Trading drifts lower for JSE Main Market

Market activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining slightly, after 16 percent less shares changed hands than on Friday, following 55 active securities compared to 51 on Friday, with 15 rising, 29 declining and 11 ending unchanged. 
Overall, 8,975,299 shares were traded for $80,967,249 down from 9,624,890 units at $96,004,491 on Friday. Trading averages 163,187 units at $1,472,132, compared to 188,723 shares at $1,882,441 on Friday and month to date, an average of 183,006 units at $1,905,673, versus 186,350 units at $1,978,817 on the preceding trading day. June closed with an average of 281,913 units at $5,309,050.
Pulse Investments led trading with 2.08 million shares for 23.2 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.93 million units for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade and Sterling Investments with 977,830 units for 10.9 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,589.45 points to settle at 434,420.67, the JSE Main Index last 1,076.84 points to 379,658.76 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.30 points to settle at 90.09.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed $1.74 in closing at $88.16, with 223,812 shares changing hands, Berger Paints gained 51 cents to $11.51, crossing the market 15,598 units, Caribbean Cement popped $1 after ending at $64, with 44,874 stock units crossing the exchange. Eppley dropped $3.83 to close at $38.67 while exchanging 1,082 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 65 cents to end at $11.85 in exchanging 14,054 units, GraceKennedy jumped $3.88 in closing at $102.48 in an exchange of 60,999 shares. Jamaica Producers declined 47 cents to end at $20.55 after closing with 17,201 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 66 cents to $13.66 in finishing trading 2,862 stock units, NCB Financial fell 50 cents to $97 with an exchange of 61,488 shares. 138 Student Living rose 39 cents to close at $5.16 in trading 4,272 units, Portland JSX dropped 95 cents to $11, with 75 stock units clearing the market, Proven Investments declined 50 cents to close at $35.50 after trading 99 stocks. Scotia Group fell 90 cents to end at $36.50 in switching ownership of 2,115 stocks, Seprod lost 45 cents after finishing at $71.50 in exchanging 1,859 units, Supreme Ventures shed 48 cents to $30.50, with 98,014 stock units crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 75 cents to end at $14.05 after exchanging 34,740 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 81 cents in closing at $5.12 with the swapping of 68,219 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rallied 36 cents after ending at $7.91 after trading 146 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $1.26 to $107 and closed with ten shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.