Fall for JSE Main Market, others inched higher

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell in trading on Thursday as the Junior Market and the JSE USD market rose by a few points, with 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 43 shares rising and 24 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index lost 1,248.13 points to close at 345,918.56, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,943.63 points to 368,612.99, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,377.96 points to 333,056.04. The Junior Market Index popped 5.05 points to 3,832.51 and the JSE USD Market Index advanced 5.04 points to close at 257.02.
At the close of trading, 16,660,602 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,838,528 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $44.73 million, down from $57.37 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 157,614 shares for US$22,646 compared to 263,941 units at US$62,436 on Wednesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by JMMB 9.5% preference share trading 6.95 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.25 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 922,977 shares.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 2.78 million shares followed by MFS Capital Partners with 495,943 units and Stationery and Office Supplies with 442,836 stocks.
At the close of trading on the Main Market Guardian Holdings gained $10 and ended at $370, JMMB Group increased 99 cents to end at $25.99, Massy Holdings climbed 99 cents to close at $98.99 and Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 93 cents to $11.73.
The major declining Main Market stocks are Jamaica Producers that fell $2.68 and ended at $23.32, NCB Financial shedding $1.95 to $65.05 and Seprod that lost $1.50 and ended at $85.50.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Dolphin Cove rose $1.46 to $18.98 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 35 cents in closing at $2.09, Limners and Bards sank 42 cents to close at $1.30, MFS Capital Partners dropped 33 cents to end $2.11 and tTech skidded 49 cents to close at $2.
There were no stocks trading with a notable price change in the preference segment of the market.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21… on 2022-23 earnings and 14… times those for 2023-24 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 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 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.
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 for investors 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.