Major Jamaica Stock Exchange markets drop

Trading pulled back from Monday’s level resulting in a decline in the Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. At the same time, the JSE USD market closed a fraction higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands inching up, with a lower value than on the previous day, resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 37 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,692.26 points to close at 330,663.38, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,399.25 points to end at 358,765.12, the JSE Main Index sank 3,498.91 points to close trading at 317,915.41. The Junior Market Index declined 48.52 points to lock up trading at 3,716.76 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.03 points to settle at 230.88.
At the close of trading, 17,868,565 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up marginally from 17,841,602 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $69.07 million, well below the $83.02 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,188,623 shares for US$36,705 compared to 110,971 units at US$24,393 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.74 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 840,062 stocks units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 with 736,302 units.
In the Junior Market, Limners and Bards led trading with 2.40 million shares followed by Everything Fresh with 1.49 million units, Dolla Financial chipped in with 1.36 million shares and Paramount Trading with 1.15 million stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed $1.28 to finish at $7.48, Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped 85 cents to end at $19.15, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 71 cents to close at $41.50. 138 Student Living preference share lost $2.12 to close at $187.88 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $11.10 to end at $113.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 1.3 times those for 2024-25 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 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 the more detailed daily report 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 reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.