Markets closed mixed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on the first trading day of the New Year on Friday, with a rise in major indices of the Main Market. The JSE USD Market closed higher, but the Junior Market index fell, following a sharp fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a much lower value than on Wednesday. The market closed with prices of 46 shares rising, 39 declining and 21 remaining firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index increased 1,293.84 points to 329,738.38, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,885.78 points to close at 367,200.16, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,497.05 points to wrap up trading at 319,483.93, the Junior Market Index dropped 19.54 points to finish at 3,381.87 and the JSE USD Market Index increased 1.92 points to 214.08.
At the close of trading, 21,189,062 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 709,543,028 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to only $80.45 million, down from $2.52 billion on the previous trading day. The JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 202,981 shares for US$8,951, down sharply from 2,016,016 units at US$116,202 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led with 2.66 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.92 million stock units and Supreme Ventures with 1.61 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Kintyre Holdings led with 4.43 million shares, followed by Regency Petroleum with 1.29 million stock units and RA Williams with 1.04 million units.
In the preferred segment of the market, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $3.63 to finish at $40, 138 Student Living preference share popped $2.99 to $250, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% rallied $85 to end at $1,145, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% slipped $4 to $106 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1.95 to close at $104.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 15.3 based on 2026-27 earnings and 16.1 based on 2024 historical earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
. The 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 listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 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.