Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with a 26 percent fall in the volume of stocks changing hands with a 24 percent greater value than on Thursday and resulted in trading taking place in five securities, compared to three on Thursday with two rising, two declining and one ending unchanged.
Overall, 256,238 shares were traded, for US$8,090 compared to 345,389 units at US$6,537 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 51,248 units at US$1,618, versus 115,130 shares at US$2,179 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 76,993 shares at US$4,598 compared with 78,208 units at US$4,738 on the previous day. October ended with an average of 47,977 units for US$4,392.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 0.19 points to end at 225.22.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. 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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Proven Investments popped 0.97 of one cent to end at 15.98 US cents as investors exchanged 15,350 stock units, Sterling Investments skidded 0.2 of a cent to 1.5 US cents with shareholders swapping 708 shares and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.09 of a cent to close at 1.51 US cents in an exchange of 239,251 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% advanced 28.5 cents in closing at US$2.185 with investors dealing in 848 stocks and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1 with 81 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market inched forward
JSE Main Market rises as Juniors struggle
All three markets closed higher at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the Main Market enjoying a solid rise as the Junior Market inched higher for a second day and the JSE USD Market popped marginally higher, with an increase in the value and volume of stocks traded compared to Thursday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 1,042.73 points to 328,547.74, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,405.50 points to conclude trading at 352,307.77, with the JSE Main Index gained 1,073.03 points to end trading at 315,890.19. The Junior Market Index rose a mere 4.15 points to close at 3,687.21 and the JSE USD Market Index added 0.19 points to close at 225.22.
Investors traded 18,588,921 shares, in all three markets compared with 16,069,112 units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $120.73 million from just $42.6 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 256,238 shares were traded, for US$8,090 compared to 345,389 units at US$6,537 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, there were no stocks trading with notable price movements.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 
The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Falling stocks overwhelms on Trinidad Exchange
Falling stocks beat out those rising by a wide margin in trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 18 percent but with a 50 percent lower value than on Thursday and resulting in trading of 17 securities down from 20 on Thursday and ended with prices of two stocks rising, nine declining and six remaining unchanged as one stock traded at a 52 weeks’ high and two at 52 weeks’ lows.
Investors exchanged 350,108 shares for $1,555,401 compared with 297,021 stock units at $3,111,188 on Thursday.
An average of 20,595 units were traded at $91,494 compared to 14,851 shares at $155,559 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 16,820 shares at $211,502 compared with 16,593 units at $218,711 on the previous day. The average trade for October amounts to 15,711 shares at $151,451.
The Composite Index lost 1.78 points to finish at 1,195.48, the All T&T Index skidded 3.65 points to end at 1,811.24, the SME Index remained unchanged at 72.38 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.03 points to end at 75.11.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s dropped 95 cents and ended at $67.50 with an exchange of 288 units, Angostura Holdings remained at $22.15, with 61 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Group lost 15 cents to close at $49.10 with an exchange of 2,533 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7 after 1,900 stock units crossed the exchange, GraceKennedy ended at $3.90 in trading 281 shares, JMMB Group remained at $1.41 after 118,348 units passed through the market. L.J. Williams B share dipped 21 cents to end at $2.05 after an exchange of 1,120 stocks, Massy Holdings fell 10 cents in closing at $4.40 after 71,884 stock units were traded, National Enterprises rallied 1 cent and ended at $3.55, with 1,244 shares changing hands. NCB Financial remained at $2.85 in an exchange of 139,965 stocks, Point Lisas increased 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $3.60 with shareholders swapping 2,016 units, Prestige Holdings declined 5 cents to close at $11.25 as investors exchanged 41 stock units. 
Republic Financial shed 50 cents and ended at $120 in switching ownership of 3,528 shares, Scotiabank skidded 1 cent in closing at $70.99 with an exchange of 15 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 22 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.60, with 4,861 units clearing the market. Unilever Caribbean ended at $11.48 with investors trading 23 stock units and West Indian Tobacco shed 26 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.25 after an exchange of 2,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big bounce for JSE Main Market
Trading activity dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, but the market put on a spirited rally, with the volume of stocks traded declining 76 percent and the value 97 percent lower than on Wednesday, following trading in 54 securities compared with 53 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 23 stocks rising, 17 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 12,874,056 shares were traded for $35,782,868 down sharply compared with 54,394,461 units at $1,087,515,284 previously.
