Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a fall in the volume and value of stocks exchanged than on Wednesday, resulting in the major indices of the Main Market and the Junior Market falling, with the JSE USD Market eking out a narrow gain. At the end of trading, the prices of 31 shares rose, 41 declined and 33 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 1,376.94 points to end at 323,281.37, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 809.47 points to end trading at 360,488.92, the JSE Main Index shed 1,153.08 points to settle at 312,487.89, while the Junior Market Index dipped 36.99 points to close at 3,412.23, the lowest level in a year and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.40 points to settle at 226.29.
At the close of trading, 21,602,495 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 33,409,213 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $70.31 million, down from $110.43 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 422,657 shares for US$21,798 down from 631,514 units at US$47,545 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led trading with 6.77 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 4.09 million stocks and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 407,074 units.
In Junior Market trading, One Great Studio led with 1.77 million shares followed by Lasco Financial with 1.05 million stocks and Indies Pharma with 753,672 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rallied $1.95 to $20, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $4.50 to close at $45 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% sank $2.99 to end at $98.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 12.2 based on 2024-25 earnings and 19.1 based on 2024 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed 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 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any 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 in assessing 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.