Trading activity plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded diving 27 percent and the value plunging 71 percent lower than on Thursday, with trading in 57 securities compared with 54 on Thursday, and ended with prices of just 11 rising, 31 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed with only MPC Caribbean Clean Energy up $7.36 and Seprod $4.80, ended with worthwhile gains with the others up 30 cents or less while losses were more prominent across the top 10, led by Pan Jamaica falling $2.40 and NCB Financial, down $23.9 with the lowest top 10 decliner, Jamaica Broilers with a 50 cents decline.
A total of 4,087,425 shares were traded for $30,292,867, down from 5,596,104 units at $102,723,231 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 71,709 shares at $531,454 versus 103,632 shares at $1,902,282 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 111,111 units at $1,369,955, compared with 132,500 units at $1,825,141 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.32 million shares for 32.3 percent of total volume, followed by Carreras with 772,775 units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and 
Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 417,841 units for 10.2 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,366.63 points to settle at 347,733.07, the JSE Main Index lost 3,039.14 points to finish at 312,866.71 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.07 points to close at 68.43.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments skidded 86 cents to $71.03 with traders dealing in 26,881 stocks Berger Paints lost 80 cents to end at $6.20, with 8,849 units clearing the market, GraceKennedy dropped 68 cents in closing at $73.32 with investors dealing in 4,628 shares. Jamaica Broilers shed 50 cents and ended at $33, with 20,678 stock units crossing the exchange, 
Jamaica Producers fell 75 cents to close at $19.15 with a transfer of 2,866 shares, Kingston Properties fell 54 cents to $7.01 after an exchange of 15,523 units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $7.36 and ended at $80.87 with just one stock changing hands, NCB Financial dipped $2.39 to close at $60.51 in an exchange of 74,210 stock units, Pan Jamaica lost $2.40 in closing at $47.65 after 1,118 shares passed through the market. Scotia Group skidded 50 cents to end at $34 as investors exchanged 16,794 stocks, Seprod climbed $4.80 in closing at $79.80 in trading 12,312 units and Wisynco Group fell 50 cents to $20.50, with 131,691 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents to end at $5.07 while exchanging 379 shares and 138 Student Living preference share shed $17.73 and ended at $89.27 after closing with an exchange of 50 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market drops, Junior Markets rises
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed trading on Friday lower with modest trading activity characterized trading, but the Junior Market and JSE USD Markets pushed higher to close the week positively.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,613.54 points to close at 327,354.97, while the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,366.63 points to end at 347,733.07, the JSE Main Index lost 3,039.14 points to settle at 312,866.71. The Junior Market Index popped 25.76 points to end at 3,873.18 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.94 points to 230.99.
Investors traded 8,797,366 shares in all three markets, down from 10,303,204 stock units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded plunged on the Junior and Main markets to just $41.29 million from $114.36 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 50,369 shares were traded for US$10,547 compared to 191,624 units at US$7,484 on Friday.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents to end at $5.07 and 138 Student Living preference share shed $17.73 and ended at $89.27.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22.6 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. 
ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the 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 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 quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 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.
JSE Main Market rallies
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed trading on Thursday, with the market indices rising, which followed a 33 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded combined with the value of stocks traded jumping 16 percent over Wednesday’s level, following trading in 54 securities compared with 51 on Wednesday, as the market closed with prices 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,596,104 shares were traded for $102,723,231 compared to 8,316,427 units at $88,916,615 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 103,632 shares at $1,902,282 compared with 163,067 stocks at $1,743,463 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 132,500 stock units at $1,825,141, compared to an average of 214,410 shares in October valued at $1,325,907, with more funds entering the market in November to date.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.46 million shares for 26.1 percent of total volume, followed by Jamaica Broilers with 1.08 million units for 19.3 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 926,834 units for 16.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 370.00 points to end at 349,099.70, 
the JSE Main Index rallied 1,202.56 points to 315,905.85 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.24 points to conclude trading at 68.50.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending in August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 80 cents to end at $7 with traders dealing in 150 stocks, Caribbean Cement popped $1.99 in closing at $51 after an exchange of 35,095 units, First Rock Real Estate increased $1.21 to close at $7.91 after 19,841 shares passed through the market. GraceKennedy climbed 50 cents and ended at $74 with investors dealing in 111,373 stock units, Guardian Holdings rose $29.50 to close at $439.50 after 68 shares passed through the exchange, 
Jamaica Broilers rallied 51 cents to $33.50 with investors swapping 1,077,445 units. Kingston Properties rallied 55 cents to $7.55 in switching 6,831 stocks, Massy Holdings fell $1 and ended at $97, with 503 stock units clearing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $14.46 in closing at $73.51 with investors transferring two shares. Pan Jamaica declined 35 cents and ended at $50.05 after exchanging 800,704 units, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to $34.50 in trading 57,408 stocks, Seprod lost $1.50 in closing at $75 after a transfer of 8,808 stock units, and Wisynco Group skidded 93 cents and ended at $21 as investors exchanged 8,588 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $10 to end at $2,900 after investors ended trading six units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share popped 41 cents to close at $2.50 with an exchange of one stock.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main market falters to start November
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 11 percent and the value surging 36 percent more than on Tuesday, following trading in 51 securities compared with 58 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 24 declining and nine ending unchanged.