Trading averaged 238,408 shares at $662,646 compared to 1,026,311 units at $20,519,156 on the previous day. Trading month to date, averages 304,788 stocks at $2,674,683 down from 308,824 units at $2,797,036 on the previous day. Trading in October averaged 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 9.74 million shares for 75.6 percent of total volume and was followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.46 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 323,017 units for 2.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,739.69 points to 349,902.27, the JSE Main Index surged 4,376.18 points to finish at 314,817.16 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.76 points to 68.47.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints skidded 40 cents to close at $6.70 with an exchange of 102,044 units, Caribbean Cement gained $1.05 to end at $55, with 552 stocks crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $2.25 and ended at $36.25 with traders dealing in 100 shares. First Rock Real Estate declined $1.20 in closing at $6.80 while exchanging 172 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1.50 to end at $75.50 after a transfer of 18,277 shares, Guardian Holdings dipped $1 in closing at $411 as investors exchanged 119 stock units. Jamaica Broilers popped 88 cents to $34.88 after trading 30,156 stocks, JMMB Group increased 90 cents to end at $26.40 after an exchange of 226,028 units, Key Insurance shed 25 cents and ended at $2.25 after 2,037 stocks passed through the market.
Kingston Properties climbed 26 cents to close at $6.99 in an exchange of 4,130 units, Massy Holdings rose $4.70 to $90, with 4,339 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments dropped 93 cents to end at $7.22 with stakeholders exchanging 8,400 stock units. NCB Financial rallied $1 in closing at $69 in trading 40,922 shares, Pan Jamaica advanced $4.46 and ended at $50.46, with 8,417 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments fell $1.22 to close at $22.51 in switching ownership of 133 units. Scotia Group popped 52 cents to $33.93 after an exchange of 11,642 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 50 cents to close at $11.50, with 10,050 units crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost $1.79 and ended at $8.90 with a transfer of 8,800 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 50 cents in closing at $6, with 1,445 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market inched higher on lower volume
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 61 percent and the value 51 percent lower than Wednesday with trading in 40 securities compared with 41 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 2,849,667 shares at $6,817,105 compared to 7,357,254 units at $14,031,936 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 71,242 shares at $170,428, compared with 179,445 units at $342,242 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 214,317 units at $475,375 compared to 223,015 stock units at $493,913 on the previous day, well below October with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
Fosrich led trading with 345,827 shares for 12.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 328,382 units for 11.5 percent of the day’s trade and Elite Diagnostic with 266,876 units for 9.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 5.21 points to conclude trading at 3,683.06.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, 
based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging dropped 33 cents and ended at $2.12, with 3,400 stocks clearing the market, Blue Power lost 13 cents at $3.17 with a transfer of 1,000 units, Caribbean Cream popped 31 cents to close at $3.70 with investors dealing in a mere 7 shares. Caribbean Flavours gained 11 cents to end at $1.39 in an exchange of 191,522 stock units, Derrimon Trading rose 10 cents in closing at $2.10 with traders dealing in 11,129 shares, Dolla Financial declined 11 cents to $2.43, with 240,998 units crossing the market. Dolphin Cove climbed 45 cents to end at $18 after an exchange of 27,391 stocks, Elite Diagnostic gained 12 cents in closing at $1.71 in trading 266,876 stock units, 
Fosrich rallied 32 cents to close at $2.50 after an exchange of 345,827 shares. Honey Bun shed 10 cents and ended at $6.26 in switching ownership of 7,777 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 10 cents to $2.20, with 12,962 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 13 cents and ended at 73 cents with shareholders swapping 1,446 stocks. Knutsford Express skidded $1.29 to end at $11.11 in an exchange of 847 shares, Lasco Distributors rose 25 cents in closing at $3.76, with 73,557 units crossing the market, Lumber Depot dipped 12 cents to close at $2.50 with stakeholders exchanging 218,581 stocks. Paramount Trading climbed 18 cents to $1.68, with just 34 stock units changing hands, 
Spur Tree Spices increased 8 cents to $2.16 with an exchange of 25,087 shares and tTech lost 15 cents in closing at $2.10 after investors ended trading 5,100 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
NCB profit plunges 56% for 2023 fiscal year
Profit at NCB Financial Group plunged a sharp 56 percent to $15.3 billion for the year to September 2023, from $35 billion in 2022. Consolidated net profit attributable to the Group’s stockholders amounts to $7.6 billion, a reduction of 68 percent from $23.9 billion the previous year.
For the September 2023 quarter, the Group reported a disappointing net profit of $1.6 billion, down 83 percent from $9.3 billion in 2022, but the Group’s stockholders hugged up a loss of $2.1 billion in the quarter compared with a profit of $5.2 billion for the September 2022 quarter.
NCB Financial Group Head Office
The results translate to negative earnings per share of 92 cents in the fourth quarter and positive earnings of $3.30 for the year, down from $2.28 and $10.39 for 2022 respectively.
