Month-end Jamaica Stock Exchange gains

The Jamaica Stock Exchange markets all recorded gains on Thursday to close out October, with both the Main and the USD Markets rising ahead of the close and the Junior Market marginally below with two minutes to go ahead of the close. All the Junior Market gains came in the final two minutes of trading while the JSE Main Market index garnered 18 percent of the days rally in the final two minutes and the JSE USD market had 66 percent of it gains in the same time frame, resulting in prices of 46 shares rising, 40 declining and 26 remaining firm.
At the close of trading the JSE Combined Market Index rose 2,404.81 points to 328,557.09, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 3,211.53 points to conclude trading at 363,734.82, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,216.56 points to 314,993.25, the Junior Market Index is up 39.75 points to end the day at 3,811.88 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 11.11 points to close at 236.18.
At the close of trading, 48,553,846 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 46,637,796 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $202.88 million, well below $608.42 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 555,546 shares for US$14,136 compared to 227,093 units at US$10,758 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 6.73 million stocks followed by Transjamaican Highway with 6.40 million shares and Wigton Windfarm with 6.23 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led trading with 3.96 million shares followed by Fosrich with 3.88 million shares and Jamaican Teas with 2.0 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share popped $38 to $250 with traders dealing in 242 units.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used in valuing stocks, ended at 13.1 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 21.1 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and other 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 earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major time income or expenses.
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 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 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.