Gains for all JSE markets

The Main Market continued to rise in trading on Friday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange while the Junior Market and JSE USD market inched a few points higher as trading ended with the number and the value of stocks hanging hands falling compared with the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 41 shares rising and 29 declining.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed solidly by 1,293.91 points to 373,276.24, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied by 1,293.92 points to 373,276.24, the JSE Main Index popped 807.06 points to end at 335,848.38. The Junior Market Index gained 4.31 points to 3,812.89 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.21 points to end the day at 254.01.
At the close of the market, 13,676,383 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 45,443,191 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $74.93 million, compared with $169.49, million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 178,798 shares for US$56,398 compared to 827,138 units at US$94,452 on Thursday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.91 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.12 million units, JMMB Group ended with 1.12 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.10 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 904,399 shares followed by Image Plus with 904,064 units and Mailpac Group with 458,730 stock units.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Caribbean Cement increased $1.02 to end at $57, Guardian Holdings rose $19.99 to $370, Jamaica Producers gained 84 cents and ended at $23.94, Margaritaville rallied $1.14 to close at $17.48, Pan Jamaica advanced $1.01 in closing at $51.51 and Scotia Group rallied $1 to close at $46
At the close of the Main Market, Eppley shed $1 and ended at $34.99 and Massy Holdings skidded $5.50 to end at $91.50.
At the end of Junior Market trading, AMG Packaging popped 28 cents to $3, Honey Bun advanced 39 cents to close at $6.69 and tTech rose 49 cents to close at $2.49, as Consolidated Bakeries fell 23 cents and ended at $1.98, Fontana skidded 23 cents in closing at $10.25 and Paramount Trading sank 21 cents to $1.27.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $32.55 and ended at $184.45 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $17.94 to $101.66.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 214. on 2022-23 earnings and 14.6 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.