Winning stocks overwhelmed by main market losers

Trading nosedived to start off the new month on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday with a 41 percent fall in the volume of stocks following a 25 percent slippage in value compared with Tuesday after 57 securities were traded versus 55 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 30 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,458,006 shares were traded for $74,659,322 down from 16,071,684 units at $99,612,685 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 165,930 units at $1,309,813 compared with 292,212 shares at $1,811,140 on Tuesday. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.36 million shares for 35.5 percent of trading, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.58 million units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 703,349 units for 7.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,399.97 points to close at 381,932.19, the JSE Main Index shed 2,544.43 points at 337,782.90 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.64 points to end at 80.47.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $1.46 to $58.52 in exchanging 305 shares, Eppley dropped $2.50 to end at $37.50 with a transfer of 500 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped 50 cents to $48 trading 91 stock units. First Rock Real Estate popped $1.64 to close at $13.94 after crossing the market with 5,571 stocks, GraceKennedy declined $4.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $74.50 with the swapping of 54,896 stocks, Guardian Holdings dropped $11 to end at $524 as investors exchanged 387 shares. Jamaica Broilers shed 42 cents after ending at $30.99 in switching ownership of 662,725 stock units, JMMB Group fell $2.94 in closing at $33 after 541,737 units passed through the market, Kingston Properties fell $1 to $6.55 after a transfer of 14,251 stocks. Margaritaville fell 95 cents to close at $22 with an exchange of 200 stock units, Mayberry Investments rose 80 cents to $8.77 in trading 29,833 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced 93 cents to close at $12.93 with 1,840 units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $8.31 to end at $92.31, with 42 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial declined $1.25 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $77.50 in switching ownership of 52,385 stock units, Palace Amusement dropped $290 in ending at $2,190 trading 824 shares. Proven Investments dipped $1.77 to $30 after a transfer of 10,369 units, Sagicor Group declined $5.39 to end at $48.60 after trading 4,020 units, Seprod shed $3 to close at $66 with the swapping of 18,765 shares. Stanley Motta lost 44 cents in ending at $5.25 with investors transferring 10,687 stock units, Supreme Ventures dipped 88 cents to $26.10 with 42,297 stocks changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 96 cents to close at $10.46 in trading one stock unit.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose 75 cents in closing at a record high of $5.21 with a transfer of 2,679 shares and 138 Student Living preference share climbed $5.55 to $75.50 in an exchange of 19 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.