Trading picked up for Main Market but falling prices dominated

Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 127 percent and the value 182 percent more than on Tuesday, with trading in 57 securities compared with trading in 48 on Tuesday and ended with more stocks declining than rising with trading activity resulted in prices of 15 stocks rising, 26 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market ended with an exchange of 17,298,746 shares for $174,984,093 compared with 7,620,490 units at $62,076,383 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 303,487 shares at $3,069,896 compared to 158,760 units at $1,293,258 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 210,767 units at $1,616,852 compared with 202,242 units at $1,483,266 on the previous day and December that averaged 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
Jamaica Producers led trading with 3.96 million shares for 22.9 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 3.72 million stocks for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 2.66 million units for 15.4 percent of the market, JMMB 9.5% preference share ended with 1.59 million units for 9.2 percent market share, Wigton Windfarm with 1.38 million units for 8 percent of stocks traded and Carreras with 1.18 million units for 6.8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 446.67 points to close trading at 358,938.90, the JSE Main Index climbed 237.24 points to settle at 323,070.15 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.53 points to finish at 69.67.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. 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 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden shed $3 to end at $42 with just 482 stocks clearing the market, Barita Investments dipped 43 cents in closing at $71 with trading in 2,131 units, Berger Paints fell 37 cents to $6.22 after a mere 116 shares passed through the market. Caribbean Cement skidded $4.74 to close at $51.26 in an exchange of 18,488 stock units, Caribbean Producers lost 30 cents and ended at $8.50 with investors dealing in 17,089 shares, Carreras dipped 41 cents to $8.12 and closed after trading in 1,183,532 stock units. General Accident increased 65 cents in closing at $5.35 with investors swapping just 499 stocks, Guardian Holdings climbed $18.49 and ended at $369 after an exchange of 1,420 units, Jamaica Broilers popped $1 to end at $33.50 in trading 17,013 stocks. Jamaica Producers rallied $3.50 to close at $26 after a transfer of 3,963,336 shares, JMMB Group rose 40 cents to $24.40, with 6,362 stock units crossing the exchange, Margaritaville advanced 50 cents and ended at $15.50 with investors transferring 8 units. Mayberry Group sank 85 cents in closing at $7.56 after an exchange of 1,224 stocks, NCB Financial declined $1 to end at $66, with 18,192 units crossing the market, Pan Jamaica fell 50 cents to close at $49.50 with an exchange of 2,136 shares. Proven Investments shed 64 cents to $21.31 with 1,836 stock units crossing the market, Sagicor Group gained 99 cents to end at $42.99 as investors exchanged 6,404 shares, Seprod fell $3.17 in closing at $83 with a transfer of 2,973 stocks and Wisynco Group dipped 48 cents and ended at $20.50 while exchanging 29,423 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose 73 cents to close at $168 in switching ownership of 56 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.