The fall of the JSE Main Market

Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday but remained moderate as the market suffered a decline with more stocks declining than rising following a 43 percent increase in the volume of stocks traded and a 41 percent hike in value over Thursday, leading to 56 securities trading compared to 54 on Thursday, with prices of 19 rising, 22 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
In a moderate trading session, a total of 9,818,276 shares were traded for $78,748,697 up from 6,849,323 units at $56,037,409 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 175,326 shares at $1,406,227 compared with 126,839 shares at $1,037,730 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 214,582 units at $1,397,550 versus 217,351 units at $1,396,938 on the previous day. trading in April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.22 million shares for 32.8 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.78 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.12 million units for 11.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 3,388.21 points to close at 363,730.85, the JSE Main Index declined 1,634.37 points to conclude trading at 329,965.49 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.79 points to close at 74.44.
The PE Ratio a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $1.99 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $75 after investors traded 9,251 shares, Berger Paints increased 35 cents to close at $7.90 after a transfer of 2,900 stock units, Caribbean Cement popped $2.99 to end at $51 while exchanging 370 stocks. Eppley climbed 58 cents and ended at $37.10 after 23 units changed hands, First Rock Real Estate dipped 40 cents to $10.50 in an exchange of 8,988 stocks, GraceKennedy lost 90 cents in closing at $78.10 after trading 10,116 units, Guardian Holdings advanced $5 to end at $485 with investors transferring 795 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 78 cents to $13.84 with 1,000 units clearing the market, Kingston Wharves gained 48 cents and ended at $31 in an exchange of 2,510 stock units, Massy Holdings rallied $3 to close at $100, with 490,550 shares crossing the market. NCB Financial rallied $1.39 to close at $71.39 with an exchange of 23,568 units, Portland JSX climbed 48 cents in closing at $11.48, with 1,985 stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments shed 34 cents to $26 with an exchange of 10 units. Sagicor Group fell $1.24 to end at $49.50 in switching ownership of 50,000 shares, Scotia Group declined 30 cents and ended at $34.20 as investors exchanged 25,715 stocks, Seprod advanced 95 cents to $70.95, with 1,527 stock units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined $1.88 to $10.11 after an exchange of 5,300 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $183.75 in closing at $1041.25 with a transfer of 450 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $17.99 to end at $86.01 with shareholders swapping 2 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.