Stocks pulled back on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 54 percent and valued 40 percent less than on Tuesday, trading in 63 securities compared with 60 on Tuesday, with prices of 22 rising, 18 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Wednesday with trading of 7,679,552 shares for $53,712,877 down from 16,809,919 units changing hands at $89,019,950 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 121,898 shares at $852,585 below the 280,165 units at $1,483,666 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 338,742 units at $2,162,186 compared with 350,853 units at $2,235,329 on the previous day and April with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.02 million shares for 26.3 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.38 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.18 million units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,331.50 points to 356,830.08, the JSE Main Index dipped 39.50 points to wrap up trading at 319,760.28 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.30 points to 67.89.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden rose $2.57 in closing at $36.88 as investors exchanged one share, Barita Investments rallied 49 cents to end at $71.99 with 151 units clearing the market, Caribbean Cement gained 30 cents to close at $64.80 with investors trading 116,431 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.40 to finish at $39.40 after exchanging 2,325 stock units, First Rock Real Estate gained 90 cents and ended at $10.10 with investors transferring 3,278 shares, GraceKennedy climbed 55 cents to end at $74.05, with 146,545 stocks crossing the market. Guardian Holdings advanced $9.90 to $369.90 with an exchange of one unit, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to finish at $32, with 134,634 stock units crossing the market, NCB Financial fell $1.11 and ended at $61.89 in trading 41,149 shares.
Pan Jamaica sank $4.93 to end at $46.07 after a transfer of 7,360 stocks, Portland JSX rallied 78 cents in closing at $8.59 in switching ownership of 6 units, Sagicor Group shed $1.18 to close at $40 with traders dealing in 1,644 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined 58 cents to $7.06 in an exchange of 4,200 shares, Seprod lost $2.02 to close at $79.98 to close with an exchange of 7,539 stock units, Stanley Motta increased $1.43 to end at $7.49 in an exchange of 1,446 units and Wisynco Group slipped $1.48 in closing at $20.31 after trading 19,491 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share climbed $1.24 to finish at $20 after one share passed through the market and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped 50 cents and ended at $109.50 after an exchange of 1,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main and Junior Market fall
Falling stocks pushed down the Main and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close of trading on Wednesday but the JSE USD market closed higher as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands falling and ending with prices of 36 shares rising and 34 declining.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 98.14 points to 332,650.57, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,331.50 points to finish at 356,830.08. The JSE Main Index fell 39.50 points to settle at 319,760.28. The Junior Market Index slipped 8.65 points to end at 3,748.14 and the JSE USD Market Index climbed 7.91 points to end at 242.10.
At the close of trading, 13,732,924 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 28,997,894 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $64.77 million, well below the $132.25 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 61,810 shares for US$42,431 compared to 380,494 units at US$26,519 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.02 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.38 million stocks and Wigton Windfarm with 1.18 million units.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 2.85 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 670,034 units and Future Energy with 587,225 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share climbed $1.24 to finish at $20.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 based on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Dolphin Cove the dividend king
The dividend yield on the Junior market listed Dolphin Cove is 10 percent based on Wednesday’s early traded price of $24 and dividends of $2.40 payable since October last year.
Dolphin Cove price paying 60 cents dividend in June.
Dolphin’s shareholders have much more than the high yield to cheer about, with the stock gaining 68 percent in value over the past twelve months in a market that has delivered no increase during the same period. The company reported profit declining from US$1.57 million for the first quarter last year to $1.38 million in the March 2024 quarter with revenues of US$4.9 million up from US$4.85 million with operational expenses jumping by US$300,000. For the year to December 2024, the company reported sales of US$17 million from $15 million in 2023. It generated a profit of US$4.2 million before booking a cost of US$1.13 million in penalties and interest on GCT relating to an earlier period compared with $2.97 million in 2022
The returns for Dolphin are far ahead of a 7 percent yield for Mailpac but in line with Carreras at 10 percent yield and Transjamaican Highway at 6 percent. Scotia Group another high dividend payer is currently 4 percent but that is expected to rise as the year progresses and dividends are increased with rising profit and a return to the traditional pay out ratio of more than 40 percent of profit.
The real virtue of Dolphin over Carreras is that the former continues to record growth while the latter has has little or no growth for years.
