Trading surges on the JSE Main Market

Trading activity jumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded surging 1,098 percent and the value 4,089 percent more than on Tuesday, with Caribbean Producers trading 36.6 million shares and GraceKennedy with 9.87 million units after 53 securities were traded down from 61 on Tuesday and resulted in prices of 13 stocks rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 54,394,461 shares were traded for $1,087,515,284, up sharply from just 4,541,590 units at a mere $25,960,870 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 1,026,311 shares at $20,519,156 well up from 74,452 units at $425,588 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 308,824 units at $2,797,036, compared with 263,283 units at $1,672,159 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Caribbean Producers led trading with 36.63 million shares for 67.3 percent of total volume followed by GraceKennedy with 9.87 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm chipped in with 2.59 million units for 4.8 percent market share, Carreras contributed 1.29 million units to trading for 2.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.01 million units for 1.9 percent of the total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,682.39 points to end at 346,162.58, the JSE Main Index dipped 2,490.91 points to wrap up trading at 310,440.98 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.27 points to culminate at 67.71.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 99 cents in closing at $71, with 15,764 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $4.40 to $53.95 with investors dealing in 220,804 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $1.99 and ended at $38.50 after 1,088 shares passed through the market. GraceKennedy advanced $3 to end at $77 after a transfer of 9,874,067 stock units, Jamaica Broilers skidded 88 cents to close at $34 while exchanging 235,439 shares, Key Insurance popped 55 cents to $2.50 with a transfer of 500 units. Kingston Wharves fell $1.49 to close at $26.51 with 731 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial dipped $1 to $68 in an exchange of 38,436 stocks, Pan Jamaica lost $1 in closing at $46 with traders dealing in 12,076 shares. Proven Investments gained 73 cents to end at $23.73 in an exchange of 888 stocks, Sagicor Group declined $1 in closing at $40 after 12,007 units changed hands, Salada Foods rallied 38 cents to $2.90 with investors exchanging 343 stock units and Seprod shed $3 to close at $75 in trading 6,477 shares and VM Investments ended with 187,370 shares being traded to close at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.56 after a loss of 19 cents.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dropped 49 cents to end at $5.50, with 19,433 stock units crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share fell $100 and ended at $1,100 in switching ownership of 51 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.