Investors gobbled up 23 percent of Elite Diagnostic shares in a trade in the making for months, with funding recently tied up, to conclude the trade. Trading data show NCB Capital Markets selling its 66 million shares and Damian Chin-You 14.52 million units. The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed Friday with a sharp rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a greater value than on Thursday. Trading resulted in the major indices of the Main Market rising, the Junior Market index rising and the JSE USD Market index slipping. At the close ot the day, prices of 51 shares rose, 42 declined and 20 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,289.89 points to finish at 377,209.92, at the same time the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,804.47 points to end at 444,293.86, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,308.61 points to settle at 372,127.19, the Junior Market Index climbed 5.38 points to finish at 2,982.06 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 4.62 points to 319.08.
At the close of trading, 131,771,450 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 48,920,195 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $351.1 million, after rising from $288.74 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,152,520 shares for US$117,982 compared to 1,380,642 units at US$104,440 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Stanley Motta led with 10.0 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 4.84 million stocks and Radio Jamaica with 3.06 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Elite Diagnostic led with 81.28 million shares, followed by Fosrich with 6.89 million stocks and ONE on ONE Educational with 3.24 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Kingston Wharves climbed $2 to $34.00, West Indies Petroleum rose 91 cents to $9.93, Quantas Advantage advanced 70 cents in closing at $16.70, JMMB Group increased 50 cents to $17 and Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 49 cents to end at $6.50.
Among the top losers, Proven Investments dropped $1.30 to close at $9.05, Scotia Group lost $1.20 to end at $58.20, NCB Financial shed 99 cents to finish at $70.00, Jamaica Producers declined 92 cents and ended at $20.52 and Mayberry Group fell 90 cents to end at $5.20.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose by $47.75 to finish at $233, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% climbed by $25 to $1,290 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% slipped $1.50 and ended at $105.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Knutsford Express rallied 60 cents to $8.20, Cargo Handlers increased 50 cents to close at $15.50, Elite Diagnostic climbed 26 cents to $1.50, Caribbean Flavours increased 22 cents to close at $1.22 and Caribbean Cream gained 17 cents to end at $2.33. Among the top losers, Blue Power slipped 30 cents and ended at $3.25, Everything Fresh skidded 24 cents to end at $1.82, Fontana dipped 20 cents to close at $6.20, KLE Group lost 19 cents to 91 cents and Mailpac Group slipped 14 cents to close at $2.36.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.8 and 16.1 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 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 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.
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.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,232.72 points to end at 375,920.03, but the All Jamaican Composite Index fell by 1,242.31 points to close at 441,489.39, the JSE Main Index popped 981.69 points to 370,818.58, the Junior Market Index advanced a solid 40.98 points to finish at 2,976.68 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied by 2.36 points to settle at 323.70.
Among the top losers, Kingston Wharves slipped $2 to close at $32.00, Pan Jamaica fell $2 to $44.00, West Indies Petroleum dipped $1.23 to end at $9.02, NCB Financial lost $1.01 to end trading at $70.99 and Seprod dropped $1 to close at $73.00.
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.
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.
What the company results are pointing to is the potential for more gains in the months ahead if current trends holds.
Express Catering will benefit from the recovery expected in the tourism sector in the coming months and is one worth acquiring at current low prices. Caribbean Cream put in an impressive first quarter, with the price around $2, the upside is great, with projected earnings of 55 cents per share and RA Williams has returned to profit making and should deliver attractive gains in the months ahead. Image Plus and MFS Capital have been expanding with acquisitions and or expansion of existing business lines.
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.
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.
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.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,968.65 points to 375,809.15, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,918.04 points to end at 441,881.22, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,972.56 points to finish at 371,292.36, with the Junior Market Index dipping 11.50 points to close at 2,898.11, at the same time the JSE USD Market Index rallied 4.75 points to end at 324.12.
Among the top losers, Caribbean Cement dropped by $6.99 to $107, Eppley dipped $1.40 to end trading at $31.35, Kingston Wharves fell 51 cents to close at $32.99, Supreme Ventures slipped 40 cents and ended at $17.50 162,251 and NCB Financial lost 30 cents and ended at $69.65.