Stocks ended the third consecutive day with negative reading after a 149 percent rise in the number of shares trading, but with 57 percent drop in value than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday.
At the close, the market is down 2.7 percent for the year so far (39 percent annualized) as the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,727.89 points to 421,858.35, the Main Index fell by 1,536.26 points to 384,842.53 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.21 points to settle at 98.31.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands compared to 44 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 18 stocks rising, 15 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio now averages 16.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors traded 25,722,942 shares for $49,768,965 from 10,349,742 units at $116,591,215 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 44.2 percent of total volume, with 11.38 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 24.1 percent for 6.21 million units, JMMB Group 7.5% with 11.7 percent for 3.01 million units, QWI Investments ended with 9.3 percent for 2.38 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.9 percent for 1.01 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 612,451 units at $1,184,975, versus 235,221 shares at $2,649,800 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averaged 310,349 units at $1,157,230, in contrast to 288,359 units at $1,155,210 on Wednesday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments shed 50 cents to end at $82, in switching ownership of 22,635 shares, Berger Paints fell by $1.39 to $12.91, with 705 units changing hands. Caribbean Cement climbed $1.50 to close at $63 trading 187 stock units, Eppley settled at $22.01, after losing $1.94 and exchanging 1,300 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose $1 to $29, in transferring 22,026 shares. Key Insurance rose 45 cents to $6.75, with an exchange of 20,882 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained 30 cents to end at $48.80, after 213 shares crossed the exchange, 138 Student Living rose 44 cents to $4.44, with 100 stock units crossing the market, PanJam Investment declined $3 to $65.50, with a transfer of 72 units. Proven Investments finished 40 cents higher at $36.90, in an exchange of 5,239 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 70 cents in closing at $8.25, in clearing the market with 2,042 shares, Scotia Group slipped 30 cents to $44 while exchanging 7,718 stocks. Stanley Motta gained 39 cents to settle at $5.45, in trading 296 stock units, Supreme Ventures rose 50 cents to close at $17.50, with the swapping of 50,071 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments advanced by 99 cents to $18.39, with 5,816 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.