Sharp drop in stock prices on the JSE


Trading pressured the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, following a drop in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to Wednesday, resulting in a plunge in the Main Market major indices, with slippage in the indices of the Junior and JSE USD Market. At the end of trading, the prices of 39 shares rose, 37 declined and 30 remained firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,570.30 points to wrap up trading at 318,606.43, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 7,183.12 points to 353,527.66, the JSE Main Index plunged 4,717.16 points to 307,247.69, as the Junior Market Index slipped 8.67 points to end at 3,462.25 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.90 points to settle at 207.14.
At the close of trading, 12,878,597 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 26,943,538 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $58.65 million, sharply down from $197.75 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 197,037 shares for US$22,508 compared to 335,828 units at US$17,152 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led with 3.79 million shares, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.53 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 1.29 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Dolla Financial led with 1.34 million shares, followed by JFP with 397,513 stocks and Tropical Battery with 303,904 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $6.45 in closing at $37, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% sank $50 to $2,600, 138 Student Living preference share declined $13 to close at $200 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% lost $2 and ended at $1,118.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used in valuing stocks, ended at 13.1 based on the 2025-26 earnings and 16.1 based on 2024-25 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated data to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed 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 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any 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 straying 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 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.

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