JSE Markets fall Wednesday

Trading rose on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday with the number and the value of stocks changing hands rising over the previous trading day as the market indices declined as the Junior Market Index posted a modest gain at the close after surging in early trading while the other markets declined resulting from prices of 28 shares rising and 37 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,623.76 points to 328,222.43, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,909.34 points to 358,550.27 and the JSE Main Index sank 2,808.47 points to end the day at 314,538.23. The Junior Market rose 8.56 points to cease trading at 3,825.84 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.42 points to end at 224.11.
At the close of trading, 23,066,388 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 21,814,315 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $101.09 million, well over the $79.26 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 76,769 shares for US$6,069 compared to 368,591 units at US$10,955 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.02 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 2.46 million stocks, Wigton Windfarm with 2.26 million units and Lasco Manufacturing with 1.18 million shares.
In Junior Market trading, Jamaican Teas led trading with 4.22 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.37 million units and RA Williams with 825,139 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share declined $3 to finish at $16, Eppley 7.50% preference share lost 99 cents and ended at $5.61 and 138 Student Living preference share popped $35.24 to $234.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20.2 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.6 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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.