Mixed trading for JSE Markets to start March

The Markets closed mixed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday as the Junior Market JSE USD market closed moderately lower as the Main Market inched trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 42 declining.
Trading ended for the week, with the JSE Combined Market Index rising  198.41 points to 349,346.11, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 245.25 points to end at 376,387.70, the JSE Main Index rallied 462.86 points to  336,567.99. The Junior Market Index fell 26.91 points to close at 3,847.80 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 5.22 points to conclude trading at 258.25.
At the close of trading, 28,196,991 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 49,347,388 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $114 million, from $161.13, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 30,628 shares for US$3,928 compared to 21,861 units at US$7,612 on Thursday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 13.01 million shares followed by Wisynco Group with 2.56 million units, Transjamaican Highway with 2.17 million stock units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.38 million units.
In the Junior Market, ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.26 million shares followed by Future Energy with 1.18 million units and EduFocal with 1.12 million stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $50 to close at $2,900, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $12.08 to end at $217 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share lost $1.69 in closing at $1273.30.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.4 times those for 2023-24 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 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 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.
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 for investors 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.