Big slip for Juniors while majors rise

The Junior Market Index plunged 59.53 points to close at 3,882.497 points on the resumption of trading on Tuesday after the market was closed for the Independence holiday on Monday. In contrast, the Main Market and JSE US dollar Market rose moderately at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday while the volume of stocks traded declined from Friday level but with a higher value.  
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 197.70 points to close at 340,527.20, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 153.51 points to close at 361,747.17, the JSE Main Index advanced 653.62 points to 326,741.46, while the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.05 points to close at 241.67.
Preference shares that ended with notable price changes were Jamaica Public Service 7% declining $14 to close at $55, 138 Student Living preference share shedding $15 to close at $84.98 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gaining $1.45 to end at $102.95.
At the close, investors had dealings in 23,473,622 shares in all three markets, up from 20,248,937 stocks on Friday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $71.38 million, down from $133.6 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 37,378 shares for US$906, compared with 745,414 units at US$22,909 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6 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. It shows 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.