Moderate trading for Jamaica Stock Exchange

The Main and the USD markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose moderately at the end of trading on Thursday but the Junior Market closed moderately lower as trading ended with fewer shares changing hands at a lower value than the previous day, resulting in prices of 35 shares rising and 38 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 324.91 points to 335,992.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 335.71 points to end trading at 361,031.55, the JSE Main Index climbed 439.55 points to end trading at 322,888.42. The Junior Market Index fell 13.84 points to  close at 3,797.40 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 3.15 points to conclude trading at 237.87.
At the close of trading, 16,848,224 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 21,758,231 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $68.79 million, compared with $71.03 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 98,700 shares for US$20,672 compared to 148,890 units at US$30,599 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 6.75 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 960,224 stocks and Carreras with 902,879 units.
In Junior Market trading, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.65 million shares followed by Fosrich with 1.08 million stocks and Spur Tree Spices with 810,468 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share popped $1.10 to $20, Eppley 7.50% preference share dipped 63 cents to end at $5.50 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% gained $1.50 to close at $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.9 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.6 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.