Investors pushed 22 stocks higher on Thursday and left 10 declining after 45 securities trading compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 13 closing unchanged with the market index jumping 50.05 points to 3,783.30, following a near 51 points gain over the previous two trading days and ended trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining 90 percent from trading on Wednesday.
A total of 10,388,698 shares changed hands for $24,745,282 compared to 99,492,688 units at $248,103,688 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 230,860 shares at $549,895, compared with 2,261,197 units at $5,638,720 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averages 416,223 units at $983,962 compared to 428,507 stock units at $1,012,729 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 3.09 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 1.10 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 1.05 million units for 10.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 50 cents and ended at $25 in an exchange of 185 units, AMG Packaging rallied 57 cents to $2.97 with traders dealing in 56,652 stocks, Blue Power climbed 28 cents to end at $2.94 after a transfer of 67 shares. Caribbean Cream rose 56 cents to $4.20, with 23,845 stock units changing hands, Derrimon Trading gained 12 cents to close at $2.01 with a transfer of 26 shares, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.60 after exchanging 217,112 stock units. Dolphin Cove advanced 10 cents to end at $17.10 with investors swapping 11,571 units, Fontana sank 14 cents to $10 in an exchange of 91,263 stocks, Honey Bun popped 14 cents and ended at $6.40 with investors trading 107 shares. ISP Finance rallied $4.15 to close at $29 with just 100 stock units clearing the market, Jamaican Teas increased 9 cents to $2.59 with investors transferring 48,336 stocks, J
etcon Corporation climbed 11 cents in closing at 90 cents in switching ownership of 530,832 units. KLE Group rose 40 cents to end at $1.90 while exchanging 784,660 shares, Knutsford Express advanced $1.20 to close at $12.60 with 300 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 14 cents and ended at $4.50 with an exchange of 11,703 units. Lumber Depot gained 10 cents and landed at $2.60, with 270,334 stock units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners lost 27 cents in closing at $2 after an exchange of 173,637 shares, Paramount Trading shed 26 cents to end at $1.43 in trading 6,800 stocks. Spur Tree Spices jumped 44 cents and ended at $3.33 as investors exchanged 3,088,133 units and Tropical Battery increased 21 cents to close at $1.95 after investors ended trading 272,925 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Friday’s bulk trading returns to Junior Market
The large blocks of stocks in four companies that swelled trading on Friday dominated trading again on Wednesday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the overall volume and the value of stocks traded rising a mere one percent over trading on Friday with trading in 44 securities up from 40 on Friday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Mailpac Group was the leading trade with 50.06 million shares for 50.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.75 million units for 32.9 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy chipped in with 10.59 million units for 10.6 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 2.34 million units for 2.4 percent of total volume.
The total amount of stocks traded was 99,492,688 for $248,103,688 up from 98,460,419 units at $245,339,629 on Friday.
