Trading closed Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a much lower value than on Tuesday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, with the Junior Market index and that of the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading, prices of 39 shares rose, 40 declined and 32 remained firm.
The market ended with, the JSE Combined Market Index falling 3,059.82 points to 374,687.31, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 4,195.71 points to close at 442,731.70, the JSE Main Index lost 3,432.24 points toend trading at 369,836.89, the Junior Market Index rallied by 30.92 points to end trading at 2,935.70 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.81 points to settle at 321.34.
Trading closed with 22,876,276 shares being exchanged in all three markets, down from 28,129,222 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $164.65 million, down from $240.88 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 219,156 shares for US$16,395, well lower than the 674,631 units at US$64,197 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.38 million shares, followed by Stanley Motta with 4.10 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.41 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Atlantic Hardware led with 1.64 million shares, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.24 million stocks and Image Plus with 716,273 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, Guardian Holdings gained $7 to finish at $355.00, Pan Jamaica rose $4 to $46.00, Kingston Wharves rallied $3 to end at $34.00, Caribbean Cement increased $1 to close at $114.00 and Sagicor Group popped $1 to close at $41.00.
Among the top losers, Barita Investments dropped $4.80 to end at $63.00, AS Bryden fell $1.55 to $23.43, Carreras declined 50 cents to finish at $33.00, NCB Financial shed 50 cents and ended at $72.00 and 138 Student Living dropped by 32 cents in closing at $2.58.
In the preference share segment, 138 Student Living preferred share declined by $32.70 to end at $185 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% fell $1.80 to close at $110.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Cargo Handlers climbed $1.34 to end at $15.99, Access Financial advanced 50 cents to close at $18.50, Jetcon Corporation rose 18 cents to $3.96, Lasco Financial climbed 18 cents to close at $1.78 and Fosrich increased 10 cents to end at $1.18. Among the top losers, Knutsford Express dropped 44 cents to close at $7.55, Dolphin Cove lost 43 cents and ended at $10.80, Mailpac Group skidded 28 cents to finish at $2.22, Honey Bun lost 15 cents to $5.98 and Regency Petroleum shed 15 cents to close at $4.30.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 14.3 and 15.9 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most frequently used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.
Company results for Main Market listed companies continue to show encouraging outcomes for the year, auguring well for increased stock prices for the balance of the year, barring any negative developments in the economy that could derail the market.
Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings slipped $7 to finish at $348.00, Kingston Wharves lost $3.50 and ended at $31.00, Pan Jamaica fell by $2 to $42.00, Sagicor Group shed 50 cents in closing at $40.00 and Mayberry Group declined 45 cents to end at $5.10.
The JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,183.40 points to close at 372,956.53, wthe the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 3,721.63 points to finish at 441,397.24, the JSE Main Index declined 4,392.23 points to close at 368,399.71, the Junior Market Index increased 2.26 points to end at 2,886.01 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 1.32 points to finish at 315.77.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Access Financial gained $1.41 to finish at $18.59, Dolphin Cove increased 50 cents and ended at $10.50, Knutsford Express climbed by 35 cents to $7.50, Atlantic Hardware rose by 23 cents in closing at $1.47 and Honey Bun advanced 16 cents to close at $6.16.
The market closed with 17,802,017 shares trading worth $126,875,104 after a fall from 332,532,212 stocks at $3,115,456,830 on Thursday.
The Main Market closed with an average PE of 15.2. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending around August 2026.
Pan Jamaica skidded $5.98 to close at $40.02 after an exchange of 11,065 stock units, Quantas Advantage jumped $1.55 to $16.55 with a transfer of 101 stocks, Sagicor Group slipped 90 cents to end at $40.10 with 23,476 shares changing hands. Scotia Group climbed 51 cents and ended at $57.50 with 132,796 stocks crossing the market and Supreme Ventures dropped 69 cents to $17.20 with investors dealing in 154,772 units.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,251.71 points to 377,139.93, with the All Jamaican Composite Index slipping by 593.47 points to finish at 445,118.87, the JSE Main Index dipped by 1,212.13 points to 372,791.94, as the Junior Market Index declined by 12.92 points to 2,883.75 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 3.91 points to finish at 317.09.
The ordinary shares of the Main Market closed after, Caribbean Cement increased $7.43 to end at $114.43, Quantas Advantage popped $1.55 to close at $16.55, Jamaica Broilers rallied by 75 cents to close at $13, Kingston Properties rose 69 cents to finish at $11.99 and Scotia Group rose by 51 cents and ended at $57.50. Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings lost $25 to close at $340, Pan Jamaica dipped $5.98 to $40.02, Jamaica Producers fell $2.90 to end at $18.60, Barita Investments slipped $2 in closing at $64.00 and Carreras skidded $1.10 to finish at $33.90.
The market closed with 332,532,212 shares trading for $3,115,456,830, after soaring from 16,125,027 stock units, with a value of $178,956,658 on Wednesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.7. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2026.
Pan Jamaica advanced by $2 and ended at $46 after a transfer of 1,866 stock units, Sagicor Group gained 90 cents to close at $41 with investors trading 28,579 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 75 cents and settled at $8.75 with a transfer of 845 shares. Supreme Ventures rallied by 44 cents to $17.89 with 14,724 shares passing through the market and West Indies Petroleum increased 79 cents to finish at $9.93 in an exchange of 320,026,211 stock units.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,580.93 points to finish at 378,391.64, with the All Jamaican Composite Index rising 3,631.95 points to close at 445,712.34, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,822.41 points to close at 374,004.07, the Junior Market Index declined by 16.40 points to end at 2,896.67 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 6.25 points to 313.18.
Among the top losers, First Rock Real Estate slipped by $1.48 and ended at $5.52, GraceKennedy fell $1.20 to $75.00, Berger Paints dropped 95 cents to close at $5.45, Jamaica Broilers declined by 60 cents to close at $12.25, Proven Investments dropped by 30 cents to $9.25 and Lasco Distributors declined 30 cents to end at $3.12.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index inched 1.56 points higher to close at 375,810.71, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 199.17 points to end at 442,080.39, the JSE Main Index dipped 110.70 points to finish at 371,181.66, the Junior Market Index rose 14.96 points to close at 2,913.07 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 4.69 points to conclude trading at 319.43.
Among the top losers, Pan Jamaica dipped $2 to end at $44, Jamaica Producers fell $1.52 to $20.32, Quantas Advantage dipped $1.40 to finish at $15.00, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.38 and ended at $7.82 and Kingston Properties shed $1.20 to close at $10.69.
The market closed with 19,324,470 shares trading worth $235,983,383 after rising from 15,872,782 stock units at $183,203,796 on Monday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.7. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2026.
NCB Financial lost 30 cents in closing at $69.65 after an exchange of 223,425 stocks. Proven Investments gained 65 cents to $9.90 with 88,750 stocks crossing the market, Quantas Advantage climbed 90 cents to close at $16.40 in switching ownership of 6,100 stock units and Supreme Ventures dipped 40 cents to end at $17.50 after a transfer of 162,251 shares.