switched ownership of 15,557 stock units, Proven Investments advanced $2.38 to close at $32.38 with 3,616 units changing hands, Sagicor Group rose $1 in closing at $51, trading 61,922 shares. Scotia Group declined $1.64 to $33.25 after exchanging 815 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied $1.17 after ending at $13.97 in transferring 47,726 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rose $2.60 to end at $22.10 after trading 1,000 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% declined $415 to close at $2,580 with an exchange of 14 units and 138 Student Living preference share shed 95 cents to end at $69 with the swapping of 4 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A total of 437,499 shares were traded for US$50,829, up sharply from 48,759 units at US$9,034 on Tuesday.
Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 10 US cents exchanging 360,215 units and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.01 of a cent in closing at 0.96 of one US cent after trading 23,300 stock units.
Only 7,376,918 shares were traded for $18,528,560 down from 12,267,173 units at $30,849,632 on Tuesday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.2. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
General Accident popped 38 cents to close at $5.08 with 1,000 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma advanced 19 cents to $2.87 as investors exchanged 7,134 shares, ISP Finance shed 10 cents ending at $28.90 after 737 shares were traded. KLE Group dipped 9 cents in closing at $1.71 with investors transferring 100 stocks, Knutsford Express declined 48 cents to $12.02 in an exchange of 181,010 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 10 cents to close at $4.40 after 3,498 units cleared the market. Lumber Depot rallied 16 cents to $2.47 in trading 20,052 units, Medical Disposables fell 40 cents in closing at $4.75 as investors exchanged 6,003 shares, MFS Capital Partners dipped 13 cents to end at $2.72 in switching ownership of 781,071 stocks. ONE on ONE Educational shed 8 cents to $1.22 after trading 1,148,706 stock units, 
Paramount Trading gained 18 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 241,058 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies declined 31 cents to $14.29 with the swapping of 4,040 stocks and tTech advanced 30 cents to close at $2.85 in transferring five units.
Investors traded 1,042,442 shares for $2,896,299 versus 134,782 stock units at $2,965,690 on Tuesday. An average of 69,496 units were traded at $193,087 compared with 8,985 shares at $197,713 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 41,041 shares at $296,627 versus 38,588 units at $305,553 on the previous day. The average trade for December amounts to 42,745 at $474,822.
Guardian Holdings declined 45 cents in ending at $27 after a transfer of 300 stock units, Guardian Media remained at $2.50 with investors transferring 38 shares. JMMB Group ended at $1.95 after trading 8,000 stocks, Massy Holdings ended at $4.50 in exchanging 38,629 units, National Enterprises shed 10 cents in closing at $3.40 in trading 10,000 stocks. National Flour Mills ended at $1.50 as 641,654 units passed through the market, Scotiabank remained at $77.95 while exchanging 960 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 10 cents in ending at $21.25 in switching ownership of 4,571 stock units. Trinidad Cement fell 20 cents to close at $3.65 after trading 302,000 stocks, Unilever Caribbean increased 5 cents to end at $12.85 with the swapping of 154 stock units and West Indian Tobacco popped $1 to $21, with 4,826 units crossing the market.
A total of 12,267,173 shares were exchanged for $30,849,632 up from 11,787,222 units at $27,770,919 on Monday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.2. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending falling between November 2022 and August 2023.
Future Energy Source lost 10 cents to end at $4.80 after trading 405,086 stock units. General Accident fell 39 cents to $4.70 with the swapping of 24,051 units, Honey Bun lost 6 cents to end at $7.14 in transferring 13,971 stocks, iCreate popped 6 cents in closing at $1.85 after switching ownership of 145,247 units. Knutsford Express shed 35 cents ending at $12.50 with 61,133 stock units changing hands after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $13.45, Lasco Distributor gained 6 cents to close at $2.76 with an exchange of 7,915 shares, Lasco Financial rallied 27 cents to $2.85 as investors traded 1,279 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing popped 46 cents in closing at $4.50 with the transfer of 163,636 units, Limners and Bards declined 21 cents after ending at $2.45 and exchanging 34,616 stocks, Lumber Depot dipped 14 cents to end at $2.31 as investors swapped 194,373 stock units. MFS Capital Partners dropped 13 cents to $2.85 after 493,900 shares passed through the market, ONE on ONE Educational gained 6 cents to close at $1.30 with 1,034,621 units changing hands, 
Paramount Trading rose 11 cents to end at $2.12 after clearing the market with 842,416 stocks. Regency Petroleum rallied 9 cents in closing at $1.55 trading 1,209,964 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 55 cents to end at $14.60 with an exchange of 6,412 stock units.
A total of 7,367,753 shares were traded for $142,989,772 up from 5,922,099 units at $55,983,304 on Monday.
Main Index advanced 1,861.07 points to 343,622.12 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.39 points to close at 82.12.
