Mixed out turn for Jamaica Stock Exchange

Prices of 50 stocks rose and 32 declined at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday even as the number and value of stocks changing hands fell, below that of the previous day and ended with a solid rise in the Junior Market and a modest increase in JSE USD market, in contrast, the Main market lost ground at the close.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 894.41 points to close at 329,101.72, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,016.07 points to end at 352,471.96, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,265.04 points to 316,410.32. The Junior Market Index jumped 44.70 points to wrap up trading at 3,699.07 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.88 points to wrap-up trading at 219.86.
At the close of trading, 14,069,009 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 18,079,463 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $70.97 million, well below the $98.07 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 105,065 shares for US$5,087 compared to 184,675 units at US$7,820 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 3.24 million shares followed by JMMB Group with 1.26 million stock units and Wigton Windfarm with 949,260 units
In Junior Market trading, Omni Industries that was listed last week and led trading with 1.98 million shares followed by iCreate that was trading for the first time since the suspension in the shares was lifted ended with 810,288 stocks and Dolla Financial with 586,952 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share shed $1 to end at $5.50, Jamaica Public Service 7% added $1 to finish at $46 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $50.03 to $1,050.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.4 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.