Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange following a rise in the volume of stocks traded, but with a lower value than on Wednesday. Trading ended with the major indices of the Main Market rising, the Junior Market index rising and the JSE USD Market falling. At the end of trading, prices of 45 shares rose, 39 declined and 19 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 1,427.16 points to finish trading at 371,978.30, as the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,303.78 points to end at 435,830.76, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,364.68 points to end at 367,131.51, the Junior Market Index climbed by 17.04 points to 2,918.66 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 0.06 points to finish at 307.05.
A total of 22,338,507 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 19,228,334 units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $108.47 million, down from $111.81 million on the previous day. The JSE USD market closed with a surge in trading, following an exchange of 7,285,203 shares for US$558, up from 931,250 units at US$84,657 on Wednesday.
Trading was generally low-key, with the Junior Market top three trades beating those of the Main Market, led by Transjamaican Highway with only 2.43 million shares, followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 812,006 stocks and JMMB Group with 759,529 units.
In Junior Market trading, Dolla Financial led with 3.69 million shares, followed by RA Williams with 1.99 million stocks and Indies Pharma with 969,238 units.
Amongst Main Market ordinary shares, Guardian Holdings increased $20 to end at $370.00, GraceKennedy popped $2.01 to $78.50, Sagicor Group gained $1.89 in closing at $43.40, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.43 to finish at $9.43 and Kingston Properties climbed $1.07 to close at $11.67.
Among the top losers, Massy Holdings lost $4.90 to end at $73.60, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $2.61 to $18.60, Eppley declined $1.05 to end at $34.75, Seprod shed $1.04 in closing at $73.96, Barita Investments dropped 20 cents to $67.80 and Mayberry Group dipped 20 cents to finish at $5.00.
The preference share segment closed trading as Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped by $5.05 and ended at $100.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Knutsford Express rallied $1.17 to close at $8.66, Main Event advanced 28 cents to $3.78, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 18 cents to end at $1.58, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 17 cents in closing at $1.87, Elite Diagnostic rallied 16 cents and ended at $1.75 end Express Catering gained 16 cents to finish at $1.96. Among the top losers, Access Financial dropped $3.82 and ended at $15.52, ISP Finance skidded $1.48 to $8.37, Dolphin Cove lost 34 cents in closing at $9.06, Lasco Financial shed 13 cents to end at $1.46 and ONE on ONE Educational dropped 8 cents to close at 63 cents.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.1 and 16.4 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to help navigate the various options in the stock market. The chart provides information to help in making investment decisions, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not straying too far from it, unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.