Trading closed Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a rise in the volume and value of stocks traded compared to Wednesday, following trading in 120 stocks with the prices of 38 rising, 53 declining and 29 remaining firm. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling and the Junior Market index declining while the JSE USD Market rose.
At the end of market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index skidded 2,595.00 points to end trading at 378,600.05, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 2,360.21 points to finish at 446,894.14, the JSE Main Index declined 2,338.95 points to 374,380.23, while the Junior Market Index dropped a sizable 49.97 points to end at 2,875.60 and the JSE USD Market Index climbed 8.33 points to settle at record 318.25.
At the close of trading, 47,112,090 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 39,731,996 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $293.27 million, up from $232.09 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,615,358 shares for US$116,966 compared to 764,110 units at US$58,570 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 17.63 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.53 million stocks and Lasco Distributors with 1.10 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Atlantic Hardware led with 4.65 million shares, followed by Woodcats International with 3.14 million stocks and Spur Tree Spices with 3.09 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top movers, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $4.79 and ended at $43.99, Seprod increased $2.93 to $75.49, Jamaica Producers popped 61 cents to close at $21.01, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 40 cents to $7.80 and Wisynco Group rose 20 cents to close at $20.00.
Amongst the losers, Guardian Holdings slipped $10 to close at $350.00, Kingston Properties lost $1.75 to finish at $9.75, Caribbean Cement shed $1.64 and ended at $114.36, Carreras declined by 91 cents to $35.00 and Mayberry Group fell 75 cents to end at $5.13.
At the end of preference share segment, Eppley 7.75 percent preference share rose $1.96 to finish at $19.21 and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $6.16 to $32.
In the Junior Market, among the top performers, ISP Finance advanced $1.05 to close at $8.55, Dolphin Cove rose $1 to end at $11.00, Spur Tree Spices rallied 16 cents in closing at $1.10, GWest Corporation gained 14 cents to finish at 65 cents and Limners and Bards popped 12 cents to $1.13. Among the losers, Main Event shed 87 cents to end at $3.80, Honey Bun declined 34 cents in closing at $5.46, Blue Power lost 28 cents to close at $3.02, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 17 cents to $1.11 and Atlantic Hardware skidded 16 cents and ended at $1.00.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 10.9 and 14.2 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most commonly used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.