Depressed trading on JSE markets

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose at the close of trading on Tuesday as the Main Market dropped and JSE USD market closed modestly higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 34 declining that included several heavily weighted Main Market stocks.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,029.58 points to 326,113.36, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 4,372.87 points to end at 352,707.25, the JSE Main Index sank 3,334.60 points to close trading at 313,116.77. The Junior Market Index climbed 22.93 points to 3,722.19 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.85 points to 227.22.
At the close of trading, 11,572,254 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 8,691,048 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $35.47 million, well below the $40.09 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 123,275 shares for US$3,408 compared to 243,637 units at US$6,654 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.93 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.56 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.06 million units.
In Junior Market trading, JFP Ltd led trading with 1.75 million shares followed by Jamaican Teas with 950,471 stocks for and ONE on ONE Educational with 496,370 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share dropped $3.98 to end at $17.01, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% fell $2 in closing at $2,697 and 138 Student Living preference share gained $24.50 to close at $194.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20.4 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.9 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 reported as a guide for investors to assess the value of stocks. 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.