Declining stocks outnumbered winners 3-to-2 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with trading in 59 securities, similar to Thursday, with 19 stocks rising, 31 declining, and nine unchanged. Trading volume fell 22 percent, though the value was slightly higher than Thursday.
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.
Trading ended with an average of 205,420 shares worth $1,948,127 compared to 264,524 stock units at $1,911,998 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 229,051 units at $2,379,588, down moderately from 233,000 shares at $2,451,702 the previous day, with an average of 1,710,130 stock units at $16,217,430 in September.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.82 million shares for 23.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Energy with 2.08 million stocks for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 1.81 million shares for 14.9 percent of the volume traded and Jamaica Broilers with 1.30 million units for 10.7 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,336.87 points to 462,726.28, the JSE Main Index gained 142.95 points to settle at 386,033.03 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.14 points to 76.07. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
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.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden rose 44 cents to $17.44, following trading of 44,363 stocks, Barita Investments fell $1.50 to $73.50, with ownership switching for 1,212 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 70 cents to end at $114, with 18,466 shares changing owners. First Rock Real Estate increased by $1.30 to end at $7.30, with investors dealing in 49,987 units, GraceKennedy fell $1.05 to close at $89.95, with 11,417 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings climbed $16.50 to close at $377 in an exchange of 12,540 units. Massy Holdings dipped $3.95 to $75 with 3,557 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 72 cents to finish at $8 as investors exchanged 19,804 stock units, NCB Financial lost $2.45 and ended at $71.55 with 122,557 shares passing through the market. 
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.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share increased $18.88 and ended at $228.88 after an exchange of just 2 stocks.
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.
The market closed with 12,913,449 shares trading for $139,868,128, after rising from 18,731,691 stock units at $242,408,969 on Tuesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.7. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios that are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 65 cents and ended at $9.67 with a transfer of 1,682 units. JMMB Group advanced 64 cents to $17.65 with 41,747 stocks passing through the market, Margaritaville fell 65 cents in closing at $9 in trading of a mere one share, NCB Financial popped $2.50 to close at $74 with 59,781 stock units crossing the market. Pan Jamaica shed $1.10 to $43 ollowing a transfer of 648 shares, Proven Investments declined 55 cents to close at $9.30 with 1,701 units changing hands, Sagicor Group dropped 62 cents and ended at $42.28 in an exchange of 85,100 stocks. Scotia Group skidded $1.80 to end at $72.20 after trading of 3,267 stock units and Supreme Ventures increased 91 cents to $19.86 with 522,159 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.
The market closed with trading of 8,524,187 shares for $17,475,935, after it tumbled from 86,783,039 units at $148,426,316 on Tuesday.
ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, which are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
Jamaican Teas dipped 15 cents to $2.01 after trading of 2,599,885 stocks, Jetcon Corporation declined 29 cents to settle at $4.50 as investors exchanged 14,956 units. Mailpac Group shed 12 cents to $2.20 with 17,637 shares crossing the market, Main Event dipped 5 cents to close at $3.75 after an exchange of 23,702 units, RA Williams slipped 5 cents in closing at 64 cents with dealing in 681,734 stock units. Regency Petroleum fell 10 cents and ended at $4.15 in an exchange of 12,406 stock units and Spur Tree Spices rose 14 cents to close at $1.39 with 53 shares passing through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.