Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the number of stocks rising and falling being almost even. Trading volumes declined while the values increased compared to the prior day but the market indices closed lower.
The All Jamaica Composite Index fell 1,045.65 points to close at 258,307.11, the JSE Market Index declined 952.70 points to 235,347.03 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 1.72 points to close at 183.12.
At the close of trading, 22 securities changed hands in the main market, with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 7 stocks advancing and 8 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 1,699,314 units valued at $60,267,634 changing hands compared to 2,115,285 units valued at $50,230,238 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 5,145 units valued at US$1,201.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 77,242 units valued at a mere $2,739,438 for every security traded compared to an average of 88,137 units valued at $2,092,927 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 235,617 units valued at $4,170,226 compared with an average of 243,952 units with an average value of $4,245,530 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $6.50, with a loss of 50 cents exchanging 122,700 shares, Berger Paints closed at $14.30, after gaining $1.30 trading 3,468 shares, Carreras gained 30 cents to close at $86.80, with 10,436 units trading, Grace Kennedy dropped $1.90 to close at $40.10, with an exchange of 468,413 units, Jamaica Broilers closed at $17.60, with a loss of 40 cents trading 11,000 shares, Jamaica Producers exchanged 4,742 units at $16. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $6.99 trading 47,474 shares, JMMB Group closed at $18.50, with 32,333 units changing owners, Kingston Properties traded 5,000 units at $9.95, Kingston Wharves closed at $28.90, with trades of 1,370 shares. Mayberry Investments closed at $4.75, gaining 20 cents with an exchange of 52,105 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $70.99, with a loss of 41 cents after exchanging 56,856 shares, 1834 Investments gained 5 cents to close at $1.50 trading 17,269 shares, PanJam Investment lost 2 cents to close at $34.87, with trades of 14,326 shares. Portland JSX advanced $2 to close at $11, with 62,072 shares changing hands, Pulse Investments closed at $17.99, with an exchange of 4,584 shares, Radio Jamaica gained 10 cents to close at $1.60 trading 17,627 units, Sagicor Group closed at $33.20, with a loss of $1.33, trading 3,921 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 50 cents to close at $11.50, with 3,450 shares changing hands. Scotia Group traded $2.98 lower to close at $42.52 exchanging 734,967 shares, Scotia Investments closed at $36.58 trading 10,100 units while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.45, losing 20 cents with 15,101 shares changing owners. Proven Investments US ordinary shares closed at 23 US cents, with 5,145 units changing hands.