The number of listed Junior Market stocks rose by one at the start of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with Omni Industries, the latest Initial Public Offer to het the market being listed and commenced trading, ending with 3.9 million changing hands with the price rising 30 percent on the first day of trading.
Trading resulted in a 121 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, with 120 percent greater value than Monday, following trading in 39 securities, similar to Monday and ending with prices of 11 rising, 22 declining and six closing unchanged. Investors traded 10,325,850 shares for $22,143,401 up from 4,681,030 units at $10,064,255 on Monday.
Trading averaged 264,765 shares at $567,780 compared with 120,026 units at $258,058 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 169,574 units at $369,946 compared with 154,665 stock units at $338,960 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Omni Industries led trading with 3.90 million shares for 37.8 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 1.33 million stocks for 12.8 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial ended with 1.15 million units for 11.2 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.04 million units for 10 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 44.47 points to end trading at 3,635.06.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Cargo Handlers advanced $1.35 to finish at $13.26 with investors swapping 134 shares, Caribbean Cream popped 25 cents and ended at $4, with 3,123 stocks crossing the exchange, Derrimon Trading sank 16 cents to $1.84 with investors transferring 202,435 units. Everything Fresh lost 14 cents to end at $1.55 after an exchange of 4,560 stock units, Express Catering rallied 9 cents in closing at $4.30 after the trading of 147,601 shares, Fontana increased 89 cents to close at $9 after exchanging 328,629 stocks. 
Future Energy slipped 13 cents to $3.24, with 1,325,841 units crossing the market, Honey Bun climbed 39 cents to finish at $8.20 with an exchange of 10,827 stock units, Image Plus fell 21 cents to $1.69 following trading of 52,063 shares. Jetcon Corporation skidded 21 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of 66 cents in an exchange of 26,451 stocks, JFP Ltd dropped 7 cents in closing at $1.13 after 14,211 units passed through the market, KLE Group shed 34 cents to close at $1.92 after a transfer of 1,000 stock units. Knutsford Express declined by 65 cents to $10.65 with investors dealing in 1,234 shares, Lasco Financial dipped 14 cents and ended at $1.50 in switching ownership of 2,606 stock units, Limners and Bards fell 19 cents in closing at $1.51 with investors trading 1,089 stocks. Main Event dropped 49 cents to finish at $12.50 with 2,772 units clearing the market, Omni Industries rose 30 cents to close at a record high of $1.30 with traders dealing in 3,903,111 shares, Paramount Trading sank 12 cents to end at $1.13 in an exchange of 7,762 units and tTech gained 29 cents to end at $2.47 with an exchange of 10,258 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dipped on JSE as Omni lists
Shares of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the latest initial public offer of stocks were listed on the Junior Market on Tuesday and jumped 30 percent in closing at $1.30, with investors trading 3.9 million shares declined in trading on Tuesday as the Junior Market declined. The Main market eked out a modest rise but the JSE USD market closed lower as trading ended with the number and the value of stocks changing hands falling, resulting in prices of 39 shares declining and 28 rising.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 189.22 points to close at 330,760.47, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 975.19 points to wrap up trading at 356,374.98, the JSE Main Index popped 526.71 points to end the day at 318,616.65. The Junior Market Index dropped 44.47 points to 3,635.06, with FESCO dropping in the morning session to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.50, with an average price of $2.90 and would have had a major pull on the index. The JSE USD Market Index fell 2.98 points to lock up trading at 220.14.
At the close of trading, 20,644,795 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 35,226,914 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $112.91 million, well below the $192.21, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 89,247 shares for US$3,105 compared to 147,490 units at US$59,542 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Palace Amusement led trading with 1.72 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.56 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.47 million stocks.
In Junior Market trading, Omni Industries led trading with 3.90 million shares followed by Future Energy with 1.33 million units, then Dolla Financial with 1.15 million shares and Fosrich with 1.04 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $28.18 and ended at $159.70 with investors swapping 46 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost $2.69 to finish at $112.31
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.2 times those for 2024-25 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 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 the more detailed daily report 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 reported as a guide for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading picks up on JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed lower on Monday, following an 8 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, value 84 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 58 previously and ending with prices of 17 stocks rising, 23 declining and 19 ending unchanged after Berger Paints and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund both traded at 52 weeks’ high.
The market closed with trading of 30,398,621 shares for $182,144,563 compared with 28,048,957 units at $98,812,380 on Friday.