Trading averaged 2,261,197 shares at $5,638,720, compared with 2,461,510 units at $6,133,491 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 428,507 units at $1,012,729 compared with 301,518 stock units at $692,188 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 5.11 points to end at 3,733.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 48 cents to $24.50 with 850,000 stock units clearing the market, AMG Packaging declined 30 cents and ended at $2.40 with traders dealing in 76 shares, Blue Power lost 36 cents to end at $2.66, with 1,000 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Cargo Handlers popped $1.84 in closing at $14.92 with investors trading 923 units, Dolphin Cove skidded 14 cents to close at $17 after an exchange of 701 stocks, Fontana advanced 16 cents to $10.14 with investors transferring 36,524 units. Honey Bun sank 14 cents to close at $6.26 in an exchange of 2,252 shares, Indies Pharma rose 14 cents and ended at $2.99, with 34,657 stock units crossing the market, ISP Finance shed $4.55 in closing at $24.85 with an exchange of 1,244 shares. Jamaican Teas climbed 19 cents to end at $2.50 after investors ended trading 32,747,972 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.18 in closing at $11.40 while exchanging 5,852 units, Medical Disposables increased 20 cents to $2.70 in trading 6,000 stock units and Spur Tree Spices gained 39 cents to close at $2.89 with, 2,339,563 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market popps
Trading jumped at the close of Wednesday of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the volume of stocks traded surging 175 percent and the value 141 percent more than Tuesday as Indies Pharma led trading with 3.90 million shares for 40.5 percent of total volume followed by 
Stationery and Office Supplies with 3.10 million units for 32.2 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 909,586 units for 9.4 percent market share with 37 securities trading compared with 41 on Tuesday with prices of 14 stocks rising, 15 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,632,022 shares for $21,100,384, jumping from 3,501,618 units at $8,751,901 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 260,325 shares at $570,281, up from 85,405 stock units at $213,461 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 162,082 units at $342,317 compared with 155,065 stock units at $326,034 on the previous day, below November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close, the Junior Market Index jumped 51.10 points to finish at 3,701.34.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging sank 43 cents in closing at $2.31 after an exchange of only 420 stocks, CAC 2000 advanced 34 cents to $4.85 with a transfer of just 4 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 25 cents to end at $2, with 61,967 shares crossing the market. Dolphin Cove lost 13 cents and ended at $16.85 with investors transferring 38,922 stock units, EduFocal skidded 15 cents to close at $1.67 in an exchange of 263,831 shares, Elite Diagnostic declined 9 cents to $1.65 with investors swapping 139,450 units. Everything Fresh rose 20 cents and ended at $1.52 with an exchange of 1,202 stocks, Express Catering gained 10 cents in closing at $4 after 509 stock units passed through the market, Fosrich shed 11 cents to close at $2.18 as investors exchanged 37,261 shares.
iCreate dropped 13 cents to end at 50 cents after a transfer of 909,586 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 9 cents to $2.95 with investors exchanging 3,904,111 stocks, ISP Finance dipped 50 cents to close at $29.40 with investors trading 24 units. Jamaican Teas climbed 15 cents in closing at $2.45, with 1,943 shares clearing the market, Lasco Distributors increased 14 cents to end at $3.91 after 1,211 units were traded, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 25 cents and ended at $4.50, with 5,533 stocks changing hands. Main Event popped 50 cents to $13.50 in an exchange of 5,831 stock units, MFS Capital Partners lost 10 cents to close at $2.25 with investors dealing in 49,244 shares, Regency Petroleum climbed 15 cents and ended at $2.30 and closed with 17,804 stock units changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies rose 18 cents in closing at $1.83 in switching ownership of 3,098,440 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main and Junior markets surged
The Main and Junior markets indices surged to close out trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday but the USD Market declined, with market activity ending with the volume and value of stocks traded falling below Tuesday’s levels.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were Guardian Holdings with a gain of $8, Jamaica Producers climbing 97 cents. Barita Investments, was up by 90 cents, Stanley Motta rising 78 cents and Scotia Group closed at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $37.12 after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $41.50. Declining Main Market stocks include Jamaica Broilers down $1.10 and Mayberry Group with a fall of 45 cents.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Main Event up 50 cents, CAC 2000 gaining 34 cents and Lasco Manufacturing gained 25 cents while ISP Finance fell 50 cents, AMG Packaging down 43 cents and Caribbean Assurance Brokers slipped 25 cents.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 2,409.89 points to close at 328,081.90, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,444.03 points to 351,411.76, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,092.44 points to finish at 315,262.16. The Junior Market Index jumped 51.10 points to wrap-up trading at 3,701.34 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 2.73 points to close at 218.88.
Investors traded 13,761,322 shares, in all three markets, down from 20,978,708 units on Tuesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounts to $65.97 million compared with $360.1 million on Tuesday. The JSE USD market closed after 130,502 shares were traded, for US$2,973 compared to 47,641 units at US$822 on Tuesday.
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.7 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 successfully in the 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.
Junior Market slips on reduced trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 29 percent and the value 15 percent lower than Monday with 41 securities trading compared with 42 on Monday and ended with 15 rising, 13 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 3,501,618 shares for $8,751,901 compared with 4,931,463 units at $10,278,286 on Monday.
