All Markets rise on Monday

All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains in indices at the close of trading on Monday with the number of stocks changing hands and the value of stocks traded rising over the previous trading day resulting in prices of 35 shares rising and 3 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 3,886.27 points to close at 346,024.78, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,499.80 points to lock up trading at 369,213.68, the JSE Main Index rallied 4,036.96 points to conclude trading at 333,377.53. The Junior Market Index rose 11.44 points to end at 3,810.21 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.01 points to conclude trading at 252.02.
At the close of trading, 16,865,715 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 17,913,688 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $79.13 million, up from $65.21 million Friday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 186,772 shares for US$6,867 down from 1,000,615 units at US$122,251 on Friday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm trading with 4.33 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.62 million units, QWI Investments ended with 1.40 million stock units and Carreras, 1.33 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.21 million shares followed by EduFocal with 566,845 stock units and Future Energy with 387,681 units.
At the close of the market, some Main Market stocks that rose were Jamaica Producers rallying $2.35 to close at $26.25, Massy Holdings rising $3.64 to $98.49, Proven Investments increasing 99 cents to $23 and Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbing $1.49 and ended at $11.49.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Caribbean Cement down $1.15 to $53.80, Eppley sinking $1 in closing at $33, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shedding $1 to end at $39, Pan Jamaica dipping $1.50 to $50, Seprod declining $1.87 to end at $85.13, Sygnus Credit Investments dropping 89 cents in closing at $10.85 and Wisynco Group which skidded 97 cents to close at $22.
Stocks ending with major gains in the Junior Market are Cargo Handlers up $1.46 to $14.63, ISP Finance increasing 50 cents to $31.50, Knutsford Express advancing $1.30 to $12.40, with the major losing stock being Caribbean Assurance Brokers that sank 38 cents in closing at $2.09.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $4.19 and ended at $46.09.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.3 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.