Trading averaged 515,231 shares at $3,087,196 compared to 483,603 units at $1,703,662 on Friday and month to date, an average of 276,041 units at $1,420,730 compared with 228,041 units at $1,086,304 on the previous trading day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.40 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 5.63 million units for 18.5 percent of the day’s trade. Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 4.89 million units changing hands for 16.1 percent market share, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund closed with 2.47 million units for 8.1 percent of the market volume, Palace Amusement had an exchange of 1.58 million units for 5.2 percent of the market and Transjamaican Highway 1.33 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 3,400.86 points to 357,350.17, the JSE Main Index shed 2,739.68 points to 318,089.94 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.90 points to end the day at 68.02.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden declined by $2.50 to $34 after 227 stock units passed through the market, Berger Paints increased $1.88 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $10.14 after the price hit an intraday high of $11.98 and closed with an exchange of 12,690 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $2 in closing at $60.50 with investors dealing in 106,126 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $1.24 to end at $38.76, with 3,609 stocks changing hands, First Rock Real Estate sank 80 cents and ended at $9.20 with a transfer of 14,773 shares, Jamaica Broilers skidded $1.74 to finish at $32.01 after an exchange of 40,457 stock units. 
Jamaica Producers fell 53 cents and ended at $22.01 with 900,385 stocks clearing the market, Kingston Properties dipped 48 cents to $8 after a transfer of 11,968 units, Margaritaville dropped $1.65 to close at $14.30 in switching ownership of 3,753 shares. NCB Financial shed $1 to finish at $61.90 after an exchange of 28,435 stock units, Proven Investments sank $2.44 in closing at $18.55 with investors swapping 6,750 stocks, Sagicor Group popped $1.98 to end at $41.98, with 8,580 units crossing the market. Scotia Group advanced 34 cents in closing at $44.75 with an exchange of 540,060 shares, Seprod lost $1 to end at $79 and closed with an exchange of 100,666 units and Stanley Motta skidded 30 cents to close at $7 in an exchange of 1,616 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 70 cents to end at $7.29 with investors trading 535 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for JSE markets
Falling prices pushed down all three Jamaica Stock Exchange markets in trading on Monday as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands rising over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 44 shares falling and only 22 rising.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,762.38 points to 330,571.24, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,400.86 points to 357,350.17, the JSE Main Index sank 2,739.68 points to 318,089.94. The Junior Market Index lost 19.53 points to conclude trading at 3,679.53 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.93 points to wrap up trading at 223.12.
At the close of trading, 35,226,914 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 32,074,516 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $192.21 million, well above the $108.76 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 147,490 shares for US$59,542 compared to 20,041 units at US$2,072 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.40 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 5.63 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 4.89 million stock units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund traded 2.47 million units, Palace Amusement ended with 1.58 million shares and Transjamaican Highway with 1.33 million units.
In Junior Market trading, JFP Ltd led trading with 981,369 shares followed by Express Catering with 676,059 units and Derrimon Trading with 495,470 shares.
In the preference segment, no stocks closed with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most used measure to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide 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 the more detailed daily report 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 reported as a guide for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Jamaica tourist arrivals hit the skids
After a robust start to stopover arrivals in the early months of the year, data on passenger traffic passing through Jamaica’s two major international airports declined in May, with passenger traffic passing through the Sangster International Airport slipping from 402,000 in May last year to 401,500, down 0.3 percent.
The airport traffic although not telling the full picture of stopover arrivals, is a good barometer of likely outcomes showing that Sangster International Airport which accounts for around 85 percent of visitor arrivals is up just 3.9 percent to 2,294,800 for the year to date.
This is the second month of decline for Montego Bay that had a 4.2 percent reduction to 435,500 in April from 454,500 for the same period last year, bringing the year to date increase then to 4.8 percent to 1.8928 million.
Traffic through Kingston’s Norman Manley continues the decline since the start of the year, with a fall of 1.1 percent to 139,900 compared to 141,500, with traffic for the first five months of this year, declining by 2.2 percent to 667,300 from 682,300.
The data is taken from a report on airport traffic during May published by Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico operators of Jamaica’s two major airports.
Price volatility low in ICTOP10
Volatility was low in ICTOP10 in the past week with the highest price change coming in at 6 percent, following moderate declines in the Junior Market and the Main Market
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Iron Rock Insurance climbed just 4 percent to $2.18. Caribbean Cream fell 6 percent to $3.75 followed by Access Financial, down 5 percent to $20.
In the Main Market, Margaritaville and Palace Amusement rose by 6 percent to close at $15.95 and $1.06 respectively and Key Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39. Of note is that Berger Paints fell 3 percent to close at $8.26, trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.10 on Friday as the stock closed with a big gap between buyers and sellers.
