Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with a big drop in the market index following a 10 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 28 percent drop in value compared to market activity on Thursday with trading in 40 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of nine rising, 20 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dived 51.06 points to end at 3,766.56, down 2.1 percent for the year to date.
The market closed on Friday with trading of 3,732,698 shares valued at $7,075,691 compared with 4,130,132 stock units at $9,762,303 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 93,317 shares at $176,892, compared with 93,867 units at $221,871 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 151,929 stock units at $328,204 compared with 170,245 stocks at $375,489 on the previous day and compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.23 million shares for 32.8 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 432,820 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade as the price hit a 52 weeks’ low in trading and Fosrich with 222,006 stock for 5.9 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on the 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 none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined $2.09 to $19.86 after an exchange of 121 shares, AMG Packaging fell 34 cents and ended at $3.12, with 500 units changing hands, Blue Power rose 23 cents in closing at $3.23 after an exchange of 69,564 shares. CAC 2000 dropped 67 cents to finish at $3.82 with investors transferring 569 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 15 cents to end at $2.35 in an exchange of 84,264 shares, Caribbean Cream shed 30 cents to close at $3.58 with investors swapping 2,030 units. Derrimon Trading sank 10 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 207,716 stocks, 
Elite Diagnostic popped 25 cents in closing at $1.66 with traders dealing in 1,471 stock units, Image Plus skidded 7 cents to finish at $1.88 as investors exchanged 12,718 shares. Jetcon Corporation lost 7 cents and ended at 88 cents in trading 2,056 stock units, Knutsford Express slipped 80 cents to end at $11 with investors exchanging 2,293 stocks, Limners and Bards dipped 41 cents to close at $1.34 with a transfer of 11,395 units. Lumber Depot sank 36 cents to close at $2.34 following the trading of 181,052 shares, Main Event lost 66 cents to end at $13.61 in an exchange of 39,401 stock units, ONE on ONE Educational slipped 7 cents in closing at 92 cents with investors trading 1,225,460 stocks and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.18 after a transfer of 26,549 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE suffers big decline on Friday
The Main and Junior markets suffered a sizable fall but the USD Market inched up higher, with trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange coming back to earth on Friday, following the big bounce on Thursday with trading ended with the volume and value of stocks changing hands dropping sharply from that of the previous trading day, resulting in prices of only 27 shares rising and 39 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,798.83 points to 339,161.61, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,067.87 points to end at 365,157.55, the JSE Main Index shed 1,505.24 points to end at 326,418.42. The Junior Market Index plunged 51.06 points to 3,766.56 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.63 points to finish at 244.03.
At the close of trading, 29,059,711 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well off from 555,998,264 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $240.14 million, vastly lower than the $1.808 billion on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 209,773 shares for US$28,768 compared to 186,609 units at US$46,047 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Carreras led trading with 10.79 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.19 million units, then JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.01 million shares, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 chipped in with 1.66 million units and GraceKennedy with 1.31 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.23 million shares followed by EduFocal with 432,820 stock units and Fosrich with 222,006 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $5 to end at $48 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $9.92 in closing at $95.08.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.7 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market drops
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 60 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent lower value than Wednesday flowing from
trading in 44 securities up from 39 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 4,130,132 shares for $9,762,303 compared with 10,446,628 units at $22,291,796 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 93,867 shares at $221,871, compared with 267,862 units at $571,585 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 170,245 units at $375,489 compared to 210,253 stock units at $455,956 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Express Catering led trading with 805,692 shares for 19.5 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 793,618 units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 461,757 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 17.46 points to end the day at 3,817.62.
