Main & Junior markets rise as trading climbs

The Main and Junior markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose at the close of trading on Thursday as the JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the number of stocks and the value changing hands rising over the previous day and resulting in prices of 36 shares rising and 30 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 496.48 points to 326,056.47, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,667.39 points to 354,910.05, the JSE Main Index rose 358.22 points to 313,422.34. The Junior Market Index popped 21.67 points to 3,672.89 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 3.15 points to end trading at 224.87.
At the close of trading, 19,944,044 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 7,685,373 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $84.8 million, well over the $58.43 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 200,309 shares for US$13,942 compared to 25,171 units at US$2,096 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 6.79 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.16 million stocks and Lasco Manufacturing with 516,282 units.
In Junior Market trading, Jamaican Teas led trading with 2.06 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 1.09 million units and Fosrich with 936,403 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $2 to $2,699.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.8 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.5 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.