Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with mixed results in the three markets, with gains in the Main Market major indices and that of the JSE USD Market. Trading on the Junior Market saw the index remaining positive until the dying moments of trading, when Access Financial traded more than 33,000 shares down to $17.20. The market closed with a rise in the volume of stocks exchanged, at a marginally lower value than on Wednesday, with prices of 37 shares rising, 42 declining and 29 remaining firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index increased 1,983.60 points to finish at 319,925.22, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,048.96 points to 356,036.30, the JSE Main Index rose 2,158.39 points to end at 309,024.13, the Junior Market Index fell 10.94 points to 3,409.79 and the JSE USD Market Index climbed 1.14 points to 204.98.
At the close of trading, 10,542,446 shares were traded in all three markets, up from 8,624,363 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $89.42 million, down from $91 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 129,045 shares for US$17,826 compared to 75,771 units at US$43,620 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 1.24 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.23 million stocks and GraceKennedy with 602,706 units.
In Junior Market trading, Lasco Financial led with 1.41 million shares, followed by MFS Capital Partners with 605,278 stocks and JFP with 512,086 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $2.50 and ended at $40, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% shed $5 to $2,650 and 138 Student Living preference share declined $27.98 to end at $195.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on the 2025-26 earnings and 16.2 based on 2024 earnings.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other, more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed 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 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any 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 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 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.