Elite Diagnostic ended as the top trader on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market for the 4th time in 6 trading days, accounting for 41.6 million units, 92 percent of traded volume. Friday’s trading ended with significantly higher activity than on Thursday, with trading volume surging 725 percent and the value jumping 833 percent compared with Thursday. Trading closed with an exchange of 40 securities, down from 41 on Thursday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 21 declining and five closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 45,061,140 shares for $77,107,032, after increasing from only 5,462,459 units at $8,266,954 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 1,126,529 shares at $1,927,676, after it climbed from 133,231 stock units at $201,633 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 864,476 stock units at $1,580,443 compared to 822,380 stock units at $1,524,663 on the preceding day and an average of 324,023 shares at $544,060 for September.
Elite Diagnostic led trading with 41.60 million shares for 92.3 percent of total volume, followed by One Great Studio with 555,640 units for just 1.2 percent of the day’s trade and Atlantic Hardware with 474,050 stocks for a mere 1.1 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 23.34 points to close at 3,108.68. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.5. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, Access Financial gained $2.29 to close at $19.95 with 510 units crossing the market, Atlantic Hardware shed 5 cents to close at $1.52 after an exchange of 474,050 stocks, Blue Power popped 6 cents to finish at $3.29 with investors trading 3,204 shares. Cargo Handlers climbed by 10 cents to $15.82 in switching ownership of 6,347 stock units, Derrimon Trading dropped by 6 cents to 82 cents with trading of 49,894 shares, Dolla Financial rose 8 cents to end at $3.86 with 347,900 stocks crossing the market. Dolphin Cove fell $1.41 in closing at $8.71 with investors dealing in 35,357 units, Elite Diagnostic advanced 7 cents to $1.85 after trading of 41,595,419 stock units, Express Catering dipped 10 cents to $2.90 with an exchange of 6,534 shares. Fontana rallied 8 cents to finish at $6.18 with 10,324 stocks changing hands, Fosrich lost 13 cents to end at $1.45 in an exchange of 14,665 units, GWest Corporation skidded 9 cents to close at 61 cents with 6,073 stock units clearing the market. Honey Bun declined 5 cents to $7.61 with a transfer of 350 shares, Image Plus slipped 7 cents and ended at $1.80 with 464,018 shares changing hands, Indies Pharma fell 5 cents and ended at $2.64 with investors swapping 256,157 stocks. 
Jamaican Teas increased 15 cents to close at $2.15 with 6,932 units passing through the exchange, Jetcon Corporation climbed by 15 cents to end at $4.80 after a transfer of 76,286 stocks, Knutsford Express rose 66 cents to $8.44 in trading of 4,711 units. Lumber Depot dipped 21 cents to $2.28 after an exchange of 108,931 shares, while Main Event lost 39 cents to end at $3.40 with a transfer of 1,031 stocks, ONE on ONE Educational skidded 8 cents in closing at 72 cents as investors exchanged 314,052 shares and Regency Petroleum dropped 8 cents to $4.05 with 15,823 stocks passing through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.
The market closed with an exchange of 511,787 shares for US$33,241 after rising from 345,233 stock units at US$22,598 on Thursday.
Sterling Investments fell 0.03 of one cent to finish at 2.25 US cents after a transfer of 52 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 0.57 of a cent to close at 6.03 US cents in trading 19,840 stock units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share climbed 0.39 of a cent to 4.99 US cents with 13,300 units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway dropped 0.2 of a cent to close at 6.2 US cents after trading of 380,627 stocks.
The market closed with 12,119,774 shares trading for $114,939,495, compared with 15,606,900 stock units at $112,807,911 on Thursday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.8. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios. These are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
Pan Jamaica slipped $1.79 to close at $44.20, with an exchange of 48,277 stocks, Quantas Advantage shed 40 cents to end at $24, with 23,741 units passing through the market, Sagicor Group gained 60 cents to close at $43.10 after trading of 46,368 stock units. Scotia Group dropped 85 cents to $71.55 with a transfer of 43,882 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 68 cents to finish at $7.90, with investors swapping 1,122 units.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied by 304.23 points to finish trading at 391,414.67, as the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,336.87 points to 462,726.28, the JSE Main Index popped 142.95 points to 386,033.03, the Junior Market Index rallied 23.34 points to close at 3,108.68 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 3.99 points to finish at 279.79.
Among the top losers, Massy Holdings fell $3.95 to end at $75.00, NCB Financial declined by $2.45 to $71.55, Pan Jamaica dropped $1.79 to close at $44.20, Barita Investments fell $1.50 to $73.50 and GraceKennedy shed $1.05 to close at $89.95.
ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making 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.
