Market activity sank on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US Dollar Market on Thursday, with a 63 percent plunge in the volume of stocks traded with the value falling 85 percent compared with Wednesday. The market closed with an exchange of 10 securities, compared with 12 on Wednesday, with prices of three rising, four declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 208,910 shares for US$20,601 in tumbling from 563,601 stock units at US$138,376 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 20,891 shares at US$2,060 compared to 46,967 stock units at US$11,531 on Wednesday,
Trading for the month to date averages 50,350 units at US$5,899 after declining from 58,102 stock units at US$6,909 on the preceding day and an average of 599,023 units for US$38,839 in October.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 1.22 points higher to 298.06. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with bids and offers higher or lower than the last selling price.
The PE Ratio, one of the most commonly used measures to determine appropriate stock values, averages 19.2. ICInsider.com compiles the earnings per share and the PE used in this report. The PE ratio is derived by dividing the last traded stock price by the earnings per share for financial years ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden declined by 0.24 of a cent and ended at 15.75 US cents with a transfer of 638 units, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 2 US cents in a change of ownership of 46,000 stocks, Proven Investments advanced 0.38 of one cent to finish at 6.49 US cents after an exchange of 36 shares.
The market closed with an exchange of 563,601 shares for US$138,376 compared to 1,105,110 stock units at US$73,758 on Tuesday.
The day closed with an exchange of 1,105,110 shares for US$73,758 after moving up from 539,157 stock units at US$50,427 on Monday.
Market activity ended with an exchange of 539,157 shares valued at US$50,427, following an increase from 293,051 stock units at US$19,870 on Friday. Trading ended with an average of 44,930 shares at US$4,202 up from 29,305 stock units at US$1,987 on Friday and an average for October valued at 599,023 units for US$38,839.
The gain in the index is the highest since 2019, when the market index rose 34 percent, the year before the COVID pandemic in 2020. the current year seems set to be the third consecutive year of increase for the market index.
Kingston Properties appreciated 30.85 percent, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with a gain of 18.75 percent, General Accident was next after gaining 16.13 percent and surprisingly, RJR Group, the loss maker that is being restructured, rounded out the top ten, gaining 14.04 percent.
Tropical Battery Company was down 20 percent, First Rock Real Estate Investments fell by 18.80 percent, while Wigton Windfarm, suffering from delayed build-out of its new solar power generation plant, suffered a loss of 18.18 percent, and the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 17.88 percent.
The market closed with an exchange of 326,949 shares for US$20,128 compared to 320,051 stock units at US$39,583 on Tuesday.
The market closed with an exchange of 287,015 shares for US$18,834 compared to 123,887 stock units at US$7,308 on Friday.