Trading plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with a 74 percent drop in the volume of stocks changing hands with a 52 percent lower value than on Thursday, following trading in 56 securities compared with 58 on Thursday, with prices of 24 rising, 20 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 5,891,703 shares trading at $58,521,474 down sharply from 23,025,292 stock units valued $121,611,794 on Thursday. Trading averaged 105,209 shares at $1,045,026 in contrast to 396,988 stocks at $2,096,755 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 257,029 stock units at $2,323,122 compared with 266,625 shares at $2,403,904 on the previous day and October ending with an average of 205,025 stock units at $2,311,672.
Transjamaican Highway was the lead trade with 1.41 million shares for 23.9 percent of total volume followed by Radio Jamaica with 1.23 million units for 20.8 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 724,905 stock units for 12.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,021.66 points to end at 358,346.56, the JSE Main Index fell 803.71 points to conclude trading at 311,973.99 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.35 points to 63.75. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1. 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 the market, AS Bryden dropped 40 cents to $31.10 with 1,293 stock units clearing the market, Barita Investments sank 95 cents to $72.55 in trading 290 shares, Eppley slipped 76 cents to finish at $32.12 with 481 stocks changing hands. Guardian Holdings fell $13 and ended at $302 with just 26 units passing through the market, Jamaica Producers increased 44 cents to close at $20.50 with 5,295 stocks traded at the close of the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 59 cents to end at $11.90 after a transfer of 1,133 units. Kingston Wharves declined $1.64 to $30.40 with investors trading 2,181 shares, NCB Financial advanced $2.03 to end at $52.74 with 91,510 stock units switching owners, Pan Jamaican rose 55 cents to $46.40 with traders dealing in 5,687 shares. Proven Investments climbed 90 cents to finish at $17.80 after an exchange of 12,286 stocks, Sagicor Group gained $1.70 and ended at $39 with investors dealing in 7,464 units, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 75 cents to close at $12.90 with 21,253 stock units crossing the market. Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased 45 cents to $11.45 with investors trading 76 shares and Wisynco Group climbed 50 cents to $21.50 with an exchange of 64,152 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share shed $2.57 to finish at $20.20 with 221 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with an exchange of 669,330 shares for US$70,066 compared to 16,925,886 stocks at US$433,335 on Thursday. Trading averaged 95,619 shares at US$10,009 down sharply from 1,880,654 stocks at US$48,148 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 222,142 stock units at US$10,756 compared with 229,401 shares for US$10,798 on the previous day and October that ended with an average of 426,617 units for US$11,189.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $5.60 to end at $22.77 with a transfer of 87 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $204.99 to end at $2,889.99 in an exchange of just 3 units and 138 Student Living preference share popped 42 cents to finish at $236.42 with traders dealing in 50 stock units.
The market closed with an exchange of 604,241 shares for US$46,707 compared to 123,521 stocks at US$14,086 on Tuesday.
Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share rose $15 in closing at $1,050 after an exchange of 532 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% gained $1 to close at $102 after the trading of 1,821 stock units.
The market closed with an exchange of 4,993,262 shares costing US$460,060 compared with 494,374 stock units at US$24,068 on Friday.