Lasco Financial was the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week replacing Edufocal that was suspended from trading during the week for not meeting the financial statement filing.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.8, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 292 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 209 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 47, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Profit continues higher at Scotia Group
Scotia Group had another financially successful quarter ending April this year, with profit climbing a solid 31 percent to $5.4 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.74, up from $4.1 billion in 2023, with EPS of $1.32. For the six months to April, profit rose 14 percent to $8.54 billion with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.74, from a profit of $7.49 billion in 2023 and EPS of $2.41.
Scotia Group head quarters in Kingston.
Total comprehensive income climbed to $6.65 billion in the quarter from $4.79 billion in 2023. For the half year, it fell to $2.76 billion from $3.6 billion in 2023 as other comprehensive income suffered a loss of $5.78 billion in the 2024 period and $3.86 billion in 2023 as a result of an $11 billion increase in defined benefit obligations in 2024 and $9.3 billion in 2023.
Total revenues rose 20 percent for the quarter, to $16.9 billion from $14.1 billion and climbed a solid 18 percent for the year to date, to $33.3 billion from $28.3 billion in 2023. Interest income rose 18 percent in the April quarter to $11.7 billion from $9.9 billion in 2023 and 20.4 percent for the six months to $23.3 billion from $19.4 billion.
The critical and the single most important area of the group’s operation of lending helped to deliver a 17.6 percent increase in a net interest income of $11.24 billion in the second quarter of this year, from $9.56 billion in the prior year and, it rose 18.4 percent to $22.35 billion in the six months from $18.87 billion in the 2023 half year.
According to the group directors, “Our loan portfolio increased by $35.5 billion or 14.4 percent compared to April 2023, with loans net of allowances for credit losses increasing to $282.3 billion. Our core loan book continues to perform well with mortgages increasing year over year by 24 percent, consumer loans by 13 percent, credit cards by 15 percent and commercial loans by 8 percent.” Loans grew 2.2 percent in the January quarter over October, with the pace picking up to 2.25 percent in the April quarter over January, this year, for an annualized growth rate of 10 percent.
Deposits by the public increased by 6 percent or $27 billion to $464 billion. Investment securities increased marginally to $156.5 billion from $151.6 billion last year.
Net income from foreign currency trading, fees, commission and other income went up 22 percent from $3.6 billion to $4.4 billion in the April quarter and rose 14 percent from $7.7 billion in the half year in 2023 to $8.4 billion in the current year.
Insurance activities delivered profits of $530 million for the latest quarter, up from $493 million in the previous year. For the half year, it moved to $1.05 billion, from $1.03 billion in the comparative period in 2023. Foreign currency trading gains amount to $2.23 billion in the latest quarter compared with $1.94 billion in 2023 and for the year to date, $4.56 billion in the six months to April versus $4 billion in 2023.
Credit impairment losses jumped sharply to $1 billion in the April quarter from $665 million last year to $2 billion in the half year, compared with $1.75 billion in 2023.
Segment results show Retail Banking with revenues of $11.06 billion compared with $10.1 billion in 2023 and delivered segment profit of $1.6 billion versus $2.1 billion in 2023. Corporate and Commercial banking had a 13 percent growth in third party revenues to $7.9 billion and net segment results of $7.2 billion compared with revenues of $6.9 billion in 2023 as net results surged sharply over the $5.2 billion in 2023. Treasury generated revenues of $7.7 billion up from $5.8 billion with a net position of $1.13 billion in 2024 compared with $1.03 billion in the prior year.
Investment Management Services generated revenues of $1.5 billion and a net result of $780 million in 2024, with revenues of $1.56 billion in 2023 and a net outturn of $806 million in 2023. Insurance services had a mild increase in revenues to $2.08 billion in 2024 as net results slipped to $2.05 billion, compared with revenues of $2.45 billion in 2023 and net segment results of $2.15 billion.
Salaries and staff benefits rose 12.8 percent to $2.96 billion from $2.63 billion in 2023 and for the half year, it rose by 13 percent from $5.23 billion to $5.9 billion.
Scotia Group traded at a $58 on Friday.
Other operating expenses fell marginally from $3.28 billion to $3.23 billion in the quarter and increased slightly in the nine months to $6.7 billion from $6.55 billion in the previous year. Overall, total operating expenses moved from $6.57 billion in the second quarter last year to $6.78 billion. For the six months to April, it moved by 7 percent to $15.46 billion from $14.4 billion in 2023.
Taxation on profit amounted to $2.38 billion in the April quarter up from $1.89 billion in 2023 and it rose 15 percent to $4.47 billion in the half year from $3.89 billion in 2023.
Shareholders’ equity ended the period at $127 billion, up from $108 billion at the end of March 2023.
IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of $6.50 to $7 per share for the fiscal year ending October 2024, with a PE of 6.5 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $44.41 the stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Net asset value ended the period at $4.78 with the stock selling at xxx book value.
