Trading pickup

Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 44 percent, with a modest increase in value over trading on Wednesday, with 58 securities trading compared to 57 on Wednesday, leading to prices of 17 rising, 25 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,652,600 shares were traded for $71,783,616 up from 7,390,135 units at $69,722,827 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 183,666 shares at $1,237,649, up from 129,651 shares at $1,223,207 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 153,352 units at $1,627,367 versus 149,505 units at $1,676,828 on the previous trading day. September closed with an average of 533,719 units at $5,494,282.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.03 million shares for 28.5 percent of total volume,  Wigton Windfarm was next, with 1.67 million units for 15.6 percent of the day’s trading, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended with 1.15 million units for 10.8 percent of the market and Wisynco Group with 1.10 million units for 10.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,662.75 points to 406,874.27, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,570.82 points to 356,095.93 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.20 points to 85.68.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $1.63 in closing at $106.24 with a transfer of 31,702 stocks, Berger Paints lost 45 cents to end at $10.80, with 2,444 stock units crossing the market. Caribbean Cement fell 73 cents to $59 after a transfer of 6,923 units, Caribbean Producers declined 86 cents to $13.14, with 357,429 stocks crossing the market, Eppley rallied 50 cents to end at $39 while exchanging 247 stock units. GraceKennedy dipped $1 to end at $90, with 77,947 units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $10 in closing at $505 with investors transferring 200 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose 60 cents to $29.60 after exchanging 11,391 stocks. Mayberry Investments gained 80 cents to close at $8 after an exchange of 7,252 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 50 cents to $13.50 in switching ownership of 46,013 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $11 in closing at $82.40, with 105 shares crossing the exchange. NCB Financial popped $1 to $90 as investors exchanged 56,170 stock units, PanJam Investment increased $7 to close at $57 after trading 2,917 units, Scotia Group shed 97 cents in ending at $35 after exchanging 8,000 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 60 cents to $13.30 with the swapping of 284,491 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 79 cents in closing at $10.30 with 100 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dipped 48 cents to close at $2.72 with an exchange of 2,283 stock units, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $3.48 in ending at $68, with 697 stocks changing hands, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% increased $49 to close at $1149 after trading 163 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $10.85 to end at $107.15 in an exchange of 111 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.