Stocks edged higher at the close of slower trading on the US Dollar Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining 38 percent and 18 percent, respectively, compared to Wednesday. The market closed with an exchange of eight securities, sliding from 11 on Wednesday, with prices of two rising, two declining and four ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 522,273 shares for US$51,007 after it dropped from 845,195 stock units at US$62,437 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 65,284 shares at US$6,376 compared to 76,836 stock units at US$5,676 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 62,819 units at US$5,372, climbing moderately from 61,923 stock units at US$5,007 on the previous day and August that ended with an average of 115,072 units for US$12,480.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 0.75 points to 315.40. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The PE Ratio, one of the most used measures to determine appropriate stock values, averages 15.4. ICInsider.com compiles the earnings per share and the PE used in this report. The PE ratio is derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share for the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden ended at 17 US cents with investors dealing in 831 stocks, First Rock Real Estate USD share remained at 1.85 US cents in an exchange of 18,525 units, 
Proven Investments fell 0.21 of a cent to finish at 5.6 US cents with 11,645 shares crossing the market. Quantas Advantage dipped 0.98 of a cent and ended at 11.02 US cents after a transfer of 600 stock units, Sterling Investments rallied 0.2 of one cent to 2.4 US cents with 2,383 shares being exchanged and Transjamaican Highway ended at 7 US cents with investors swapping 478,420 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% remained at US$2 with 2,209 units clearing the market and JMMB Group US8.5% ended at US$1.25 with investors trading 7,660 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.