Gains for Main & Junior markets

The Main Market and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose moderately in trading on Thursday but the JSE USD market closed lower as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands climbing, with the value declining from the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 28 shares rising and 49 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 327.58 points to close at 340,004.41, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 331.63 points to close at 366,543.41, the JSE Main Index popped 88.64 points to 326,974.20. The Junior Market Index rallied 27.91 points to 3,808.49 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 3.39 points to end the day at 244.14.
At the close of trading, 29,437,556 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 27,700,537 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $153.98 million, down from $172.24 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 771,589 shares for US$17,159 compared to 110,543 units at US$13,237 on Wednesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by General Accident with 5.0 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.63 million units, Radio Jamaica chipped in with 4.41 million units, Carreras contributed 3.57 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway ended with 2.83 million units and QWI Investments closed with 1.17 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.23 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 800,002 units and Fosrich with 471,150 stock units.
In the preference segment,138 Student Living preference share dropped $32.70 to close at $185.30.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.4 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.