Market activity ended on Thursday with the volume of shares trading 43 percent higher and the value of stocks 110 percent more than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, but the market indices dropped even as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,775.99 points to settle at 443,279.16 after the market opened at just over 445,891, the JSE Main Index shed 1,470.55 points to 401,600.62 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.68 points to end at 97.47.
Trading ended with 49 securities similar to Wednesday, with 20 rising, 15 declining leaving 14 unchanged. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 16. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending between the current year and August 2022.
Trading ended with 11,639,219 shares changing hands for $178,753,267 versus 8,132,722 units at $85,190,963 on Wednesday. Supreme Ventures led trading with 61.5 percent of total volume after an exchange of 7.15 million shares, followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund 4 percent with 466,839 units and Transjamaican Highway with 3 percent after trading 348,925 units.
Trading averages 237,535 units at $3,648,026, compared to 165,974 shares a $1,738,591 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 271,242 units at $2,691,636, compared to 282,402 units at $2,374,994 on Wednesday. October closed with an average of 251,350 units at $2,773,208.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 52 cents to $93.98 exchanging 46,947 shares, Caribbean Cement declined $3.92 in closing at $103.98 with the swapping of 7,231 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $5 to close at $42.50 with 50 stocks crossing the market. First Rock Capital lost 30 cents to end at $12 in trading 2,333 stock units, Guardian Holdings spiked $27.90 in ending at $547.90 with a transfer of 882 units, Jamaica Producers slipped 65 cents to close at $23.10 after 5,058 stocks cleared the market. JMMB Group shed 50 cents ending at $37 with 291,920 shares crossing the exchange, Kingston Wharves advanced $2 to $46.50, with 209 stock units switching ownership, Margaritaville gained 48 cents to end at $14.88, with one share changing hands. Mayberry Investments rose 51 cents to end the day at a 52 weeks’ close high of $7.51 with an exchange of 260,172 units, after the stock hit an intraday high of $8.25, before pulling back. 
NCB Financial dropped $5.89 to $125 in trading 118,380 stocks, PanJam Investment popped $1 to $64 after exchanging 10,452 stock units, Proven Investments rose 45 cents to $33 with the swapping of 11,026 stocks, Sagicor Group declined $2.99 to close at $53.01 in switching ownership of 8,069 stock units. Seprod shed 69 cents to end at $63.25 in transferring 1,744 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents to end at $17.99 after trading 7,153,341 units, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 51 cents to $18.51 with an exchange of 188,476 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 49 cents in closing at $18.50 trading 11,052 stocks and VM Investments advanced 44 cents to $6.19 in exchanging 50,688 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
