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.