JSE Main Market rises as Juniors struggle

All three markets closed higher at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the Main Market enjoying a solid rise as the Junior Market inched higher for a second day and the JSE USD Market popped marginally higher, with an increase in the value and volume of stocks traded compared to Thursday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 1,042.73 points to 328,547.74, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,405.50 points to conclude trading at 352,307.77, with the JSE Main Index gained 1,073.03 points to end trading at 315,890.19. The Junior Market Index rose a mere 4.15 points to close at 3,687.21 and the JSE USD Market Index added 0.19 points to close at 225.22.
Investors traded 18,588,921 shares, in all three markets compared with 16,069,112 units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $120.73 million from just $42.6 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 256,238 shares were traded, for US$8,090 compared to 345,389 units at US$6,537 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, there were no stocks trading with notable price movements.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. 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.