End of quarter rally for Jamaican stocks

The Jamaica stock market closed higher on the back of increased trading activity to close out another month and quarter for the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the major market indices closing higher on a day when the number and value of stocks changing hands surged sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 40 shares rising and 36 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 1,723.87 points to 332,526.55, the All Jamaican Composite Index increased 3,166.41 points to 358,136.59, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,525.91 points to close trading at 318,919.87. The Junior Market Index popped 37.12 points to 3,843.23, fractionally higher than the close in June and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.70 points to settle at 236.67.
At the close of trading, 78,640,697 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 33,319,433 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $326.65 million, well above the $189.89 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,447,374 shares for US$79,036 compared to 245,101 units at US$5,275 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 14.05 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.64 million stocks, Transjamaican Highway was next with 2.45 million shares and Supreme Ventures with 1.56 million units.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 11.33 million shares followed by Express Catering with 5.20 million units, Omni Industries was next with 5.12 million stocks, Future Energy ended with 4.64 million shares, Lasco Financial closed with 2.72 million stock units and Jetcon Corporation with 2.63 million units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $6.47 to close at $47.97, JMMB Group 7% preference share rallied 42 cents to $2.76, 138 Student Living preference share increased $19.55 to end at $200 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% skidded $2 in closing at $108.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20.9 on 2023-24 earnings and 14 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.