Main and USD markets drop Juniors rise

The Main Market and JSE USD stocks plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday as the Junior Market closed moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value and volume of stocks traded falling from the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 27 shares rising and 43 declining.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the JSE Combined Market Index dived 3,639.94 points to 39,676.83, the All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 4,423.34 points to end trading at 366,211.78, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,917.90 points to lock up trading at 326,885.56. The Junior Market Index rallied 3.93 points to conclude trading at 3,780.58 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 8.85 points to settle at 247.53.
At the close of trading, 27,700,537 shares were exchanged in all three markets, from 42,523,060 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $172.24 million, down from $289.25 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 110,543 shares for US$13,237 compared to 2,937,043 units at US$118,791 on Tuesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Carreras with 5.35 million shares followed by General Accident with 4.01 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 3.76 million units, Transjamaican Highway with 2.44 million shares and Scotia Group with 1.01 million units
In the Junior Market One Great Studio led trading with 1.91 million shares followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.87 million units and JFP Ltd with 855,299 stocks.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 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 for investors 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.