First Rock Real Estate gained $1 to end at $12.93 after investors swapped 7,947 stocks. Guardian Holdings rose $4 to $520 with 332 units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.93 to $30 in trading 23,850 stock units, Jamaica Producers fell $1.38 to $20.12 after 163,499 stock units cleared the market. Mayberry Investments rallied 52 cents to end at $8.85 with a transfer of 9,479 stocks, NCB Financial climbed $1.98 to $79.98 trading 308,007 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $95 to close at $1,800 after 208 units were exchanged. Proven Investments shed $1 ending at $30 with investors swapping 5,852 stock units, Sagicor Group declined $4 to close at $50 in exchanging 15,057 stocks, Scotia Group popped 89 cents to $34.89 in switching ownership of 59,513 units. Seprod gained $1.40 in ending at $67.45 with 19,093 shares changing hands and Stanley Motta popped 58 cents in closing at $4.98 trading 18,204 units.
Investors traded 134,782 shares for $2,965,690 versus 1,083,353 stock units at $6,284,101 on Monday. An average of 8,985 units were traded at $197,713 compared to 77,382 shares at $448,864 on Monday. Trading month to date averaged 38,588 shares at $305,541 versus 41,381 units at $315,727 on the previous day. Trading in December averaged 42,745 at $474,822.
Massy Holdings increased 3 cents to end at $4.50, with 21,998 stocks changing hands. National Enterprises ended at $3.50 after exchanging 961 units, Point Lisas remained at $3.41 as 1,060 shares passed through the market, Republic Financial climbed 25 cents to close at $138 after finishing trading 16,264 shares. Scotiabank gained 44 cents in ending at $77.95 with 1,942 units crossing the market Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 15 cents in closing at $21.35 as investors exchanged 9,133 stocks, Trinidad Cement ended at $3.85 with 15 stock units clearing the market and West Indian Tobacco remained at $20 with a transfer of 94 stock units.
Just 48,759 shares were traded for US$9,034 down from 162,532 units at US$29,630 on Monday.
Sygnus Credit Investments J$ share ended at 13.28 US cents as 223 stocks passed through the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 10 US cents with 6,103 shares clearing the exchange, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share declined 1.4 cents to end at 11 US cents in trading 832 stocks and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.02 of a cent in closing at 0.97 US cents after trading 205 stock units.
A mere 5,922,099 shares were traded for $55,983,304 versus 5,510,092 units at $150,228,385 on Friday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 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 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Stock Exchange popped $1 to $15.50 in trading 120 units, JMMB Group fell $1.05 to end at $32.95 after exchanging 32,059 units. Kingston Wharves rose 88 cents to close at $35.88 with the swapping of 4,465 stock units, Massy Holdings advanced $2 to $80 with a transfer of 1,824 shares, NCB Financial declined $2 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $78 after trading 47,920 stocks after the price hit a 52 weeks’ high of $2,004. Palace Amusement climbed $84.50 to $1,895 as investors switched ownership of 512 shares, PanJam Investment declined $5 in ending at $60 after 5,695 stock units passed through the market, Portland JSX gained 40 cents to close at $10.40 with investors transferring 11,098 units. Proven Investments popped $1 in closing at $31 in exchanging 1,452 stocks, Sagicor Group rallied $1.39 to finish at $54 with 35,383 stocks changing hands, Seprod dipped $1.39 to $66.05 trading 5,212 stock units. Stanley Motta lost 40 cents to end at $4.40 after a transfer of 8,180 units, Supreme Ventures popped 45 cents to close at $27.75 after an exchange of 16,189 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 48 cents to end at $9.50 in switching ownership of 256 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell $2.88 to a 52 weeks’ low of $16.33 with an exchange of 10,000 shares and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% declined $5 in closing at $2,995 as investors transferred two stock units.
A total of 11,787,222 shares were exchanged for $27,770,919 compared to 5,480,926 units at $16,508,630 on Friday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending that fall between November 2022 and August 2023.
Fontana gained 6 cents in ending at $9.05 in switching ownership of 50,400 shares, Fosrich dipped 5 cents to $3.70 in transferring 249,582 units. Indies Pharma fell 27 cents to close at $2.63 with an exchange of 9,749 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance rose 10 cents in closing at $2.11 with one stock unit changing hands, ISP Finance rallied $4.44 to $29 after an exchange of 109 units. Jetcon Corporation popped 5 cents to $1.10 with 111 stocks clearing the market, Knutsford Express advanced $3.25 to a 52 week’s high of $12.85 in trading 50,618 shares as investors react positively to the company’s strong rebound in profits, Lasco Financial shed 26 cents in closing at $2.58 after 30,015 stock units cleared the market. Lumber Depot lost 5 cents to finish at $2.45 with the swapping of 15,521 shares, Mailpac Group declined 7 cents to $2.03 with 61,253 units changing hands, Main Event rose 74 cents to $9.99 after a transfer of 78,619 stock units. 
MFS Capital Partners gained 16 cents to close at $2.98 with an exchange of 420,214 stocks, Spur Tree Spices rallied 11 cents to $3.01 after trading 250,700 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 92 cents to close at $15.15 after a transfer of 6,982 units and Tropical Battery gained 5 cents to finish at $2.45 trading 49,545 shares.
