Big surge in trading in Jamaican stocks

Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with 55.8 million shares changing hands, valued at $1.198 billion, well above trading on Wednesday as Jamaica Producers led trading with 22.43 million shares followed by NCB Financial with 6.72 million stocks, GraceKennedy with 4.77 million units, Lasco Manufacturing with 3.59 million shares, Wigton Windfarm with 2.82 million shares and Transjamaican Highway with 1.60 million stocks.
Stocks mostly skidded on the Main Market after several big capitalisation stocks suffered notable declines, with the JSE USD market indices slipping, as the Junior Market bucked the trend and closed moderately higher as trading ended with prices of 36 shares rising and 39 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,120.25 points to 317,362.54, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 4,767.16 points to 346,017.57and the JSE Main Index shed 4,381.54 points to wrap up trading at 304,488.32. The Junior Market Index rallied 9.66 points to 3,651.75 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 1.94 points to end the day at 232.14.
At the close of trading, 55,750,243 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 10,764,954 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $1.198 billion, well over the $55.44 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,036,413 shares for US$22,525 compared to 4,998 units at US$383 on Wednesday.
In Junior Market trading, RA Williams led trading with 3.61 million shares followed by Mailpac Group with 1.35 million stock and One Great Studio with 1.20 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $10 to end at $175.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.8 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.2 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends that are paid or are 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.