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, CAC 2000 rallied 24 cents to close at $4.49 with traders dealing in 29 stock units, Dolla Financial dropped 10 cents to $2.70 as investors exchanged 235,216 shares, Dolphin Cove popped 41 cents to finish at $19.39 after trading 320 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 26 cents and ended at $1.41 with a transfer of 64,794 stocks, Fontana skidded 10 cents to end at $8.80 with investors swapping 129,128 units, 
Iron Rock Insurance gained 16 cents in closing at $2.51, with 76 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas lost 28 cents to $2.40 with investors trading 35,389 shares, Knutsford Express slipped 9 cents in closing at $11.80, with 1,965 stock units changing hands, Lasco Financial rose 11 cents and ended at $1.91 in trading 5,980 shares. Limners and Bards climbed 28 cents to finish at $1.75 with 1,449 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents to end at $1.53 with an exchange of 461,757 stocks, Tropical Battery shed 15 cents to close at $2.05 after 99,901 stock units passed through the market and tTech increased 29 cents to $2.30 in switching ownership of just one share.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican dominated JSE trading
Transjamaican Highway dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday with more than half a billion units traded valued at just over $1.75 billion, with trading resulted in the Main and USD Markets rising and the Junior Market JSE USD market closing lower as trading ended with the value and number of stocks changing hands surging sharply over the previous trading day and resulting in prices of 33 shares rising and 39 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,326.81 points to 340,960.44, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,625.36 points to 367,225.42, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,510.99 points to 327,923.66. The Junior Market Index declined 17.46 points to end the day at 3,817.62 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 2.55 points to close at 243.40.
At the close of trading, 555,998,264 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well up on 37,702,741 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $1.808 billion, up from just $178.27 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 186,609 shares for US$46,047 compared to 560,085 units at US$19,785 on Wednesday.
In the Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 540.57 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 4.40 million stocks, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 ended with 1.98 million units and Wigton Windfarm closed with 1.42 million stock units being traded.
In the Junior Market, Express Catering led trading with 805,692 shares followed by EduFocal with 793,618 stock units and MFS Capital Partners with 461,757 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share advanced $11 to finish at $1,110 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $1 and ended at $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.93 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.3 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market bounces Wednesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered a third of the losses incurred on Tuesday at the close of the Wednesday session, with trading in 39 securities down from 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 15 declining and seven unchanged, following a 45 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, after a 39 percent increase in value compared with Tuesday’ trading.
The market closed with trading of 10,446,628 shares for $22,291,796 compared with 7,214,648 units at $16,008,489 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 267,862 shares at $571,585, compared with 160,326 units at $355,744 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 210,253 units at $455,956 compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 4.31 million shares for 41.2 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 990,360 stocks for 9.5 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 912,316 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 21.25 points to close at 3,835.08.
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 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, AMG Packaging rose 33 cents to end at $3.45, with 6,170 stock units changing hands, Blue Power rallied 20 cents in closing at $3 in trading 236 shares, CAC 2000 increased 43 cents to $4.25 after a mere one unit passed through the market. Cargo Handlers climbed 97 cents to $13.97, with 1,092 stocks crossing the exchange, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.80 after a transfer of 544,654 shares, Dolphin Cove fell 42 cents to $18.98, with 525 stock units crossing the market. Elite Diagnostic gained 8 cents in closing at $1.67 with an exchange of 2,808 shares, Express Catering shed 10 cents to end at $3.70 with 113,522 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun advanced 31 cents and ended at $7.08 with investors transferring 64,540 units. Image Plus rose 7 cents to close at $1.95 in switching ownership of 281,668 stocks, ISP Finance climbed $6.50 to $31 after exchanging just 17 shares, Jamaican Teas popped 18 cents in closing at $2.68, with 668,933 stock units crossing the market. 
Knutsford Express rallied 9 cents to end at $11.89 with traders dealing in just one share, Lasco Financial dropped 11 cents to close at $1.80 after closing with an exchange of 46,156 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.70 with a transfer of 165,200 units. Mailpac Group dipped 13 cents to $2.02 after trading in 84,301 stock units, MFS Capital Partners lost 13 cents in closing at $1.65 with investors dealing in 912,316 shares, Spur Tree Spices skidded 51 cents to end at $2.40 in an exchange of 4,307,450 stock units and Tropical Battery increased 10 cents to $2.20 with investors trading 32,200 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market & Juniors rise
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the JSE USD declined in trading on Wednesday but the Junior Market recovered a third of Tuesday’s big loss as the level of trading rose with the number of stocks changing hands rising sharply over that on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 36 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,050.46 points to close at 339,633.63, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,899.54 points to finish trading at 365,600.06, the JSE Main Index shed 1,250.30 points to end at 326,412.67. The Junior Market Index climbed 21.25 points to finish at 3,835.08 and the JSE USD Market Index declined by 5.57 points to end the day at 240.85.
