Stocks rose at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with trading in 64 securities compared with 62 on Tuesday and resulting in prices of 22 stocks rising, 19 declining and 23 ending unchanged after a 14 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded and valued 35 percent less than Tuesday’s low value.
The market closed after 8,771,865 shares were traded for $27,969,713 compared with 10,147,599 units at $42,871,556 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 137,060 shares at $437,027 compared with 163,671 units at $691,477 on Tuesday. Trading month to date, averaged 1,520,802 units at $5,617,470 versus 1,766,120 units at $6,535,887 on the previous day and March with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.43 million shares for 50.5 percent of the total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.75 million units for 19.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 663,546 stocks for 7.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,140.00 points to settle at 367,649.84, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,376.12 points to end at 328,139.31 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.78 points to finish at 70.84.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden gained 98 cents to close at $38.98 with traders dealing in 8 shares, Barita Investments slipped 70 cents to $73 after 2,800 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Cement rose $3.80 to end at $59.80 after an exchange of 2,113 shares. Eppley lost $4 in closing at $36 in trading 6,286 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $3 to finish at $40 after just one share was exchanged, Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 34 cents and ended at $10.65 as investors traded 235,838 units. 
JMMB Group dropped 88 cents to close trading at $25.02 in swapping 8,178 stocks, Margaritaville rose $1.42 to close at $15.50 with investors trading 1,000 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced 85 cents to finish at $10.85 in an exchange of 38,031 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $12.62 and ended at $94.86, with 100 units crossing the market, NCB Financial popped $2.05 to end at $66.70 after an exchange of 29,438 stocks, Proven Investments advanced 82 cents to close at $22.43 with a transfer of 544 stock units. Scotia Group rose $2 to $47, with 13,217 shares crossing the exchange and Supreme Ventures rallied 93 cents to end at $24.70 with investors dealing in 15,597 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $2.03 in closing at $216, with 5 stocks crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $5 to finish at $106 with investors transferring 800 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
3 up 3 down for JSE USD market
Winners and losers shared the spoils in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Tuesday, resulting from trading in seven securities, down from nine on Monday with prices of three rising, three declining and one ending firm, following a 149 percent rise in the number of stocks that were exchanged valued moderately more than on Monday.
The market closed with an exchange of 325,197 shares for US$9,274 up from 130,853 units at US$9,068 on Monday.
Trading averaged 46,457 units at US$1,325 versus 14,539 shares at US$1,008 on Monday, with a month to date average of 36,527 shares at US$2,687 compared with 34,790 units at US$2,925 on the previous day and March with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 7.02 points to 237.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy gained 8 cents in closing at 62 US cents with 15 shares crossing the exchange, Productive Business Solutions skidded 11 cents to US$1.59 with investors trading 214 stocks, 
Proven Investments fell 0.11 of a cent to close at 14.76 US cents after a transfer of 324 shares. Sterling Investments ended at 1.6 US cents in switching ownership of 3,466 stocks and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.17 of a cent to 2 US cents after exchanging 320,975 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share popped 25 cents to end at US$12.35 with investors swapping 95 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% increased 10 cents in closing at US$10.80 with 108 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Plenty price movements on JSE Main Market
Price movements at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market were very fluid on Tuesday, with prices of 24 stocks rising, 29 declining and nine ending unchanged, with trading in 62 securities compared with 61 on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 16 percent and the value 17 percent lower than on Monday.
Trading ended with the market closed with only 10,147,599 shares trading for a mere $42,871,556 down from 12,150,226 units at $51,541,445 on Monday.
