Main Market rise, Juniors fall

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose in trading on Wednesday as did the JSE USD market but the junior Market declined to close out the day with the number and value of stocks changing hands falling, from Tuesday’s more robust levels and resulting in prices of 37 shares rising and 33 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,286.21 points to 320,745.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,467.53 points to 350,511.79, the JSE Main Index popped 1,568.72 points to end at 308,212.87. The Junior Market Index dropped 29.78 points to 3,626.85 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.13 points to end the day at 227.73.
At the close of trading, 29,136,819 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 50,270,506 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $100.08 million, well over/below the $154.32 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of a mere 36,707 shares for just US$2,692 compared to 7,064,494 units at US$139,578 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Radio Jamaica led trading with 11.39 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.53 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 1.32 million units, QWI Investments with 1.25 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.04 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Indies Pharma led trading with 5.39 million shares followed by RA Williams with 1.12 million units and Dolla Financial with 949,550 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $38.60 to close at $161.40.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.7 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 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.