Trading jumps but Main Market index drops

Market activity ended on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading declining by 26 percent with a 28 percent higher value than on in trading 0n Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 953.08 points to settle at 449,225.19, the JSE Main Index fell 1,195.68 points to close at 394,486.85 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.01 points to 93.42. Trading ended with 60 securities against 59 on Wednesday, with 26 rising, 23 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.7. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between August 2022 and August 2023.
Overall, 70,371,025 shares were exchanged for $1,275,443,556 versus 95,428,562 units at $992,647,318 on Wednesday. Jamaica Stock Exchange led trading with 48.03 million shares for 68.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.61 million units for 8 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway ended with 3.96 million units for 5.6 percent market share. JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 closed with 2.79 million units for 4 percent market share, 138 Student Living ended with 2.04 million units for 2.9 percent market share and Pulse Investments exchanged 1.27 million units for 1.8 percent market share.
Trading averages 1,172,850 units at $21,257,393 versus 1,617,433 shares at $16,824,531 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 765,733 units at $7,831,791 compared to 717,931 units at $6,255,399 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints shed 87 cents to close at $11.60, with 4,512 shares crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement increased 35 cents to end at $71.99 in trading 3,528 stocks, Caribbean Producers climbed 20 cents to $18.40, with 121,072 units clearing the market. Eppley gained 85 cents in ending at $42.85 and closed after 436 stock units were traded, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 60 cents to $44.40 in switching ownership of 4,000 stock units, GraceKennedy fell 59 cents to $104.81 after 235,955 stocks changed hands. Jamaica Producers popped 64 cents in closing at $23, trading 11,143 units, JMMB Group dropped 85 cents in ending at $46.25 with an exchange of 1,198,543 shares, Kingston Wharves rose 70 cents to close at $41.70 while exchanging 13,294 stock units. Massy Holdings declined $1 to end at $99, with  22,492 shares changing hands, Mayberry Investments advanced 30 cents to close at $7.20, with 228,978 stocks crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy lost $3 to close at $111 after exchanging 184 units. NCB Financial rallied $9.15 to end at $117, with 25,463 units crossing the market, Proven Investments rose $1.20 in closing at $38.20 after exchanging 1,800 stocks, Sagicor Group increased $1.98 to $56.98 in an exchange of 7,639 stock units. Scotia Group dropped $1.88 in ending at $35 after exchanging 93,519 shares, Seprod climbed 88 cents to end at $61.98 with the swapping of 6,700 units, Supreme Ventures declined 51 cents in closing at $24.49 in an exchange of 362,832 stock units and Wisynco Group shed $1.10 to close at $23.20 after trading 700,949 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference shares fell $1.44 to $15.06, clearing the market with 133 stocks, Eppley 5% preference share lost $1 to $21, changing hands 301 units. Eppley 7.50% preference share rallied 70 cents in closing at $6.61, crossing the market 150 stock units and Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced 40 cents ending at $20.40 in trading 301 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.