Trading averaged 163,671 shares at $691,477 compared to 199,184 units at $844,942 on Monday and well off the month to date, an average of 1,766,120 units at $6,535,887 and 2,098,400 units at $7,747,771 on the previous day and March with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.74 million shares for 27 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.15 million units for 21.2 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.24 million units for 12.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 788.09 points to close at 366,509.84, the JSE Main Index lost 992.90 points to finish at 326,763.19 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.29 points to culminate at 70.06.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden declined 70 cents to close at $38 as investors exchanged 589 shares, Barita Investments gained 70 cents to land at $73.70 with a transfer of 838 shares, Caribbean Cement sank $2.50 to finish at $56 after an exchange of 29,949 units. Eppley skidded 38 cents and ended at $40 with investors trading 50 stocks, First Rock Real Estate rose $1.90 in closing at $9.90 in an exchange of 50 units, GraceKennedy climbed 82 cents to end at $73.97 with investors dealing in 132,516 shares. Guardian Holdings fell $10 to $360 in switching ownership of 60 stock units, Jamaica Broilers dropped 50 cents to close at $33 after an exchange of 14,338 stocks, Jamaica Producers shed $1.75 in closing at $21.80 with investors transferring 16,000 units. 
JMMB Group increased 90 cents to finish at $25.90, with 22,695 stocks crossing the market, Kingston Wharves popped $1.15 and ended at $30.40 in an exchange of 900 shares, Margaritaville lost $2.91 to end at $14.08 after investors ended the trading of 2,703 stock units. Mayberry Group advanced 40 cents in closing at $7.30 with an exchange of 15,840 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 85 cents to $10, with 28,300 units changing hands, NCB Financial slipped 35 cents to finish at $64.65 with traders dealing in 7,408 stocks. 138 Student Living rallied 47 cents and ended at $4.19 with 545 stock units clearing the market, Pan Jamaica increased $3.50 to end at $50 after a transfer of 1,491 shares, Proven Investments sank 82 cents to close at $21.61, with 49 stocks crossing the market. Scotia Group declined $2.20 to $45 in trading 23,733 units, Supreme Ventures shed 53 cents to finish at $23.77 after an exchange of 21,951 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 50 cents and ended at $20.50 after 221,780 shares passed through the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share skidded 50 cents in closing at $20 with 1,601 units being traded, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% popped $50 to end at $2,700 with investors swapping 9 stocks, 138 Student Living preference share gained 53 cents to close at $218.03, with 6 stock units crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share fell $10 to $1,100 with investors swapping 200 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for Trinidad Exchange
Declining and rising stocks shared the spotlight at the end of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with 22 securities trading compared with 20 on Monday, ending with prices of six stocks rising, six declining and 10 closing unchanged and resulted in gains in market indices following a 20 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded valued 48 percent less than on Monday.
The market closed trading of 161,785 shares for $2,265,487 compared with 201,014 units at $4,371,462 on Monday.
An average of 7,354 shares were traded at $102,738 compared to 10,051 units at $218,573 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 16,669 shares at $179,628 compared with 18,679 units at $196,215 on the previous day and an average for March of 28,236 shares at $236,496
The Composite Index advanced 7.22 points to end the day at 1,219.85, the All T&T Index popped 12.83 points to lock up trading at 1,836.03, the SME Index remained unchanged at 77.71 and the Cross-Listed Index gained 0.17 points to settle at 78.44.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s remained at $69 with a transfer of 15 shares, Angostura Holdings increased 21 cents to $22.95 after investors traded 2,518 units, Ansa McAl ended at $57 after an exchange of 500 shares. 
Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $45.30 with 396 stocks clearing the market, Calypso Macro Investment Fund climbed 40 cents to end at $23 with investors swapping 40 shares, First Citizens Group dipped 1 cent to end trading at $48.10 after an exchange of 2,446 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank sank 3 cents in to $7.01 with investors trading 4,562 units, GraceKennedy ended at $4.07 after an exchange of 1,109 stocks, Guardian Holdings rose 95 cents to end at $19 with 4,896 shares crossing the market. Guardian Media remained at $2 with traders dealing in 400 stock units, JMMB Group ended at $1.50 in switching ownership of 3,519 units, Massy Holdings slipped 1 cent to finish at $4.36 with investors trading 77,673 stocks. National Enterprises lost 1 cent to end at $3.88 after 1,113 shares passed through the market, National Flour Mills remained at $2.20 and closed with an exchange of 11,000 stock units, NCB Financial gained 5 cents to end at $3.15 with 450 units changing hands. 
