JSE Main Market drops, Juniors & JSEUSD markets rise

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed to start the new month, with the leading indices dropping in trading on Wednesday. In contrast, JSE Junior and JSE USD Markets closed higher to start November positively, with a drop in the volume and value of stocks traded.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index dived 3,567.53 points to close at 329,247.85, while the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,746.69 points to 348,729.70, the JSE Main Index sank 4,097.53 points to end trading at 314,703.29. The Junior Market Index rose 29.83 points to close at 3,892.70 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 2.94 points to end at 229.02.
Investors traded only 16,178,017 shares in all three markets, down from 43,456,356 stock units on Tuesday. The value of stocks traded fell on the Junior and Main markets to $106.3 million from $162.09 million on Tuesday. The JSE USD market closed after 73,498 shares were traded for US$5,221 compared to 296,100 units at US$34,738 on Tuesday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $6.46 in closing at $48.46.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.1 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 in the local stock market successfully. 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 to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 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.