A total of 8,316,427 shares were traded valued at $88,916,615 compared with 7,470,394 units at $65,380,690 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 163,067 shares at $1,743,463 versus 128,800 shares at $1,127,253 on Tuesday, compared to October with an average of 214,410 stock units at $1,325,907.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.54 million shares for 18.5 percent of total volume, followed by Scotia Group with 1.51 million units for 18.1 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.33 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,746.69 points to close at 348,729.70, the JSE Main Index dipped 4,097.53 points to 314,703.29 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.17 points to conclude trading at 68.26.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $1.98 to $49.01 and closed with an exchange of 46,234 stocks, GraceKennedy rallied 50 cents to close at $73.50 after investors traded 4,585 units, Guardian Holdings fell $30 in closing at $410 after 3,848 shares were traded. Jamaica Broilers skidded 98 cents to end at $32.99 with 44,119 stock units clearing the market, Jamaica Producers popped 82 cents and ended at $19.90 with traders dealing in 7,100 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 60 cents to $8.50 after a transfer of 5,664 stocks. 
Kingston Properties dipped 70 cents to close at $7, with 730 units changing hands, Kingston Wharves advanced 50 cents in closing at $28.50 in an exchange of 25,283 stock units, Massy Holdings dropped 80 cents to end at $98, with 824 shares crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $11.47 and ended at $87.97 after exchanging 10 stock units, Proven Investments gained 64 cents to finish the day at $23.69 in trading 939 units, Sagicor Group shed $2 and ended at $42.60, with 25,185 stocks crossing the exchange. Scotia Group declined 70 cents to end at $34 with a transfer of 1,505,779 units, Seprod lost $2 in closing at $76.50 with stakeholders exchanging 1,699 stocks, Supreme Ventures shed 50 cents to close at $26, with 187,628 shares crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped $1.40 to $9.55 with an exchange of 16,028 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell 78 cents to end at $19.22 after 500 shares passed through the market and Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $6.46 in closing at $48.46 while exchanging 361 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise
JSE Main Market jumps to end October
Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market from the lacklustre levels on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 30 percent and the value 310 percent more than on Monday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 55 on Monday, with 20 rising, 25 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 7,470,394 shares were traded for $65,380,690 compared with 5,763,109 units at $15,955,473 on Monday.
Trading averaged 128,800 shares at $1,127,253 compared to 104,784 shares at $290,100 on Monday and month to date, an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907, compared with 218,949 units at $1,336,439 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.46 million shares for 32.9 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.07 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 701,528 units for 9.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 4,665.94 points to close at 351,476.39, the JSE Main Index jumped 4,914.30 points to finish at 318,800.82 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.79 points to close at 69.43.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints lost $1.20 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.20, with 1,138 units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement rose $1.99 to $50.99 in switching ownership of 34,273 stocks, First Rock Real Estate skidded $1.36 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.55 with investors transferring 19,332 shares. General Accident rallied 36 cents in closing at $5.56 after an exchange of 19,809 stock units, GraceKennedy increased 50 cents and ended at $73 with traders dealing in 40,025 shares, Jamaica Producers fell 87 cents to $19.08 while exchanging 363 stocks. JMMB Group climbed 49 cents in closing at $27.50 with shareholders swapping 55,168 units, Key Insurance dropped 29 cents to close at $2.21 after investors ended trading of 34,312 stock units, Kingston Properties popped 30 cents and ended at $7.70 with an exchange of 63,719 shares. 