Point Lisas dipped 1 cent in closing at $3.70, with 11,177 stock units crossing the market, Prestige Holdings popped 50 cents and ended at $13 with investors dealing in 6,373 units, Republic Financial ended at $119 in an exchange of 8,927 shares. Scotiabank fell 40 cents to $70.10, with 1,452 stock units changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $8.47 after a transfer of 14,747 stocks, Unilever Caribbean advanced 29 cents to finish at $12.55 as investors exchanged 2,582 shares and West Indian Tobacco remained at $15.50 in trading 5,890 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market climbs on Monday
Trading dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 52 percent and the value 78 percent less than on Friday, with trading in 61 securities compared with 55 on Friday, with prices of 29 stocks rising, 22 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 12,150,226 shares for $51,541,445 compared with 25,126,154 units at $233,060,092 on Friday.
Trading averaged 199,184 shares at $844,942 compared to 456,839 units at $4,237,456 on Friday and month to date, an average of 2,098,400 units at $7,747,771 down from 2,585,174 units at $9,516,984 on the previous day and March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.89 million shares for 56.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.38 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade and Radio Jamaica with 691,900 units for 5.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,140.38 points to close at 367,297.93, the JSE Main Index gained 1,337.67 points to close at 327,756.09 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.14 points to 70.35.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1 The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden dropped 30 cents to end at $38.70, with 4,015 shares crossing the market, Barita Investments gained $3 to close at $73 with investors dealing in 1,592 stocks, Caribbean Cement rose $2.50 to finish at $58.50 with 3,194 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Producers advanced 40 cents and ended at $9.40 after and exchange of 32,211 stock units, Eppley popped $3.38 in closing at $40.38 in trading 601 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund sank $3 to close at $37 after an exchange of 15,101 stock units. First Rock Real Estate slipped $2 to $8 after trading of 30,391 units, GraceKennedy fell 75 cents in closing at $73.15, with 9,169 stocks changing hands, Guardian Holdings increased by $10 to end at $370 in an exchange of 567 units. Jamaica Broilers declined 49 cents and ended at $33.50, with 17,644 shares crossing the market, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.77 to finish at $23.55 as investors exchanged 298 stock units, Key Insurance rallied 35 cents to close at $2.57 in switching ownership of just 6 stocks. Margaritaville popped $1.01 to $16.99 after exchanging 160 units, Mayberry Group lost 47 cents in closing at $6.90 with investors trading 5,799 stocks, 
NCB Financial rallied 50 cents to close at $65, with 27,800 shares crossing the exchange. Pan Jamaica dipped $3.50 and ended at $46.50 with investors transferring 836 stock units, Portland JSX rose 35 cents to finish at $10.95 after one share passed through the market, Seprod climbed $4.59 to end at $83.40 with an exchange of 7,245 stock units. Supreme Ventures increased 50 cents to $24.30 in an exchange of 19,666 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.59 and ended at $12.79 with investors swapping just one stock and Wisynco Group gained 49 cents in closing at $21 after a transfer of 119,521 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% shed $50 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $2650 with traders dealing in one stock and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% skidded $9 to close at $101 with a transfer of 500 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling prices dominate Trinidad stocks
Trading ended with 20 securities changing hands down from 23 on Friday, ending with prices of 10 stocks declining five rising and five ending unchanged on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday, following a 62 percent decline in the volume of stocks trading valued 53 percent less than on Friday.
The market closed trading of 201,014 shares for $4,371,462 compared with 533,983 stock units at $9,312,325 on Friday.
An average of 10,051 shares were traded at $218,573 compared to 23,217 units at $404,884 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 18,679 shares at $196,215 compared with 20,783 units at $190,760 on the previous day and an average for March of 28,236 shares at $236,496.
