Junior Market jumps Main Market slips

The Junior Market index closed above the 3,700 mark for the first time since the first week in August, while the Main Market Index just barely slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in trading on Tuesday as the JSE USD market closed moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded ended slightly higher than on the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 33 shares rising and 33 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 307.18 points to close at 321,200.65, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 597.26 points to conclude trading at 349,473.56, the JSE Main Index dropped a mere 1.65 points to wrap up trading at 308,076.08. The Junior Market Index popped 43.01 points to cease trading at 3,708.52 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.07 points to end the day at 236.55.
At the close of trading, 16,138,546 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 30,425,476 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $77 million, just above the $75.49 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 559,013 shares for US$47,507 compared to 107,733 units at US$45,990 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.17 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway 8% with 2.01 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 809,692 stocks.
In Junior Market trading, Fontana led trading with 1.70 million shares followed by Fosrich with 1.22 million tocks and iCreate with 659,457 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% slipped $1 and ended at $2,699 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% climbed $1.50 to close at $104.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.7 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 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.