Falling stocks overwhelmed those rising on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday pushing the major market indices sharply lower, the Junior Market index slipped a few points and the JSE USD Market inched moderately higher. At the close prices of 39 shares rose, 57 declined and 23 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,738.74 points to close at 344,997.50, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 5,392.63 points to wrap up trading at 383,074.83, the JSE Main Index dived 3,890.22 points to settle at 332,911.12, the Junior Market Index lost 2.59 points to close at 3,715.39 and the JSE USD Market Index advanced 1.10 points to wrap-up trading at 235.70.
Trading resulted in 20,727,359 shares being exchanged in all three markets, down from 29,818,627 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $91.14 million, down from the $117.06 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 172,833 shares for US$26,689 down sharply from 2,139,002 units at US$61,591 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 4.82 million shares followed by Wigton Energy with 1.95 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.27 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Lasco Financial led with 1.58 million shares followed by Everything Fresh with 1.42 million stocks and Kintyre Holdings with 1.16 million units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% preferred share popped $3.40 in closing at $43.95.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 14.5 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 20.7 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and other 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 earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 to assess 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.