The Composite Index shed 6.11 points to end at 1,212.63, the All T&T Index dipped 8.11 points to close at 1,823.20, the SME Index remained at 77.71 and the Cross-Listed Index dipped 0.56 points to close at 78.27.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Calypso Macro Investment Fund fell 40 cents and ended at $22.60 with investors swapping 507 shares, Endeavour Holdings advanced 25 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $15 after a transfer of 8 units, First Citizens Group sank 39 cents to $48.11 in trading 1,343 stocks. 
FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7.04 after exchanging 16,870 units, GraceKennedy ended at $4.07 with 37,000 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings dropped 45 cents to $18.05 with investors trading 28 stocks. L.J. Williams B share ended with an exchange of 5,000 stock units at $1.99, Massy Holdings slipped 3 cents to close at $4.37 with trading in 67,880 stocks, National Enterprises remained at $3.89 with, 18,813 shares changing hands. National Flour Mills ended at $2.20 with an exchange of 15 stocks, NCB Financial declined 5 cents in closing at $3.10, with 5,148 units crossing the market, One Caribbean Media shed 1 cent to finish at $3.82 with investors dealing in 3,030 stock units. Point Lisas skidded 39 cents and ended at $3.71 in an exchange of 3,000 shares, Prestige Holdings dipped 50 cents to $12.50 with 382 stocks clearing the market,
Republic Financial slipped 99 cents to close at $119 as investors exchanged 28,448 units. Scotiabank popped 50 cents to finish at $70.50 in trading 176 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 3 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.47, with 554 shares crossing the exchange, Trinidad Cement added 2 cents in closing at $2.62 after swapping 100 stocks. Unilever Caribbean popped 1 cent to $12.26 with traders dealing in 189 units and West Indian Tobacco rose 1 cent to $15.50 after 12,523 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
CPJ enters ICTOP10 Broilers out
With what has become the norm, the markets pulled back to start April from the pump-up end of month prices in March, resulting in varied outcomes for the ICTOP10 and ending with Jamaica Broilers falling from the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Producers entering at the number 9 spot.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Junior Market TOP10 this past week.
Caribbean Producers is the primary supplier of foods and beverages to the growing tourist industry on the north coast of Jamaica and St Lucia, the company is also expanding its meat processing arm as well as retail areas in both countries. ICInsider.com’s projected EPS is $1.35 for the fiscal year to June 2024. With plans for long term growth in the local tourism sector, the company has a B base for growth for many years to come.
Jamaica Broilers although out of the TOP10, is undervalued and possesses good long term growth prospects as they constantly spend resources to expand or modernise the operation.
In Main Market activity this past week, General Accident jumped 16 percent to $6.15, a 52 weeks’ high, with buying interest in recent weeks, being very high and active supply in the market low, a recipe for higher prices ahead and Key Insurance lost 14 percent to end at $2.22.
The Junior Market closed the week with a 17 percent jump for Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51 while Consolidated Bakeries gained 8 percent to $2.19 but Jamaican Teas dropped 13 percent to $2.40 and Caribbean Cream lost 8 percent to land at $3.58 while Express Catering and Access Financial fell by 7 percent to $3.70 and $19.86 respectively.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 274 percent by May 2025, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 183 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 30 and 27 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Lasco companies out of ICTOP10
Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.
There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
JSE Main Market slips into April
Following the closure of trading for the long Easter weekend, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with declining stocks overpowering winning two to one following a 25 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded declining with a 54 percent drop in value compared to Thursday, with trading in 62 securities compared with 60 on Thursday, with prices of 15 stocks rising, 29 declining and 18 ending unchanged as Radio Jamaica closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.20.
