Juniors rise as Main Market slips

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped in trading on Friday with the JSE USD market dipping lower and the Junior Market closing moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands climbing sharply over Thursday volume, with the value moderately higher, resulting in prices of 41 shares declining and 23 rising on the last trading day before the extended trading starts on Monday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 152.52 points to close at 329,861.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 333.74 points to 354,409.43, the JSE Main Index skidded 236.81 points to 317,262.50. The Junior Market Index gained 10.69 points to wrap-up trading at 3,691.54 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.81 points to settle at 237.80.
At the close of trading, 18,855,563 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 10,562,804 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $81.15 million, over the $76.65 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 233,466 shares for US$32,685 compared to 276,289 units at US$33,572 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.19 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.39 million units and Wisynco Group with 753,254 stocks.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.77 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 731,474 units and Spur Tree Spices with 434,369 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share increased $1.41 to end at $18.46, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $2 in closing at $217 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rose $2 to finish at $107.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20. on 2023-24 earnings and 13.1 times those for 2024-25 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 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 the more detailed daily report 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 reported as a guide for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.