JSE markets mostly fall on Friday


Trading closed Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a lower value than on Thursday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, the Junior Market index declining and the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading the prices of 42 shares rose, 37 declined and 31 remained firm.

At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,251.71 points to 377,139.93, with the All Jamaican Composite Index slipping by 593.47 points to finish at 445,118.87, the JSE Main Index dipped by 1,212.13 points to 372,791.94, as the Junior Market Index declined by 12.92 points to 2,883.75 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 3.91 points to finish at 317.09.
Trading ended with an exchange of 25,983,613 shares in all three markets, down from 347,461,263 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $139.46 million, down from the West Indian Petroleum powered $3.17 billion on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 695,671 shares for US$54,353 compared to 1,450,938 units at US$597,546 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.23 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 3.43 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 3.28 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Jamaican Teas led with 2.53 million shares, followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.01 million stocks and Woodcats International with 751,984 units.
The ordinary shares of the Main Market closed after, Caribbean Cement increased $7.43 to end at $114.43, Quantas Advantage popped $1.55 to close at $16.55, Jamaica Broilers rallied by 75 cents to close at $13, Kingston Properties rose 69 cents to finish at $11.99 and Scotia Group rose by 51 cents and ended at $57.50. Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings lost $25 to close at $340, Pan Jamaica dipped $5.98 to $40.02, Jamaica Producers fell $2.90 to end at $18.60, Barita Investments slipped $2 in closing at $64.00 and Carreras skidded $1.10 to finish at $33.90.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% advanced $115 to finish at $1,265 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% rose $1.20 and ended at $113.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, ISP Finance advanced $2.99 and ended at $9.99, Cargo Handlers climbed $2.04 to close at $16.49, Access Financial increased 36 cents to $17.18, Blue Power increased 33 cents to $3.58 and Jetcon Corporation advanced 25 cents in closing at $3.95. Among the top losers, Dolphin Cove declined $2.15 to close at $10.00, Knutsford Express shed 84 cents and ended at $7.15, Mailpac Group dropped 21 cents to finish at $2.37, Honey Bun fell 20 cents to $6.00 and Lasco Financial dropped 19 cents and ended at $1.60.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 11.7 and 17 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most commonly used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.

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