The company declared a dividend of 40 cents which in line with payment in April versus 35 cents in July 2023.
Transjamaican dominates Main Market trades
Transjamaican Highway cornered trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with more than 60 percent of the volume of stocks traded on Friday, resulting in the volume of stocks traded rising 137 percent and the value 173 percent more than on Thursday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 56 on Thursday. At the close prices of 18 stocks rose, 21 declined and 19 ended unchanged.
The market closed with 28,048,957 shares being traded for $98,812,380 compared with 11,839,057 units at $36,250,961 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 483,603 shares at $1,703,662 compared to 211,412 units at $647,339 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 228,041 units at $1,086,304 compared with 165,233 units at $934,580 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 16.87 million shares for 60.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.92 million units for 28.3 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 832,520 stocks for 3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 409.02 points to settle at 360,751.03, the JSE Main Index lost 854.79 points to end the day at 320,829.62 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.13 points to culminate at 68.92.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints skidded 43 cents to finish at $8.26, with 13,183 stock units crossing the exchange with the price hitting an intraday high of $10.10, Caribbean Cement lost 50 cents to close at $62.50 with a transfer of 8,562 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $9.86 in closing at $360.09 after 64 stocks passed through the market. 
JMMB Group rose 49 cents and ended at $25.49, with 17,973 units changing hands, Kingston Properties rose 48 cents to close at $8.48 after 62,979 stocks were traded, Pan Jamaica sank $1.19 to $50 in switching ownership of 11 units. Proven Investments popped $1.04 in closing at $20.99 with 1,809 shares clearing the market, Sagicor Group dipped $1 to $40 with investors dealing in 2,363 stock units and Stanley Motta gained $1.19 to close at $7.30 after a transfer of 19 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share fell 46 cents to finish at $6.59 as investors exchanged 58 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $5 and ended at $115 in trading 1,517 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling prices hit the Junior Market hard
Rising stocks outpaced those falling on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but that did not prevent to market index from dropping, following a 15 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and a 7 percent fall in value compared with Thursday with trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 18 rising, 13 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with the trading of 4,006,350 shares for $9,943,397 down from 4,733,856 units at $10,743,830 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 95,389 shares at $236,748 compared to 115,460 units at $262,045 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 161,098 stock units at $353,985 compared with 177,525 units at $383,294 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Fosrich led trading with 1.15 million shares for 28.6 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 763,547 units for 19.1 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 534,396 units for 13.3 percent market share.
The Junior Market Index dipped 39.08 points to close at 3,699.06 at the close of trading.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power sank 20 cents to end at $3.05 in an exchange of 33,006 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to $3.85 with 66,906 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 45 cents and ended at $3.75 after investors ended exchanging 36,578 shares. Elite Diagnostic lost 8 cents in closing at $1.48 with a transfer of 23,761 stock units, Express Catering rose 39 cents to close at $4.20 after an exchange of 1,189 shares, 
Fontana advanced 7 cents to finish at $8.12 and closed after an exchange of 7,228 stock units. Honey Bun popped 9 cents and ended at $8 after a transfer of 13,092 units, Indies Pharma fell 9 cents to $2.65, with 11,315 stocks crossing the exchange, ISP Finance shed 60 cents to finish at $24.40 in switching ownership of 501 units. Knutsford Express increased 13 cents in closing at $11.50 after 554 shares crossed the market, Limners and Bards climbed 16 cents to end at $1.70 with an exchange of 151 stock units, Main Event rallied 49 cents to close at $12.99 with trading of 71,986 stocks and tTech popped 12 cents to $2.47 as investors exchanged 9,310 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican & Wigton dominate JSE trading
Transjamaican Highway dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with nearly 17 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 8 million units as trading on Friday exceeded Thursday’s outturn as investors moved the Main Market higher, as the Junior Market and the JSE USD market closed lower and resulting in prices of 31 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,091.82 points to 333,333.62, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 409.02 points to 360,751.03, the JSE Main Index sank 854.79 points to 320,829.62. The Junior Market fell 39.08 points to 3,699.06 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.14 points to close at 224.05.
At the close of trading, 32,074,516 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,806,355 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $108.76 million, well above the $46.99 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of a mere 20,041 shares for US$2,072 compared to 238,919 units at US$7,681 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 16.87 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.92 million stock units and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 832,520 units.
In Junior Market trading, Fosrich led trading with 1.15 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 763,547 units and Spur Tree Spices with 534,396 shares.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $5 and ended at $115.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.5. times those for 2024-25 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 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 the more detailed daily report 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 reported as a guide for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.