Trading edged higher at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with an increase in the volume and value of stocks changing hands, compared to Wednesday. Market activities led to gains in the major indices of the Main Market and the Junior Market, while the JSE USD Market declined modestly. The trading session delivered negative news for the market, with prices of 38 shares rising, 50 that declining and 25 remaining unchanged.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 253.71 points to close at 355,537.94, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 584.54 points to end at 404,861.97, the JSE Main Index gained a mere 89.31 points to 346,574.09, the Junior Market Index rallied by 23.69 points to settle at 3,364.37 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 4.97 points to end at 281.00.
At the close of trading activities, 22,090,606 shares were traded in all three markets, up from 18,753,096 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $114.16 million, up from $92.3 million on the previous day. The JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 333,375 shares for US$24,183, just up from 325,371 units at US$17,596 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.69 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 1.11 million stocks and Wisynco Group with 627,763 units.
In Junior Market trading, EduFocal led with 4.92 million shares followed by Atlantic Hardware with 3.09 million stocks and MFS Capital Partners with 1.46 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose $32.36 and ended at $240 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% advanced $1.92 to $109.
The market’s PE ratio, one of the more popular methods used to value stocks, finished at 15.2. The PE ratio is calculated using projected 2026-27 earnings and 15.9 based on 2025 historical earnings, excluding any major one-time income or expense. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist decision-making. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, with easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in stock markets. The chart should be used to help with decision-making, when investing around the average of a sector, not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not be inclined to 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 shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement 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.