Juniors rise JSE USD and Main markets slip

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined and the Junior Market rose on Friday, while the US Dollar index dipped as trading activity picked up with the volume of stocks trading falling from Thursday but with a higher value.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 1,046.10 points to close trading at 329,401.93, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 613.07 points to end at 346,558.09, the JSE Main Index shed 1,281.78 points to 314,985.96, the Junior Market Index popped 17.15 points to finish at 3,880.34 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 0.78 points to 247.94.
At the close, investors traded 11,222,892 shares in all three markets, down from 15,326,745 stock units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $110.53 million, up from $70.27 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 145,630 stock units for US$4,064 compared with 526,142 shares for US$16,546 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $4.68 to $52, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $28.85 and ended at $85 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share climbed $2 and ended at $100.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 11 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.