Solid gains for Main & Junior markets

Rising stocks pushed the Main and Junior markets much higher at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange trading on Friday as the Market JSE USD market closed marginally lower as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 38 shares rising and 26 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index shot up 1,432.71 points to 327,489.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,682.41 points to 356,592.46, the JSE Main Index popped 1,044.59 points to 314,466.93. The Junior Market Index advanced a solid 61.06 points to end at 3,733.95 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.70 points to close trading at 224.17.
At the close of trading, the volume of stocks traded jumped sharply to 28,434,606 shares in all three markets, well on the 19,944,044 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $98.49 million, compared with $84.8 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 47,268 shares for US$3,703 compared to 200,309 units at US$13,942 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 5.81 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.82 million stocks and Wisynco Group with 1.01 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Jamaican Teas led trading with 4.20 million shares followed by Derrimon Trading with 3.87 million units and EduFocal with 1.42 million stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $27.15 in closing at $155.25 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $7.98 to $107.98.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.7 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and 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 EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
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.