Junior Market index at 3,801 as other markets rise

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged higher in trading on Thursday as the market index closed at just over 3,801 points, with the Main Market and the JSE USD market rising moderately as trading ended with the number exchanged falling, with the value traded jumping sharply over that on Wednesday as 30 shares rose and 26 declined.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1712.97 points to close at 335,019.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed by 1,622.28 points to close at 359,057.05, the JSE Main Index rose 1,118.96 points in ending trading at 321,725.63. The Junior Market Index jumped 75.77 points to 3,801.37 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 2.97 points to end the day at 244.14.
At the close of trading, 23,131,587 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 31,607,536 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $96.67 million, up from $$90.38 million on Wednesday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 119,808 shares for US$30,732 compared to 152,413 units at US$68,498 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway that led trading with 15.64 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.64 million units and Stanley Motta, with 901,971 stock units.
In the Junior Market, Future Energy led trading with 349,804 shares followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 339,937 units and Mailpac Group with 299,144 units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are AS Bryden rallied $2.49 to close at $42.99, Caribbean Cement advanced $1.74 to end at $53, Mayberry Group climbed $1.16 in closing at $7.6 and Scotia Group advanced $1.46 and ended at $41.46.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Pan Jamaica skidded $3.89 and ended at $46.10, Sagicor Group sank $1.40 to $42 changing hands 50 shares, Seprod declined $3.30 in closing at $83.50.
Junior Market, stocks with notable gains are Access Financial climbed 76 cents in closing at $23.96, Cargo Handlers popped $1.82 to close at $14.90 and Lasco Manufacturing increasing 33 cents and ended at $4.94. There were no major losing stocks on Thursday.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rallied $2.84 to close at $18.90, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $4.99 to $45 closed at 550 and Sygnus Credit Investments c10.5% dropped $9.99 to close at $105.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20…8 on 2022-23 earnings and 14 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.