Steady trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

The Jamaica Stock Exchange markets closed with moderate changes at the close of trading on Thursday, resulting in the Junior Market maintaining moderate gains within 10 minutes of the close, dipping 11 points to close out the day with the Main Market index also dropping, with the JSE USD market closing moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands rising, with the value of stocks traded ending fractionally higher than the prior day, resulting in prices of 34 shares rising and 41 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 358.30 points to close at 324,591.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 361.83 points to 355,670.74 and the JSE Main Index lost 290.83 points to 311,525.34. The Junior Market Index dipped 11.17 points to end at 3,721.43 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.30 points to end trading at 222.16.
At the close of trading, 16,269,115 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,782,452 units on Wednesday with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $62.93 million, marginally more than the $62.49 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 143,387 shares for US$6,984 compared to 348,410 units at US$8,206 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 2.16 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.89 million stock units and Wigton Windfarm with 1.75 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 5.09 million shares followed by RA Williams with 612,777 units and Derrimon Trading with 402,798 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $150 to close at $2,900.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 21 on 2023-24 earnings and 13 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.