The Group incurred a large charge for staff changes but in a typical investor unfriendly manner, the directors kept this important information from shareholders, leaving them to guess what the one off cost is and what normalised earnings are and could be going forward. The financial statements show staff costs jumping $7 billion in the final quarter over the June quarter and other operating expenses climbing by $4.5 billion for the same period suggesting that the charges for staff separation and compensation for the two former top executives would be in the range of $11 billion.
The group segments show mixed fortunes during the recently completed fiscal year, with the Consumer and SME Banking segment suffering a loss in the year from the generation of revenues net of interest cost of $34.9 billion, up from $32.8 billion in 2022 and an Operating loss of $719 million, with net results of $58 million in 2022. Payment Services contributed $17.8 billion in revenues net of interest cost, with net segment results of $1.5 billion, down from $2.25 billion in operating profit in 2022, following net revenues of $14.2 billion.
Corporate and Commercial Banking had a year with modestly higher revenues, with net income of $10.8 billion after interest expenses and a profit of $6.2 billion compared with 2022 with net revenues of $10.2 billion and segment profit of $6.66 billion.
The Treasury and Correspondent Banking segment generated revenues net of interest charges amounting to $13.26 billion, down from $14.9 billion in 2022, with an operating profit of $9.9 billion in 2023 versus $12.4 billion in 2022. Wealth, Asset Management and Investment Banking contributed revenues of $15.7 billion net of interest and $16 billion in 2022 with segment results of $8.8 billion in 2023 and $9.2 billion in 2022.
NCB branch in Montego Bay.
Life and Health Insurance and Pension Fund Management ended with net revenues of $40.5 billion in 2023, down sharply from $53.7 billion in 2022, with segment results of $21.5 billion in 2023, collapsing from $32.8 billion in 2022. The General Insurance segment had a great year as revenues hit $24.2 billion net of interest cost compared to $19.3 billion in 2022 with net results surging to $11.6 billion from $5.8 billion in 2022.
The Group’s loans and advances, net of credit impairment losses, totalled $614 billion, an increase of 6 percent over $581 billion in the prior year. According to the directors’ report, “Non-performing loans totalled $25.7 billion, which led to an improvement in the non-performing loan ratio, decreasing to 4.1 percent, from 4.4 percent in the prior year.”
At the end of the year, deposits totalled $748 billion, versus $715 billion in the prior year. Investment and pledged securities amount to $110 billion up from $96.8 billion in 2022.
Stockholders’ equity rose to $170 billion, from $146 billion. The improvement flowed from profit for the year as well as a partial reversal of investment losses in the previous year, with the current year delivering a surplus of $15.7 billion compared with a loss of $47.5 billion in 2022.
On the surface, the reported results are disappointing but investors should be looking beyond them knowing that a significant amount of the cost in the last quarter is unlikely to recur in 2024 while the revenues remain intact and should grow all things being equal.
The Group declared a dividend of 50 cents payable in December, this is a reduction from the amount of $1 last paid in February 2020.
Minor slippage in JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 6 percent, with a value marginally more than on Wednesday, resulting in trading of three securities, compared to six on Wednesday with one rising, one declining and one ending unchanged.
At the close of the market, 345,389 shares were traded, for US$6,537 compared with 368,630 units at US$6,490 on Wednesday.s
Trading ended with an average of 15,130 shares at US$2,179 versus 61,438 units at US$1,082 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date average 78,208 shares at US$4,738 compared with 77,132 units at US$4,813 on the previous day. October ended with an average of 47,977 units for US$4,392.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 0.87 points to lock up trading at 225.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6. 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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville fell 0.3 of a cent to 12 US cents in switching ownership of 10,000 stocks, Proven Investments inched 0.01 of a cent higher to 15.01 US cents with investors trading 83 units and Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.6 US cents as 335,306 shares passed through the market .
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market jumps as Juniors rise
Massy Holdings jumped $4.70, Pan Jamaica gained $4.46, Caribbean Cement price climbed $1.05 and NCB Financial rose $1 but was partially offset by declines of more than $1 in six and helped in lifting the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market by more than 4,000 points on Thursday as the Junior Market inched higher but the JSE USD Market slipped marginally as the markets closed trading, with the value and volume of stocks traded dropped compared to Wednesday.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index surged 4,148.87 points to close at 327,505.01, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,739.69 points to 349,902.27, the JSE Main Index advanced 4,376.18 points to end trading at 314,817.16. The Junior Market Index advanced 5.21 points to conclude trading at 3,683.06 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.87 points to settle at 225.03.
