Falling stocks pulled down all JSE markets

The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Tuesday with losses in all three markets after the Junior Market pushed higher in the morning session but fell in the latter part of trading as the market ended with the number of stocks that were exchanged fell, with the value jumping sharply over that on Tuesday as rising and declining stocks were even at 35 each.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 731.57 points to 332,396.75, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,452.88 points to 355,718.64, the JSE Main Index shed 647.61 points to end at 319,662.38. The Junior Market Index dropped 14.18 points to settle at 3,722.82 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.07 points to end at 239.66.
At the close of trading, 29,690,680 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 36,430,685 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $120.94 million, up from $67.96 million on Monday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 147,004 shares for US$5,094 compared to 317,598 units at US$259,958 on Monday.
Main Market trading was dominated by JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 2.84 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.62 million stock units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.17 million units.
In the Junior Market, Future Energy led trading with 15.91 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 711,974 units and Regency Petroleum with 603,202 units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are NCB Financial advanced $2.79 in closing at $68 and Seprod popped $2.30 to $84.30.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $1.01 and ended at $37.54, Guardian Holdings climbed $3, Jamaica Producers dropped $2.05 to $21.65, Mayberry Group sank $1.12 and ended at $7.08, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $1 and ended at $90 and Scotia Group declined $1.49 to close at $39.51.
Only one Junior Market stocks closed with solid gains on Tuesday as ISP Finance jumped $7.36 and ended at $30. The major losing Junior Market stocks include AMG Packaging dropping 60 cents to close at $2.56, Iron Rock Insurance dipping 41 cents to close at $2.10 and Knutsford Express falling $2.89 in closing at $9.50.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share skidded $2.64 in closing at $16.26 and Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $7.99 to $49.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.