Scotia Group ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $49.99, ahead of full year results and dividend announcement due after the market closes on Thursday, with limited amounts offered for sale at the close with the Jamaica Stock Exchange closing on Tuesday with a solid jump in the volume and value of stocks traded compared with that on Monday, resulting in all three markets recording declines in the major indices and ending with prices of 35 shares rising, 48 declining and 35 ending firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 1,776.47 points to conclude trading at 331,044.98, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,656.02 points to 365,916.05, the JSE Main Index shed 1,625.73 points to 318,740.51, the Junior Market Index lost 30.94 points to end at 3,659.41, and the JSE USD Market Index declined 2.02 points to close at 229.82.
At the close of trading, 29,755,467 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 15,377,336 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $338 million, well above the $66.96 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 914,504 shares for US$33,725 down from 1,136,259 units at US$40,985 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led trading with 9.69 million stocks followed by Transjamaican Highway with 5.48 million shares and NCB Financial with 5.04 million units.
In Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 2.19 million stocks followed by Dolla Financial with 537,502 shares and RA Williams with 515,793 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share rallied $98 and ended at $1,072.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.8 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 20.3 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help in 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 major one time income or expense.
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 sector average, 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.