Rising stocks push JSE Markets higher

The JSE USD Market slipped at the close of trading on Thursday but the main and the Junior Market enjoyed a day of positive movement from the start of trading and never gave up the gains after investors pumped substantially more money into stocks by the close and ended with the volume and value of stocks traded, surging well over Wednesday’s levels.  
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 2,679.41 points to 342,890.87, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 2,392.06 points to 365,690.74, the JSE Main Index surged 2,674.68 points to finish at 328,877.60, while the Junior Market Index climbed 20.08 points to 3,935.55 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 5.2  points to end at 245.27.
Trading of preference shares ending with notable price changes for Jamaica Public Service 9.5% increasing $97 to $2,900, while 138 Student Living preference share fell $9.24 in closing at $78, Productive Business 10.50% preference shares rallying $150 to end at $1,250, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gaining $1.50 to end at $101.50.
At the close, investors exchanged 49,783,784 shares in all three markets, up sharply from 18,797,388 stocks on Wednesday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets jumped to $245.97 million from $119.29 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 1,106,224 shares for US$42,488, down from 88,156 units at US$3,695 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.