The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with a rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a lower value than on Wednesday, resulting in the Main Market and the JSE USD Market declining, with the Junior Market ended higher, with prices of 45 shares rising, 37 declining and 26 remaining firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 1,305.86 points to 325,443.99, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,014.02 points to wrap up trading at 359,368.22, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,528.99 points to end at 312,777.70, the Junior Market Index popped 21.74 points to 3,673.37 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 5.74 points to end at 240.15.
At the close of trading, 50,845,611 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 39,809,617 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $150.9 million, down from $162.25 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 16,925,886 shares for US$433,335 compared to 604,241 units at US$46,865 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 14.88 million stocks followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.25 million shares and Wigton Energy with 2.14 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Mailpac Group led trading with 5.19 million stocks followed by Dolla Financial with 2.84 million shares and Jamaican Teas with 938,864 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose $5.60 to close at $22.77 and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% advanced $204.99 to $2,889.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used in valuing stocks, ended at 13.4 based on 2024-25 earnings 19.8 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help in decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares 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 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding 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 thinking of 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.