Trading averaged 85,405 shares at $213,461, compared with 117,416 units at $244,721 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 155,065 units at $326,034 compared with 161,052 stock units at $335,710 on the previous day to end below November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
iCreate led trading with 762,439 shares for 21.8 percent of total volume following the company being placed in receivership and was followed by Fosrich with 624,699 units for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Elite Diagnostic with 509,097 units for 14.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 39.23 points to settle at 3,650.24.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power declined 40 cents and ended at $2.65 with a transfer of 31,088 stocks, CAC 2000 rose 51 cents to $4.51, with just 10 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 13 cents in closing at $1.63 in an exchange of 539 shares. Dolphin Cove advanced 43 cents to close at $16.98 after investors traded 3,293 stock units, EduFocal popped 12 cents to end at $1.82 after an exchange of 69,734 shares, Elite Diagnostic gained 11 cents in closing at $1.74 with investors transferring 509,097 stocks, but only after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.50. Express Catering rallied 10 cents to $3.90 in switching ownership of 3,250 units, Fontana skidded 47 cents and ended at $10 as investors exchanged 284,230 stock units, Future Energy increased 9 cents to close at $3.54 after 69,132 shares passed through the market.
iCreate fell 21 cents to end at 63 cents with traders dealing in 762,439 units, following an announcement on Monday that Sagicor Group had appointed a receiver for the company and comes after the majority shareholder muscled himself back in control of the company at board and executive levels. Indies Pharma dropped 9 cents in closing at $2.86, with 49,581 stocks changing hands, Lasco Distributors shed 16 cents to close at $3.77 with investors swapping 3,384 stock units. Lasco Financial climbed 26 cents to end at $1.88, with 600 shares crossing the exchange, Main Event sank $1.30 to close at $13 in trading 100,022 stock units and Paramount Trading increased 15 cents and ended at $1.63, with just 9 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks pelted Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped for a third consecutive day, on Monday, after the volume of stocks traded climbed 53 percent and the value slipped a tad lower than Friday following trading in 38 securities compared with 36 on Friday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 7,705,493 shares for $11,922,249 compared with 5,022,943 units at $11,992,912 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,776 shares at $313,743, compared with 139,526 units at $333,136 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 141,459 units at $311,810 compared with 131,791 stock units at $311,505 on the previous trading day down from November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
iCreate led trading with 3.46 million shares for 44.8 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.19 million units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 907,966 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index skidded 31.09 points to end the day at 3,669.67.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers
At the close, AMG Packaging shed 59 cents to close at $2.30 with investors transferring just 403 stock units, CAC 2000 climbed 60 cents and ended at $4.60, with 11 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 15 cents in closing at $2.35 while exchanging 300,000 units. Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents to end at $1.80 in trading 53,000 stocks, Derrimon Trading increased 8 cents to close at $1.95 after an exchange of 2,190 units, Dolla Financial dipped 10 cents to $2.39, after 1,185,788 stocks passed through the market.
