Big jump for Junior and JSE USD Markets

The Junior Market climbed appreciably at the close on Thursday with Cargo Handlers and Access Financial climbing by $2 or more, while Grace Kennedy climbed $2.60, but declines in NCB Financial and Kingston Wharves weighted on the Main Market, with trading ended with a big jump in the JSE USD Index.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,259.01 points to close at 329,392.48, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,390.33 points to close at 349,133.32, the JSE Main Index rose 128.65 points to 316,174.86, the Junior Market Index jumped 42.71 points to 3,811.57, while the JSE USD Market Index popped 13.81 points to finish at 258.38.
At the close, investors traded shares in all three markets, compared with 8,767,985 stock units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at just $40 million, down from $40 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market rose above that on Wednesday and ended with investors exchanging shares for US$10,039 from 246,487 units at US$10,039 on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded $13 to $42, 138 Student Living preference share lost $15 to end at $84.98 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share dipped $180 and ended at $1,020.
The market’s PE ratio, the measure most used to determine the value of stocks ended at 19.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.