Pull back for JSE Main & Junior Markets

The Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gave back some of the gains garnered over the past few trading sessions but the JSE USD market closed higher for the second day of trading as the overall trading levels in the markets pulled back from those of Friday and Tuesday, with the market weighed down by more big falling prices than those rising.
At the close of trading, 13,087,775 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 21,294,970 units on Tuesday,
with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $69.13 million, down compared with $81.4 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after 163,964 shares were traded, for US$2,851 compared to 51,389 units at US$5,071 on Tuesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.78 million shares for 25.4 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1.43 million units for 20.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 637,525 units.
In the Junior Market, Lasco Financial led trading with 2.96 million shares, followed by AMG Packaging with 557,050 units and One Great Studio with 492,557 units.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were AS Bryden, with a gain of $3.01 to $33.11, Seprod climbing $2.91 to $82.90, Wisynco Group up $1.25 to close at $22.30.
Declining Main Market stocks included, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $3 to end at $37, Caribbean Cement lost $1.82 and ended at $57.66, NCB Financial down $1.50 and ended at $66.50 and Scotia Group up $1 to $38.50.
Rising Junior Market stocks include AMG Packaging advancing $1.50 to $3.90 and Main Event increasing $1.20 in closing at $14.34. Falling stocks include Access Financial down $2.29 to close at $25.20 and Cargo Handlers declining $1.84 to end at $13.08.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,040.80 points to 337,053.00, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 5,765.35 points to lock up trading at 362,383.22, the JSE Main Index lost 3,566.78 points to end at 324,258.49. The Junior Market Index dropped 79.45 points to conclude trading at 3,762.30 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.52 points to settle at 239.33.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share popped $3.99 to $22.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 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.