The market closed with 11,767,625 shares being traded for $77,270,952 compared with 15,645,101 units at $167,372,295 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 189,800 shares at $1,246,306 compared to 260,752 units at $2,789,538 on Thursday compared to March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.86 million shares for 32.8 percent of the overall volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.42 million units for 29.1 percent of the day’s trade and General Accident with 1.0 million units for 8.5 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,084.66 points to close trading at 367,499.60, the JSE Main Index declined 135.73 points to settle at 327,662.97 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.13 points to 70.38.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden jumped $3.50 and ended at $38.50 in an exchange of 150 stocks, Barita Investments lost $1.90 to close at $73 with investors swapping 13,978 units, Berger Paints popped 34 cents to end at $5.84 after 89 shares passed through the market. Caribbean Cement sank $2.70 in closing at $58.80 after an exchange of 3,851 stock units, Eppley rallied 45 cents to close at $34.66 in switching ownership of 472 shares, General Accident increased 35 cents to $5.65 after a transfer of 1,000,151 stock units. Guardian Holdings climbed $6 to close at $366, with 6,179 units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers declined 89 cents to $33.10 in an exchange of 76,126 units. Jamaica Producers fell 98 cents to end at $23 with investors dealing in 7,831 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange skidded 43 cents to $10.06, with 99,836 shares crossing the market, JMMB Group dropped $1.49 and ended at $25.01 in trading 150,970 stock units. Key Insurance shed 34 cents to close at $2.23 after an exchange of 3,568 shares, Kingston Properties dipped 40 cents in closing at $8 after 5,065 stock units passed through the market, 
Lasco Manufacturing sank 83 cents to end at $5.25 as investors traded 50,661 stocks. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $13.50 to $80 with an exchange of 1,532 units, NCB Financial lost $1.95 to end at $64 with investors trading 127,979 shares, Pan Jamaica gained $1 in closing at $50, with 2,572 units crossing the exchange. Seprod skidded 35 cents to close at $84.64 with investors transferring 3,811 stocks, Stanley Motta rose 46 cents and ended at $7.38 with 1,672 stock units clearing the market and Supreme Ventures fell $1.80 to $23 while exchanging 76,105 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $50.99 to end at $1,099.01 with a transfer of 12 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops & prices fall on Main Market
Trading slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday and pulled the Market indices with it after a 95 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded and an 87 percent fall in value compared with that on Thursday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 61 on Thursday and resulted in prices of 18 stocks rising, 23 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 25,126,154 shares for $233,060,092, well down from 551,681,523 units at $1,798,734,217 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 456,839 shares at $4,237,456 compared to 9,043,959 units at $29,487,446 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 2,585,174 units at $9,516,984 compared with 3,224,837 units at $11,103,727 on the previous day and March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Carreras led trading with 10.79 million shares for 43 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.19 million units for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB 9.5% preference share chipped in with 3.01 million units for 12 percent market share, as JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 ended with 1.66 million units for 6.6 percent total shares traded and GraceKennedy with 1.31 million units for 5.2 percent of the overall volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 2,067.87 points to conclude trading at 365,157.55, the JSE Main Index skidded 1,505.24 points to wrap up trading at 326,418.42 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.09 points to 70.49.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden gained $3.25 in closing at $39 with an exchange of 314 stock units, Barita Investments lost 63 cents to end at $70, with 8,596 shares crossing the market, Eppley shed $2.49 to end at $37 with a transfer of 302 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $2.49 to close at $40 after investors ended trading just two stocks, Jamaica Broilers rallied $1.09 and ended at $33.99 in an exchange of 5,449 shares, Jamaica Producers fell $2.52 to finish at $21.78 with 31,288 stock units clearing the market. Key Insurance dipped 35 cents and ended at $2.22 in trading 552 stocks, Kingston Wharves sank 75 cents to $29.25, with 3,427 units crossing the market, Mayberry Group increased 45 cents to close at $7.37 in an exchange of 1,721 shares. 
NCB Financial skidded 50 cents to end at $64.50 with investors transferring 3,769 units, Scotia Group climbed 35 cents in closing at $47.05 in switching ownership of 193,476 stocks, Seprod shed $4.59 to finish at $78.81 and closed with an exchange of 2,012 stock units. Stanley Motta declined $1.07 to $6.03 after 3,605 shares passed through the market, Supreme Ventures popped 30 cents to finish at $23.80 after an exchange of 28,854 stock units and Wisynco Group dropped 51 cents and ended at $20.51 with investors trading 261,544 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $5 to end at $48 with 15 units crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $9.92 in closing at $95.08 with traders dealing in 920 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