Dolphin Cove lost 82 cents to close at $16.57 in trading 1,569 shares, EduFocal skidded 21 cents to end at $1.71 in an exchange of 829,284 stock units, Express Catering dropped 17 cents in closing at $3.83, with 2,588 shares changing hands. Fontana popped 63 cents and ended at $10.20 in an exchange of 29,895 stocks, iCreate advanced 10 cents to 87 cents with 3,455,685 units clearing the market, Image Plus fell 11 cents and ended at $1.92 in switching ownership of 6,149 stock units. Indies Pharma dipped 18 cents in closing at $2.82 with stakeholders exchanging 10,350 shares, ISP Finance lost 10 cents to end at $29.90 after a transfer of 708 stock units, Jamaican Teas skidded 25 cents to close at $2.30 with shareholders swapping 44,424 units. Lasco Manufacturing rose 35 cents to $4.65 with an exchange of 42,628 stocks, Limners and Bards gained 13 cents in closing at $1.74 with investors dealing in 133,000 shares, 
Mailpac Group rallied 14 cents to close at $2.19 with a transfer of 75 stock units and Main Event increased 10 cents to end at $13.10 after closing with 3,744 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading falls off
Trading pulled back all-around at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a 59 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded with a 60 percent decline in the value 
compared to Wednesday and resulting in the trading of 39 securities down from 41 on Wednesday, ending with prices of 12 rising, 15 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors exchanged 2,442,247 shares at $4,763,066 compared to 5,954,626 units at $12,034,127 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 62,622 shares at $122,130 compared to 145,235 units at $293,515 on Wednesday with the month to date averaging 130,432 units at $307,707 compared with 146,364 stock units at $351,306 on the previous day and November that closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 541,346 shares for 22.2 percent of total volume followed by 
Jamaican Teas with 299,806 units for 12.3 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 289,403 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 12.14 points to cease trading at 3,713.03.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rose $1.79 and ended at $25.49 with shareholders swapping a mere 1,000 shares, AMG Packaging skidded 30 cents to $2.30 after an exchange of 1,562 units, Cargo Handlers rallied $1.45 in closing at $14.95 with investors transferring 1,330 shares. Caribbean Flavours fell 9 cents to end at $1.50 after an exchange of 400 stock units, 
Derrimon Trading shed 16 cents to close at $1.87 with a transfer of 30,656 shares, Dolphin Cove increased 87 cents to $17.40 after 797 stock units passed through the market. EduFocal popped 17 cents to end at $1.93 in an exchange of 85,150 stocks, ISP Finance picked up $6 in closing at $30 with traders dealing in just 30 units, Jamaican Teas declined 10 cents to close at $2.30, with 299,806 shares crossing the market. JFP Ltd lost 11 cents and ended at $1.41 with an exchange of 25,970 units, Knutsford Express dipped 13 cents to $12.80 while trading 41 stocks, Medical Disposables dipped 38 cents to end at $2.92 in switching ownership of 4,906 stock units and Spur Tree Spices lost 8 cents in closing at $2.11 while exchanging 112,204 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market bounced on Wednesday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the advancing stocks outnumbering those that declined on a day with Knutsford Express leading the stocks rising with a jump of $1.75, 
followed by Access Financial, up $1.15 and Main Event with a rise of 98 cents as the market closed with the volume of stocks traded declining 16 percent at a 47 percent lower value than on Tuesday after trading resulted in activity in 41 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ended with 21 rising, eight declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,954,626 shares for $12,034,127 compared with 7,063,052 units at $22,550,480 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 145,235 shares at $293,515, compared with 160,524 units at $512,511 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 146,364 units at $351,306 compared with 146,734 stock units at $370,261 on the previous day, closing below November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.55 million shares for 26 percent of total volume followed by 
Regency Petroleum with 1.29 million units for 21.7 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 988,959 units for 16.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 47.42 points to end at 3,725.17.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $1.15 to end at $23.70, with 6,000 stocks clearing the market, AMG Packaging rose 15 cents in closing at $2.60 after investors traded 237 units, Blue Power climbed 39 cents to $3.04, with 1,000 shares crossing the exchange. Caribbean Flavours increased 18 cents and ended at $1.59, with 67 stock units changing hands, 
Elite Diagnostic popped 21 cents to close at $1.85 with stakeholders exchanging 99,695 shares, Fontana advanced 18 cents to $10.20, with 19,328 stocks crossing the market. Future Energy rallied 8 cents and ended at $3.58 as investors exchanged 620,887 units, Indies Pharma lost 13 cents to end at $2.80 with shareholders swapping 2,403 stock units, Jamaican Teas popped 10 cents in closing at $2.40 while exchanging 251,734 shares and ended with stocks on offer declining. Knutsford Express advanced $1.75 to close at $12.93 in switching ownership of 567 units, Lasco Distributors rose 24 cents to $4.04, with 3,118 stocks crossing the market, Lasco Financial rallied 14 cents to close at $1.84 in an exchange of 750 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing increased by 10 cents in closing at $4.50 with investors transferring 4,471 shares, 
Main Event climbed 98 cents to end at $13.98 after exchanging a mere 379 stocks, Medical Disposables gained 38 cents and ended at $3.30 with a transfer of 3,018 units and MFS Capital Partners fell 10 cents to $2.05 after 132,587 stock units were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market dives on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange took another hit on Tuesday, following a moderate rise in the volume of stocks traded and an 86 percent surge in value over Monday’s level with trading of 44 securities compared with 40 on Monday and ended with prices of just nine rising, 25 declining and 10 closing unchanged, but the market closed with the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator flashing a positive signal for Wednesday opening.
