Mixed trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading ended mixed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday as the Main Market indices ended mixed with moderate movements but the Junior Market and the JSE USD market rose moderately as trading ended with the number and the value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with Tuesday and resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 36 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 193.07 points to close at 347,166.69, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,284.76 points to lock up trading at 370,556.62, the JSE Main Index added just 137.97 points to end at 334,434.00. The Junior Market Index eked out a rise of 7.27 to end at 3,827.46 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.53 to close trading at 251.98.
At the close of trading, 13,838,528 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 29,750,591 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $57.37 million, from $88.9 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 263,941 shares for US$62,436 versus 301,671 units at US$25,796 on Tuesday.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading in the Main Market, with 1.95 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.44 million units and Supreme Ventures with 519,186 stock units.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.14 million shares followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.06 million units and Dolla Financialwith 760,918.
At the end of trading on the Main Market, Eppley increased $4.75 and ended at $38.50, JMMB Group rose $1 to $25, Massy Holdings advanced $5 in closing at $98 and Seprod rallied $1 in closing at $87.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings which fell $9 in closing at $360, Margaritaville declining $2.61 to end at $14.86, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy losing $13.50 to $76.50, NCB Financial skidding by 99 cents to end at $67, Sagicor Group dipping $1.97 and ended at $44 and Scotia Group losing $1.58 to $45.
In the Junior Market, Blue Power advanced 35 cents in closing at $3.30, ISP Finance climbed $6.34 to $31.3, with the major losing stock being Dolphin Cove down $1.48 and ended at $17.52.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% share fell $1 to close at $106.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.