Main Market gains, Juniors inch higher

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gained in trading on Friday as the Junior Market inched higher but the JSE USD market slipped moderately as trading ended with the volume and value of stocks changing hands rising over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 32 shares rising and 31 declining.
At the close of trading Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,190.46 points to end at 348,109.02, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,908.19 points to close trading at 371,521.18 and the JSE Main Index popped 2,195.36 points to settle at 335,251.40. The Junior Market Index rose 15.02 points to close trading at 3,847.53. and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 0.83 points to 256.19.
At the close of trading, 31,165,012 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,660,602 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $120.9 million, up from $44.73 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 5.81 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.47 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.05 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, 15,974,371 shares for $35,900,988 compared with 5,836,386 units at $11,800,314 on Thursday.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Jamaica Producers popped $1.68 in closing at $25, NCB Financial rose $2.85 in closing at $67.90, following the release of first quarter results.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings down $2 to close at $368, Seprod shedding $3.50 to end at $82 and Sygnus Credit Investments declining $1.21 in closing at $10.52.
At the end of Junior Market trading, AMG Packaging increased 30 cents to end at $2.90, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 33 cents in closing at $2.42, Caribbean Cream popped 40 cents to $3.90 and Limners and Bards rallied 39 cents to close at $1.69 with the major losing stock being Knutsford Express dropping $1.01 to end at $11.38.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rallied $1 to close at $18, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $2.30 and ended at $47 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share popped $15 to end at $1,090.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.3 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.