Kingston Wharves gained 50 cents to end at $28, with 72,619 stocks changing hands, Margaritaville advanced $2.45 to $16.50, after just one unit passed through the market, Massy Holdings popped $7.93 and ended at $98.80 after a transfer of 28 stock units. NCB Financial shed 30 cents to end at $62.85, with 146,019 shares crossing the exchange, Proven Investments declined 45 cents in closing at $23.05 with investors dealing in 1,356 stock units, Sagicor Group rallied $1.10 to close at $44.60 after 25,814 stocks crossed the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund increased 20 cents to $8.30 after an exchange of 9,794 units, Scotia Group climbed 20 cents in closing at $34.70, with 35,513 stocks clearing the market, Seprod rose $7.50 and ended at $78.50 with an exchange of 91,825 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 95 cents to close at $10.95 as investors exchanged 10 shares and Wisynco Group advanced $1.05 to end at $21.95 in trading 676,252 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $3.22 to $42 after exchanging 1,110 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $1 and ended at $122 with a transfer of 11 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falls Monday
Trading activity closed on Monday, with an exchange of 5,763,109 shares for a mere $15,955,473 that was down 49 percent compared with the value of $31,523,597 on Friday from trading in 5,448,012 units on Friday, 
on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market in ending, with trading in 55 securities similar to Friday, and ending with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 104,784 shares at $290,100 versus 99,055 shares at $573,156 on Friday and month to date, an average of 218,949 units at $1,336,439, compared with 224,992 units at $1,391,827 on the previous trading day. Trading during September ended with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.39 million shares for 41.4 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 1.25 million units for 21.7 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 597,959 units for 10.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped just 9.86 points to 346,810.45, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,512.64 points to end at 313,886.52 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.03 points to finish at 68.64.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 90 cents to end at $7.40 with shareholders swapping 90 units, Caribbean Cement declined $1.32 in closing at $49, with 18,894 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers climbed 97 cents to $33.97 with stakeholders exchanging 34,920 shares. Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents and ended at $19.95 in trading 20 stock units, JMMB Group fell 49 cents to close at $27.01 after 9,356 shares passed through the Market, 
Massy Holdings dropped $7.93 to $90.87 with traders dealing in 155 stock units. Proven Investments popped $2 in closing at $23.50 while investors traded 202 stocks, Scotia Group rallied 95 cents and ended at $34.50, after 25,702 units passed through the market, Seprod dropped 50 cents to close at $71 in an exchange of 3,594 shares, Wisynco Group gained 95 cents to end at $20.90 with investors transferring 41,836 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $4.68 to end at $45.22 after an exchange of 239 stocks, 
138 Student Living preference share jumped $12 and ended at $107, with 61 units crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $2 in closing at $123 as investors exchanged 1,094 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fall for all JSE Markets on Monday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday jumped sharply over Friday’s levels as the Junior Market activity dominated with trading of 44,475,233 shares for $142,291,683 and overshadowing trading in the JSE Main Market, but the markets ended trading with the JSE USD and the Junior Market index plunging and the JSE Market index slipping to close out the day.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,952.40 points to 328,196.84, while the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 9.86 points to end at 346,810.45, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,512.64 points to 313,886.52. The Junior Market Index dived 60.10 points to 3,860.61 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 12.69 points to conclude trading at 213.33.
Investors traded 50,369,942 shares in all three markets, up from 36,643,282 stock units on Friday. The value of stocks traded rose on the Junior and Main markets to $158.25 million from $87 million on Friday. The JSE USD market closed after 131,600 shares were traded for US$3,492 compared to 31,673 units at US$7,572 on Friday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $4.68 to close at $45.22, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $12 and ended at $107 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $2 in closing at $123.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the 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 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.
More changes for ICTOP10
During the past week, the ICTOP10 Main Market stocks closed, with losing stocks dominating and rising stocks outnumbering declining ones in the Junior Market, following gains in both market indices. During the week, the JSE Main Market Index recovered all of the 3,385 points drop of the previous week by adding 3,900 points, but the All Jamaica Composite Index rose by 600 points and the Junior Market rose a mere 31 points.
The above set the stage for ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks to post five rising stocks to two that declined, while the ICTOP10 Main Market recorded five modest gains and four losses.
Price movements in the market resulted in two new TOP10 listings for the Junior Market and one for the Main Market. Lasco Manufacturing and Consolidated Bakeries dropped out of the Junior Market listing and Caribbean Cement fell out of the Main Market, resulting from a small price appreciation and re-evaluation of earnings per share following the release of nine months results, with ICInsider.com projected earnings now at $7. However, the stock still has the potential to go higher, with the current PE at just 7 times 2023 earnings compared to an average of 12 for the market.
