Mixed close for Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped below Thursday’s level at the close on Friday and led to mixed results in the various market indices, with the volume and value of stocks traded dipped below that on Thursday, with shares of just 37 companies trading in the Junior Market.  
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,615.58 points to end trading at 333,622.92, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 490.45 points to finish at 351,669.37, the JSE Main Index gained 1,820.33 points to settle at 320,354.20, following gains in Guardian Holdings’ shares, the Junior Market Index shed 9.06 points to conclude trading at 3,791.88, while the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.43 points to finish at 242.59.
Trading of Preference shares ended, with gains in the price of Eppley 7.25% preference share of $1.39 to $20, Jamaica Public Service 9.5%gaining $109.99 in closing at $3,099.99 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share falling $135 to close at $1,200.
At the close, investors traded 12,730,155 shares in all three markets, down from 15,640,731 stocks on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $73 million, down from $95.7 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market rose above Thursday and ended with investors exchanging 198,322 shares for US$20,612 from 110,725 units at US$10,600 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 16.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.3 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 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.