Main & Junior Market rise, USD market falls

The Main Market and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose in trading on Friday. The JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading in all markets ended with the number of stocks changing hands jumping, with the value falling sharply from that on the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 26 shares rising and 40 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,420.45 points to 320,352.26, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,212.91 points to close off at 351,010.95 and the JSE Main Index advanced 2,491.45 points to wrap-up trading at 308,191.55. The Junior Market Index popped 5.01 points to end the day at 3,574.54 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 2.50 points to end the day at 220.89.
At the close of trading, 37,579,905 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 15,157,878 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $93.73 million, well below the $253.61 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 87,202 shares for US$7,834 compared to 61,468 units at US$66,283 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Radio Jamaica led trading with 15.48 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 8.70 million stocks, Wigton Windfarm with 1.86 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway with 1.60 million shares and Jamaica Broilers with 1.02 million units.
In Junior Market trading, EduFocal led trading with 1.10 million shares followed by Omni Industries with 975,120 units and Dolla Financial with 901,467 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rose $3.46 to $18.60, 138 Student Living preference share sank $1 in closing at $209 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped $8.11 to close at $101.39.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.1 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.