The value of stocks traded on Thursday jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange even as fewer shares changed hands compared to Wednesday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market rising to new five-year highs, the Junior Market index and the JSE USD Market declining. At the end of trading, the prices of 38 shares rose, 40 declined and 31 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 517.36 points to wrap up trading at 367,134.55, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose by 333.90 points to 429,788.33, at the same time the JSE Main Index increased 575.80 points to 361,486.06, the Junior Market Index shed 4.62 points to close at 2,995.86, at the same time the JSE USD Market Index dipped by 6.79 points to finish at 249.35.
At the close of trading, 17,287,042 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 27,594,601 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $251.89 million, up from $222.75 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 395,609 shares for US$80,018, up from 334,610 units at US$19,892 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 2.64 million shares, as the stock price ended higher for the day, followed by GraceKennedy with 2.21 million stocks and JMMB Group with 1.16 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Woodcats International led with 1.55 million shares, followed by Atlantic Hardware with 1.31 million stocks and Dolla Financial with 1.05 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share top winners, Kingston Properties increased 71 cents to finish at $10.60, Seprod popped 50 cents and ended at $77.50, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 48 cents to $6.69, NCB Financial rose 40 cents in closing at $75.35 and Sterling Investments advanced 37 cents to end at $3.43.
The top losing Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings, dropping $1 to finish at $349.00, West Indies Petroleum, declining by 99 cents to close at $9.02, Caribbean Cement, falling 94 cents and ended at $103.11, Jamaica Producers, losing 90 cents to end at $22.10 and GraceKennedy skidded 51 cents to close at $71.99.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $4.63 to finish at $39, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $100 in closing at $2,400 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% slipped $6.50 and ended at $100.
The Junior Market, top winners include, Access Financial with a gain of 11 cents in closing at $17.59, Indies Pharma increasing 10 cents to end at $2.83, Lasco Financial climbing 9 cents to close at $2.00, Main Event rallying 9 cents to finish at $5.24, Dolla Financial rising 8 cents to $3.00 and Jamaican Teas advancing 8 cents to $2.03.
Among the top losers, Knutsford Express skidded 80 cents to $6.80, Fontana lost 32 cents in closing at $6.17, Mailpac Group slipped 28 cents and ended at $2.41, Future Energy shed 25 cents to end at $3.20 and Lumber Depot dropped 15 cents and ended at $2.4.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, which is compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 12.8 and 14.7 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most utilised measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. 
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.