Markets mostly slip with steady trading

The Main and the Junior markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined in trading on Tuesday as the JSE USD Market closed modestly higher as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands in line with that of the previous day and resulted in prices of just 26 shares rising and 46 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index plunged 1,942.45 points to 324,542.27, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,475.39 points to end at 352,724.22, the JSE Main Index sank 1,735.59 points to close at 311,699.02. The Junior Market Index shed 39.66 points to end at 3,692.00 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 0.93 points to end trading at 225.05.
At the close of trading, 22,006,869 shares were exchanged in all three markets, from 22,314,890 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ending at $92.28 million, just a fraction below $92.29 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 44,268 shares for US$1,914 compared to 150,061 units at US$5,848 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.68 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.61 million stocks, Wigton Windfarm closed with 1.96 million units and Wisynco Group with 1.19 million shares.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.05 million shares followed by EduFocal with 1.82 million stocks and Jamaican Teas with 1.25 million units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share climbed $1 and ended at $20.99, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $1.34 to $46 and 138 Student Living preference share jumped $41.50 to finish at $190.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.7 on 2023-24 earnings and 135 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.