At the close of the market on Friday, 37,702,741 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well above the 19,286,548 units that were exchanged on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $178.27 million, up from $92.38, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 560,085 shares for US$19,785 compared to 304,275 units at US$13,337 on Tuesday.
In the Main Market, General Accident led trading with 15.0 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.39 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 2.76 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 4.31 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 990,360 units and MFS Capital Partners with 912,316 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $200 to close at $2,700.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.8 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market’s big drop on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gave up all of last week’s Thursday gains but still retained a fair bit of the 84 points rally in the holiday-shortened trading week, following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of 12 rising, including GWest Corporation that traded at a 52 weeks’ high with 24 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed with an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded of 7,214,648 shares for $16,008,489, 84 percent lower than on Thursday’s 37,301,154 units at $98,792,252.
Trading averaged 160,326 shares at $355,744 compared to 847,754 units at $2,245,278 on Thursday compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.58 million shares for 21.9 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.31 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 800,308 stocks for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 62.20 points to close at 3,813.83, to be back in the red for the year.
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 three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased 69 cents to end at $21.95 with investors trading 403 shares, Blue Power shed 25 cents to $2.80, with 26,771 stock units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.82 with investors dealing in 1,200 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 11 cents and ended at $1.70 in swapping 22,162 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 15 cents in closing at $2.18, with 102 shares crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained 65 cents to end at $19.40 in an exchange of 3,115 units. Elite Diagnostic dropped 9 cents to $1.59 with traders dealing in 28,332 stocks, Everything Fresh fell 10 cents in closing at $1.70 as investors exchanged 97,487 stock units, Express Catering skidded 18 cents and ended at $3.80 in trading 6,841 shares. Fontana sank 10 cents to close at $8.88 after 27,994 stock units passed through the market, Fosrich dipped 27 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 279,618 units, Future Energy declined 15 cents to close at $3.50 with 362,773 stocks clearing the market. Honey Bun lost 23 cents to end at $6.77 in an exchange of 6,393 shares, Iron Rock Insurance rose 21 cents to $2.35 with investors swapping just one stock, ISP Finance dropped $6.41 and ended at $24.50, with 934 units crossing the exchange. Jamaican Teas declined 25 cents to $2.50 after a transfer of 673,503 stock units, Knutsford Express sank 10 cents to close at $11.80 after 24,757 shares passed through the market, Limners and Bards skidded 32 cents and ended at $1.47 after an exchange of 1,282 stocks. Main Event advanced 71 cents to end at $14.29 with investors trading 51,903 units, Medical Disposables shed 20 cents in closing at $2.30 after an exchange of 3,500 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 11 cents to $1.49 in trading 21,516 shares. Regency Petroleum dropped 11 cents in closing at $2.18, with 228,879 stocks crossing the market and Spur Tree Spices dipped 33 cents to end at $2.91 while exchanging 1,579,159 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All JSE markets down in starting April
Stocks declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, resulting in all the major market Indices slipping with the Junior Market taking the biggest hit in giving up more than 60 points and ending with the number of stocks changing hands falling, following a drop in the value traded compared with the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 27 shares rising and 46 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 563.57 points to 340,684.10, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,084.66 points to 367,499.60, the JSE Main Index shed 135.73 points to lock up trading at 327,662.97. The Junior Market Index dropped 62.20 points to conclude trading at 3,813.83 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 1.39 points to end trading at 246.42.
At the close of trading, 19,286,548 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well down from 53,140,220 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $93.28 million, down from $266.30 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 304,275 shares for US$13,337 compared to 84,506 units at US$3,441 on Thursday.
In the Main Market Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.86 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.42 million stock units and General Accident with 1.0 million units.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.58 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 1.31 million stock units and Dolla Financial with 800,308 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dipped $50.99 to end at $1,099.01.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.8 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Investors push Junior Market into black
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 420 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded after a 575 percent jump in value over Wednesday with trading in 44 securities as was the case on Wednesday and ending with prices of 23 rising, 12 declining and nine closing unchanged and closing with a jump in the market index to close with a moderate gain for the year to date.