Investors traded 16,069,112 shares, in all three markets down from 62,120,345 units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $42.6 million from just $1.1 billion on Wednesday. The JSE USD market closed after 345,389 shares were traded, for US$6,537 compared to 368,630 units at US$6,490 on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, had not stocks trading with notable price movements.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Stocks mostly gain on Trinidad Exchange
Rising stocks edged out those falling at the end of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday and resulted in gains in the market indices following a 7 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with the value surging 32 percent more than on Wednesday, resulting in the trading of 20 securities compared with 19 on Wednesday and ending with prices of seven stocks rising, five declining and eight remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 297,021 shares at $3,111,188 compared to 318,474 stocks at $2,362,255 on Wednesday.
The average trade on Thursday ended at 14,851 shares with $155,559 versus 16,762 stock units at $124,329 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 16,593 stock units at $218,711 compared to 16,725 units at $223,515 on the previous day. The average trade for October amounts to 15,711 shares at $151,451.
The Composite Index advanced 2.84 points to 1,197.26, the All T&T Index climbed 4.67 points to end the day at 1,814.89, the SME Index rallied 0.67 points to settle at 72.38 and the Cross-Listed Index gained 0.12 points to finish at 75.08.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s remained at $68.45 after 56 units passed through the market, Angostura Holdings ended at $22.15 after an exchange of 441 stocks, Ansa McAl remained at $57, with 50 shares clearing the market. 
Calypso Macro Investment Fund lost 70 cents in closing at $22.75 with shareholders exchanging 87 stock units, Endeavour Holdings advanced 14 cents and ended at $13.40, with 4 shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy rose 5 cents to $3.90 with an exchange of 5,500 units. Guardian Holdings declined 10 cents to close at $18.90 after 104 stocks changed hands, Guardian Media ended at $2.01 with 152 stock units crossing the exchange, JMMB Group ended at $1.41 with 1,000 shares changing hands. L.J. Williams B share remained at $2.26 with an exchange of 800 stocks, Massy Holdings rallied 10 cents to $4.50, with 167,488 units crossing the market, National Enterprises ended at $3.54 after a transfer of 256 stock units. National Flour Mills popped 20 cents to end at $1.72 in switching ownership of 259 shares, NCB Financial shed 48 cents to close at $2.85 with investors trading 90,500 units, 
One Caribbean Media fell 11 cents and ended at $3.41 in an exchange of 1,100 stocks. Republic Financial increased 50 cents to $120.50 with investors dealing in 15,222 stock units, Scotiabank remained at $71 after an exchange of 1,412 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL climbed 17 cents to $10.82 in trading 3,396 stock units. Unilever Caribbean gained 36 cents to end at $11.48 with stakeholders exchanging 39 stocks and West Indian Tobacco dipped 4 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.51 after investors ended trading 9,155 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surges on the JSE Main Market
Trading activity jumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded surging 1,098 percent and the value 4,089 percent more than on Tuesday, with Caribbean Producers trading 36.6 million shares and GraceKennedy with 9.87 million units after 53 securities were traded down from 61 on Tuesday and resulted in prices of 13 stocks rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 54,394,461 shares were traded for $1,087,515,284, up sharply from just 4,541,590 units at a mere $25,960,870 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 1,026,311 shares at $20,519,156 well up from 74,452 units at $425,588 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 308,824 units at $2,797,036, compared with 263,283 units at $1,672,159 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Caribbean Producers led trading with 36.63 million shares for 67.3 percent of total volume followed by GraceKennedy with 9.87 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm chipped in with 2.59 million units for 4.8 percent market share, Carreras contributed 1.29 million units to trading for 2.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.01 million units for 1.9 percent of the total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,682.39 points to end at 346,162.58, the JSE Main Index dipped 2,490.91 points to wrap up trading at 310,440.98 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.27 points to culminate at 67.71.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 99 cents in closing at $71, with 15,764 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $4.40 to $53.95 with investors dealing in 220,804 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $1.99 and ended at $38.50 after 1,088 shares passed through the market. GraceKennedy advanced $3 to end at $77 after a transfer of 9,874,067 stock units, Jamaica Broilers skidded 88 cents to close at $34 while exchanging 235,439 shares, Key Insurance popped 55 cents to $2.50 with a transfer of 500 units. Kingston Wharves fell $1.49 to close at $26.51 with 731 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial dipped $1 to $68 in an exchange of 38,436 stocks, 
Pan Jamaica lost $1 in closing at $46 with traders dealing in 12,076 shares. Proven Investments gained 73 cents to end at $23.73 in an exchange of 888 stocks, Sagicor Group declined $1 in closing at $40 after 12,007 units changed hands, Salada Foods rallied 38 cents to $2.90 with investors exchanging 343 stock units and Seprod shed $3 to close at $75 in trading 6,477 shares and VM Investments ended with 187,370 shares being traded to close at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.56 after a loss of 19 cents.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dropped 49 cents to end at $5.50, with 19,433 stock units crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share fell $100 and ended at $1,100 in switching ownership of 51 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
