The Jamaica Stock Exchange opened trading in the New Year with gains in the major indices and closed with the Main Market JSE Index, Junior Market and the USD market finishing above the 2024 close and the All Jamaican Composite Index lost ground to start the new year lower. At the close of trading the prices of 46 shares rose, 53 declined and 17 remained firm.
The market ended with the JSE Combined Market Index rising 372.01 points to close trading at 348,268.23, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,301.49 points to close at 386,928.50, the JSE Main Index increased 331.48 points to end the day at 336,126.42, the Junior Market Index managed to close just 7.67 points higher at 3,742.72 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.44 points to conclude trading at 252.32.
At the close of trading, 19,501,677 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down sharply from 80,752,276 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $68.29 million, well below the $355.98 million on the previous trading day. The JSE USD market closed with an exchange of just 59,603 shares for US$7,997 compared to 926,638 units at US$32,454 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led trading with 3.85 million stocks followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.50 million shares and Pulse Investments with 571,191 units.
In Junior Market trading, One Great Studio led with 1.13 million stocks followed by Lasco Financial with 1.12 million shares and Derrimon Trading with 1.11 million units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $8.95 to end at $3 , Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share shed $2 to $1118 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost $3.62 and ended at $101.38.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 14.2 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 20.8 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.