The market closed with 37,301,154 shares being traded for $98,792,252 up sharply from 7,170,788 units at $14,644,800 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 847,754 shares at $2,245,278 compared with 162,972 units at $332,836 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 190,689 units at $404,736 down from 192,229 stocks at $408,731 on the previous day. The average to date includes shares of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing up to Tuesday this week, before they migrated to the Main Market on Wednesday. Trading in February averaged 243,917 units at $566,909.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 22.59 million shares for 60.6 percent of total volume followed by Indies Pharma with 2.94 million units for 7.9 percent of the day’s trade, Fosrich closed with 2.47 million stocks for 6.6 percent market share, Mailpac Group ended with 2.31 million units for 6.2 percent of stocks traded and Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.79 million shares for 4.8 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 46.14 points to 3,876.03, up 0.7 percent for the year to date.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.26 to end at $21.26 in an exchange of 5,181 stocks, AMG Packaging declined 38 cents in closing at $3.12 after 5,002 units were traded, Cargo Handlers sank 97 cents to $13 with an exchange of just one share. Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 10 cents to close at $2.25 with 657,487 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rose 19 cents and ended at $3.88 with investors transferring 93 shares, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 15 cents to $2.03 as 530 stocks passed through the market. Dolphin Cove fell 65 cents to close at $18.75 with investors trading 7,128 units, Everything Fresh advanced 9 cents to end at $1.80 in switching ownership of 334,309 stock units, Fontana popped 8 cents in closing at $8.98, with 71,377 shares crossing the exchange. 
Future Energy rallied 15 cents and ended at $3.65 in trading 300,501 units, GWest Corporation gained 9 cents to end at $1.10 with 162,050 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun dropped 8 cents in closing at $7 with traders dealing in 23,012 stock units. ISP Finance popped $2.81 to end at $30.91, with a mere one share crossing the market, Jamaican Teas gained 23 cents to close at $2.75 after an exchange of 562,910 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents and ended at $1.35, with 19,716 stocks crossing the market. KLE Group rose 30 cents to $2.33 with investors swapping 144 units, Lumber Depot climbed 10 cents and ended at $2.80 with a transfer of 366,821 stocks, Mailpac Group increased 16 cents to end at $2.20 after investors ended trading 2,313,996 units. Main Event skidded 89 cents in closing at $13.58 with investors dealing in 6,199 shares, Paramount Trading advanced 14 cents to close at $1.38 after an exchange of 48 stock units, 
Regency Petroleum rallied 7 cents to $2.29 in an exchange of 18,538 shares. Spur Tree Spices rose 70 cents and ended at $3.24 as investors exchanged 22,588,085 units and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 10 cents to close at $1.70 after a transfer of 1,790,379 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
March ends trading on a high note for JSE
Trading surged to end March on a positive note with a sharp jump in the value and volume of stocks changing hands on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, resulting in the Main and Junior Market rising with the JSE USD market closing moderately and resulting in prices of 48 shares rising and 27 declining on a day that Ciboney traded in it new name, Innovative Energy.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,076.40 points to 341,247.67, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,274.96 points to 368,584.26, the JSE Main Index rose 787.45 points to end at 327,798.70. The Junior Market Index jumped 46.14 points to 3,876.03 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 1.34 points to wrap-up trading at 247.81.
At the close of trading, 53,140,220 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well over the 15,566,466 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $266.30 million, up sharply over the $103.70, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 84,506 shares for US$3,441 compared to 303,812 units at US$36,667 on Wednesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 4.06 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.67 million stock, Radio Jamaica was next with 2.42 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 1.85 million shares and Sagicor Group with 1.08 million units.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 22.59 million shares followed by Indies Pharma with 2.94 million stock units, Fosrich with 2.47 million units, Mailpac Group with 2.31 million units and Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.79 million shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share advanced $1.17 in closing at $6.25 and Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.99 to $42.01.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.6 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2 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 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.