Returning to the TOP 10 are Junior Market listed Paramount Trading and AMG Packaging. In contrast, Scotia Group returns to the TOP 10 Main Market listing, with the price dropping from $34.45 at the end of the previous week to $33.55 this past week. AMG returns, following the release of the full year’s results, show major improvement in direct operating cost with a solid increase in gross profit margin in the August quarter, which augurs well for earnings for the new fiscal year starting September, accordingly, I
CInsider.com upgraded earnings to $0.40 per share for the current year and that pushed the stock to 5th place on the TOP 10 list. Paramount Trading returns with a depressed price and gains by the two stocks dropping out of the listing.
Everything Fresh led the Junior Market listing with a rise of 14 percent to $1.60, followed by Lasco Manufacturing with a 10 percent climb and Elite Diagnostic with 6 percent to $1.88. Just two stocks fell with losses of just one and three percent. The Main Market closed the week with Caribbean Producers rising 4 percent to $9.50. Margaritaville fell 14 percent to $14.05, Key Insurance dropped six percent to $2.50 and General Accident with a four percent decline to $5.45.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 4.7, well below the market average of 12.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 359 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
An indication of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 109, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight valuations.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 5.9, just over half of the market, with an average of 10.8. There are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 18.6, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 244 percent by May 2024.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is only sometimes so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Trading rises on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
The value of stocks traded declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but the volume surged from the levels on Thursday and ended with the JSE Main Market and the JSE USD rising as the Junior Market index closed down but remained above the 3,900 points mark for a second day.
The rise of Main Market indices was pushed mainly by Guardian Holdings, up $29, Massy Holdings with the rise of $8.80, Pan Jamaica with $3.46, followed by Sagicor Group, adding $1.29 to Thursday‘s price and Caribbean Cement, up $1.27.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index added 3,257.76 points to close at 330,149.24, while the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 168.58 points to settle at 346,820.31, the JSE Main Index increased 3,589.20 points to 315,399.16. The Junior Market Index slipped 11.26 points to 3,920.71 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.42 points to settle at 226.02.
Investors traded 36,643,282 shares in all three markets, up from 22,006,435 stock units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded slipped on the Junior and Main markets to $87 million from $98 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market ended trading after 31,673 shares were traded, for US$7,572 compared to 218,678 units at US$7,411 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $9 to end at $2890 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $4.25 to close at $125.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 23.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the 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 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 navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market successfully. 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.
Main Market trading drop drags index down
Trading activity slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 36 percent and the value 4 percent lower than on Wednesday, after 
trading took place in 51 securities compared with 49 on Wednesday, with 20 rising, 20 declining and 11 stocks ending unchanged.
A total of 8,555,217 shares were traded for $65,664,035 compared to 13,455,754 units at $68,332,119 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 167,749 shares at $1,287,530 compared to 274,607 shares at $1,394,533 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 232,031 units at $1,437,586, compared with 235,545 units at $1,445,789 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.87 million shares for 45.2 percent of total volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 1.36 million units for 15.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 980,131 units for 11.5 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 951.42 points to settle at 346,651.73, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,727.61 points to 311,809.96 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.17 points to close at 68.48.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley dropped 75 cents and ended at $33.20 after exchanging 1,087 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped 50 cents to end at $40 with traders dealing in 7,359 units, General Accident rallied 47 cents to close at $5.48 with investors dealing in 1,765 stock units. GraceKennedy shed 50 cents in closing at $72, with stakeholders exchanging 74,624 stocks, 
Guardian Holdings dipped $19 to $411, with 58 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents to $19.95 after an exchange of 10,698 units. Kingston Wharves fell 45 cents and ended at $27.50 after investors traded 2,077 stock units, Margaritaville skidded $2.55 to end at $14.05, with 15 shares crossing the market, Massy Holdings lost $6 in closing at $90 with an exchange of 1,068 stocks. NCB Financial declined 90 cents to close at $63.15 with investors transferring 57,166 stock units, Pan Jamaica shed $2.50 to close at $47 after investors traded 28,177 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.23 to end at $23.74, with 2,066 shares crossing the market, Seprod skidded $1.50 and ended at $71 as investors exchanged 95 shares and Wisynco Group fell $2.26 in closing at $19.24 after a transfer of 1,359,434 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.