Big price changes for several JSE stocks

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped in trading on Friday and the Junior Market gained as the JSE USD market closed unchanged following a sharp reduction in the volume and value of stocks changing hands falling from the previous day andresulting in prices of 39 shares rose and 35, declined, with Scotia Group hitting new 52 weeks’ high in closing at $46 the largest Main Market rising stock.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 418.12 points to close at 342,138.51, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,152.06 points to finish  trading at 366,713.88, the JSE Main Index advanced 256.53 points to 329,340.57. The Junior Market Index rose 20.28 points to 3,798.77 and the JSE USD Market Index ended unchanged at 251.01.
At the close of trading, 17,913,688 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 24,848,411 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounts to $65.21 million, down from $94.99 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,000,615 shares for US$122,251 up from 393,307 units at US$18,728 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was led by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 4.66 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.93 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 952,293 stock units.
In the Junior Market, One Great Studio led trading with 1.36 million shares followed by Lasco Distributors with 930,104 units and ONE on ONE Educational with 639,673 stock units.
At the close of the market, the major Main Market stocks that rose are Caribbean Cement popped 95 cents to $54.95, Guardian Holdings rose $2 to close at $369, Jamaica Producers rallied $2.29 in closing at $23.90, Massy Holdings climbed $1.80 to $94.85, Scotia Group popped $5 to $46 and Wisynco Group climbed $1.87 to $22.97.
The major declining Main Market stocks are Barita Investments dropped $1.10 in closing at $70.05, Eppley fell $4.10 to end at $34, Proven Investments dipped 99 cents to end at $22.01, Seprod sank $1.99 to end at $87 and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1 to close at $10.
Stocks ending with major gains in the Junior Market are Dolphin Cove climbing 80 cents to $19 and ISP Finance gained $10.70 to close at $31, with the major losing stocks being Knutsford Express dropping $1.30 in closing at $11.10 and Main Event sinking 88 cents to close at $15.12.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded $7.40 and ended at $41.90, 138 Student Living preference share increased $3.50 to close at $214.50 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rallied $15.60 to end at $119.60.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 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.