The market closed with an exchange of 345,233 shares for US$22,598 compared to 451,658 stock units at US$30,462 on Wednesday.
Quantas Advantage climbed 1.37 cents to finish at 16.37 US cents with 674 stocks crossing the market. Sterling Investments popped 0.18 of a cent to 2.28 US cents with investors trading 300 units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.07 of a cent to end at 6.6 US cents with a transfer of 21,683 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share remained at 4.6 US cents in an exchange of 4,300 shares and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.03 of a cent to finish at 6.4 US cents after trading of 301,518 stocks.
The market closed with trading of 5,462,459 shares for $8,266,954, down from 8,524,187 stock units at $17,475,935 on Wednesday.
At the close, Access Financial shed $2.29 and closed at $17.66 after an exchange of 238 units, AMG Packaging fell 14 cents to $1.71 with investors trading 718 stocks, Blue Power skidded by 26 cents and ended at $3.23 after trading of 100 shares. Caribbean Cream advanced 6 cents to a 52 weeks high of $3.45 with an exchange of 75,409 stock units, Dolla Financial gained 5 cents and ended at $3.78 after 148,311 shares were exchanged, Dolphin Cove fell 6 cents to $10.12 as after an exchange of 1,122 units. Elite Diagnostic slipped 6 cents to $1.78, after 149,251 stocks passed through the market, Express Catering climbed 47 cents to close at $3 with an exchange of 421,980 stock units, Fontana dipped 8 cents to $6.10, with 34,058 shares changing hands. Future Energy dropped 6 cents in closing at $3.68, with investors trading 35,866 stock units, Honey Bun increased 56 cents to finish at $7.66 following an exchange of 6,751 units, ISP Finance declined 88 cents and ended at $8, with a transfer of a mere 2 stocks. 
Jetcon Corporation rose 15 cents to $4.65 after 57,768 shares crossed the exchange, Knutsford Express lost 70 cents to close at $7.78 in trading 134 units, Mailpac Group rallied 12 cents to close at $2.32 after a transfer of 1,093 stocks. One Great Studio declined 5 cents to end at 52 cents, with investors dealing in 149,553 stock units, ONE on ONE Educational gained 9 cents and ended at 80 cents in an exchange of 134,003 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies rose 18 cents to finish at $1.61, with an exchange of 49,481 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed a mere 51.19 points to finish at 391,110.44, while the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 3,054.91 points to 464,063.15, the JSE Main Index climbed 246.29 points to settle at 385,890.08, the Junior Market Index declined by 25.68 points to 3,085.34 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.36 points to 283.78.
Among the losers, Guardian Holdings dipped $16.50 in closing at $360.50, Margaritaville fell by $1.50 to $7.50, Caribbean Cement lost 70 cents and ended at $113.30, Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost 68 cents to finish at $7.22 and Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped 46 cents in closing at $9.21.
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.
The financial services stocks with standout performances include Barita Investments, Mayberry Group, Sagicor Real Estate X Fund, Sagicor Select Funds, First Rock Real Estate, Scotia Group, QWI Investments, Sygnus Real Estate Finance and VM Investments, all among the biggest movers, which points to increased interest in that part of the market.
If ICInsider.com’s projections hold, the week’s weakness would look like a pullback rather than a change of trend. The remaining five forecast names did not appear on either movers list.
On the downside, A.S. Bryden was the weakest performer, declining by 22.13 percent. General Accident Insurance declined 18.89 percent and First Rock Real Estate lost 15.06 percent. JMMB Group shed 11.81 percent, and Sygnus Real Estate Finance slipped by 7.97 percent. Berger Paints eased 7.67 percent, Palace Amusement fell 6.78 percent, Sterling Investments declined 6.63 percent. Jamaica Producers shed 5.59 percent and Transjamaican Highway lost 5.54 percent.
Quantas Advantage advanced 0.12 of one cent to end at 15 US cents with 900 shares being traded, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 0.37 of a cent in closing at 6.53 US cents in an exchange of 14,940 units and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.22 of one cent to 6.43 US cents with 408,117 stocks crossing the market.
The JSE Combined Market Index popped 4,158.95 points to finish at 391,059.25, with the All Jamaican Composite Index rising 3,974.61 points to close at 461,008.24, the JSE Main Index jumped 4,262.38 points to 385,643.79, the Junior Market Index increased by 11.64 points to 3,111.02 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 1.63 points to finish at 282.42.
Among the top losers, GraceKennedy declined $2.50 to $91.00, AS Bryden fell $1.98 in closing at $17.02, Scotia Group dipped by $1.80 to $72.20, Caribbean Producers lost $1.15 to end at $6.30 and Pan Jamaica shed $1.10 to finish at $43.00.
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.