Trading sank on the JSE Main Market

The level of trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market was a shadow of its usual self at the close on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 71 percent and the value 81 percent lower than on Tuesday, with 53 securities trading compared with 58 on Tuesday, with a mere 4,057,118 shares traded for just $25,768,191 compared with 14,138,225 units at $134,834,411 on Tuesday.
Trading ended with prices of rising and declining stocks totalling 19 each with 15 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 76,549 shares at $486,192 versus 243,763 shares at $2,324,731 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 277,403 units at $1,727,587, compared with 294,826 units at $1,835,269 on the previous day. Trading in September averaged 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.81 million shares for 44.5 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 429,792 units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras chipped in with 381,152 units for 9.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 3,302.43 points to close at 344,152.91, the JSE Main Index shed 2,782.98 points to 312,443.39 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.40 points to 68.91.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. 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 up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement lost $1 in closing at $49 with traders dealing in 34,016 shares, General Accident declined 79 cents to end at $5.01, with 20,000 stock units crossing the market, GraceKennedy fell $1.99 and ended at $73 while exchanging 2,619 units. Jamaica Broilers rallied $1.25 to $34 with shareholders swapping 113 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 58 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $9.32 after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $8.01, with stakeholders exchanging 167,778 stock units. Kingston Wharves dipped $3.75 to $27 in an exchange of 7,549 stocks, NCB Financial popped $1 and ended at $65 after closing with an exchange of 5,183 shares, Proven Investments skidded $2 to end at $22 in an exchange of 2,403 units. Sagicor Group rose $1.46 in closing at $44.48 after investors traded 26,043 stock units, Salada Foods advanced 42 cents to close at $3.04 104,742 stocks crossing the market, Seprod shed $6.24 and ended at $65.26, with 8,024 shares changing hands. Stanley Motta increased 80 cents to close at $6 with investors dealing in 1,845 units, Supreme Ventures dipped 75 cents to end at $26.25 in trading 30,032 stock units and Wisynco Group dropped 36 cents in closing at $18.10 after 44,718 stocks passed through the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $8 to close at $50 with a transfer of 149 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $10 to end at $2,900 with an exchange of 2 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share jumped $21.75 to $120.75 after a transfer of 1,655 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.