Investors traded 7,063,052 shares for $22,550,480 compared with 6,466,809 units at $12,152,568 on Monday.
Trading averaged 160,524 shares at $512,511, compared with 161,670 units at $303,814 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 146,734 units at $370,261 compared with 139,244 stock units at $292,990 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.27 million shares for 18 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 1.04 million units for 14.7 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 885,756 units for 12.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index skidded 35.17 points to end the day at 3,677.75.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial skidded $2.45 to $22.55 in trading a mere 10 stock units, AMG Packaging climbed 20 cents and ended at $2.45 after a transfer of 7,290 shares, Blue Power lost 43 cents to close at $2.65 while exchanging 199,701 units. Caribbean Cream rose 70 cents to end at $3.70 with investors dealing in a mere 284 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 24 cents in closing at $1.87 with 15 units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents to $16.50 after an exchange of 34,411 stocks. Express Catering dropped 20 cents in closing at $3.80 after 94,844 shares passed through the market, Fontana shed 38 cents to end at $10.02 after an exchange of 310,305 stock units, 
Fosrich declined 31 cents and ended at $2.16, with 141,209 shares crossing the market. Future Energy lost 10 cents to close at $3.50 with traders dealing in 636,917 stocks, Indies Pharma rallied 37 cents to $2.93 with 11,500 units crossing the exchange, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 59 cents and ended at $2.06 with investors transferring 439 stock units. ISP Finance shed $7.50 in closing at $24, with 326 shares changing hands, JFP Ltd increased 12 cents to close at $1.53 with a transfer of 3,549 stock units, Lasco Distributors declined 30 cents to $3.80 with stakeholders exchanging 6,016 units. Limners and Bards popped 9 cents to $1.70 and closed after 11 stocks were traded, Mailpac Group fell 22 cents to close at $2.02 trading 88,613 units, 
Main Event skidded 50 cents and ended at $13 in switching ownership of 330,689 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 9 cents to end at $1.61 with shareholders swapping 39,301 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big declines in Main & Junior Markets on Tuesday
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday with a greater volume of stocks trading at a much higher value than on Monday, with both the Main and the junior Market indices dropping from Monday’s close while the JSE USD Market rose after sharp declines in a series of stocks
led by Guardian Holdings, down $104.99, ISP finance with a fall of $7.50, Pan Jamaica down $5.41, Seprod falling $4.70, Eppley Property $4.30, Carib Cement off $2.77 and Access down $2,45.
Trading closed with a plunge in JSE Combined Market Index by 4,203.69 points to end trading at 323,867.88, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,347.62 points to finish at 347,377.50, the JSE Main Index dived 4,153.74 points to 310,988.80. The Junior Market Index dropped 35.17 points to wrap-up trading at 3,677.75 on Tuesday and the JSE USD Market Index rose 3.47 points to end trading at 227.60.
Investors traded 20,284,498 shares, in all three markets, up from 12,196,470 units on Monday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounts to $174.37 million up from just $40.13 million on Monday, as Wisynco Group dominated trading with 5.18 million shares for $104 million. The JSE USD market closed after 198,410 shares were traded, for US$3,547 compared to 89,619 units at US$7,899 on Monday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1 to end at $46.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.5 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.
