Trading dropped hard on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended, with the volume of stocks traded declining 50 percent and the value 47 percent lower than on Monday, with the lower demand putting pressure on the majority of the 59 securities that traded, down from 62 on Monday, resulting in the prices of 16 stocks rising, 32 declining and 11 unchanged as the market closed with Scotia Group closing at a 52 weeks’ high, while VM Investments and Eppley Caribbean Fund traded at 52 weeks’ lows.
The market closed with a mere 5,969,741 shares trading for a measly $34,563,641 down from 11,953,622 stocks at $65,051,577 on Monday.
Trading averaged just 101,182 shares at a mere $585,824 per company, from 192,800 stocks at $1,049,219 on Monday and month to date, an average of 217,104 units at $1,969,859 compared with 233,664 shares at $2,167,578 on the previous day and October with an average of 205,025 stock units at $2,311,672.
Wigton Energy led trading with 1.66 million shares for 27.8 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.27 million units for 21.3 percent of the day’s trade and Pulse Investments with 524,138 stock units for 8.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 801.66 points to wrap up trading at 361,462.74, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,000.45 points to settle at 314,353.67 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.21 points to finish at 64.89. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended with an average PE Ratio of 13.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of market activity, AS Bryden gained $2.90 to finish at $34 with 7 shares changing hands, Eppley fell 40 cents and ended at $32.50 after investors exchanged 1,964 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $6.85 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $30.15 with a transfer of 4,417 shares. General Accident sank 54 cents to $6 with 341,750 stock units traded at close, Guardian Holdings dropped $1 to end at $314 as 671 shares switched ownership, Jamaica Producers shed $1.89 in closing at $20.10 after a transfer of 6,554 units. Massy Holdings sank $7 to $74 with 2994 stocks traded, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $12.50 to finish at $88 with an exchange of 374 stock units, Proven Investments climbed 93 cents and ended at $18.83 with 30,570 shares crossing the market. Sagicor Group increased $1.01 to close at $39.11 after an exchange of 5,248 units, Scotia Group popped $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $48 with investors swapping 39,310 stocks, Seprod rallied 50 cents to close at $84.50 with 17,933 stock units clearing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped $1.01 to $11.49 in an exchange of 2,369 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded $4.40 and ended at $40.50 with an 21 units crossing the market and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $22.51 to finish at $264 with investors trading 11 stocks.Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.