Big gains for Panjam & Jamaica Producers
Big price gains in shares of Pan Jamaica, Jamaica Producers, Seprod, Massey Holdings and NCB Financial helped to push the market indices higher at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with trading in 60 securities compared with 65 on Monday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 19 declining and 15 ending unchanged as the volume of stocks traded rose 228 percent with the value climbing 82 percent over Monday trade.
The market closed with trading of 16,809,919 shares for $89,019,950 compared with 5,131,113 units at $48,974,965 on Monday.
Trading averaged 280,165 shares at $1,483,666 compared to 78,940 units at $753,461 on Monday’ Trading for the month to date averages 350,853 units at $2,235,329 compared with 354,824 units at $2,277,557 on the previous day and April with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.31 million shares for 49.4 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.91 million units for 17.3 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.72 million stock units for 10.2 percent market share and Carreras with 1.23 million shares for 7.3 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,603.46 points to lock up trading at 358,161.58, the JSE Main Index climbed 3,108.66 points to finish at 319,799.78 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.57 points to lock up trading at 68.19.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped 50 cents to finish at $71.50 with 2,823 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cement rallied 70 cents to close at $64.50 with a transfer of 46,761 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $3 to end at $37, with 30,283 shares crossing the exchange. First Rock Real Estate fell by 50 cents in closing at $9.20 with investors trading 70 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to close at $31.50 in an exchange of 1,924 shares, Jamaica Producers climbed $3.88 and ended at $21.89 with investors swapping 11,905 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 69 cents to $10.69 in an exchange of 25,959 units, Kingston Properties gained 30 cents in closing at $8, with 55,404 stock units crossing the market, Massy Holdings rallied $2 to close at $90 as investors exchanged 127 shares.
Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 93 cents and ended at $10.44 after a transfer of 15,587 stocks, NCB Financial climbed $1.01 to end at $63 with investors dealing in 84,401 units, Pan Jamaica increased $5 to finish at $51 after an exchange of 79,086 stock units. Proven Investments popped 45 cents and ended at $21.45 as 40,572 shares passed through the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied 49 cents to $7.64 with an exchange of 200 stocks, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to close at $42 and closed after 12,319 units were traded and Seprod advanced $3.50 to finish at $82 after an exchange of 59,514 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $1.70 to end at $18.76 in trading just one share and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1 in closing at $110, with 90 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big gains for the Main & Junior markets
Stocks jumped sharply on the Main and Junior Markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands jumping over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 40 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index surged 3,464.54 points to 332,748.71, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,603.46 points to 358,161.58, the JSE Main Index climbed 3,108.66 points to 319,799.78. The Junior Market Index jumped two percent with 69.53 points rise to 3,756.79 as Dolphin Cove and Cargo Handlers jumped sharply and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.77 points to wrap up trading at 234.19.
At the close of trading, 28,997,894 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 9,688,074 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $132.25 million, well above the $59.56 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 380,494 shares for US$26,519 compared to 299,302 units at US$36,390 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.31 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.91 million stock units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.72 million units and Carreras with 1.23 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 3.11 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.22 million stock, EduFocal closed with 1.54 million units and Fosrich with 1.14 million stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $1.70 to end at $18.76 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1 in closing at $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3. times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading falls back for JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended a steady trading session on Monday, with a 64 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded with a 38 percent lower value than on Friday, following trading in 65 securities compared with 60 on Friday, with prices of 21 rising, 25 declining and 19 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 5,131,113 shares for $48,974,965 down sharply from 14,203,187 stock units at $79,115,438 on Friday.
Trading averaged 78,940 shares at $753,461 compared to 236,720 units at $1,318,591 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 354,824 units at $2,277,557 compared with 372,703 units at $2,376,327 on the previous trading day and an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595 in April
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.49 million shares for 29 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.19 million stock units for 23.2 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 485,182 units for 9.5 percent of the market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 148.69 points to end the day at 354,558.12, the JSE Main Index fell 571.38 points to 316,691.12 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.35 points to 67.62.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden fell $2.64 to $34.31 after a transfer of 572 stock units, Berger Paints rallied 39 cents to end at $8.39, with 53,325 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cement popped 30 cents to $63.80 with investors trading 6,266 units. Eppley advanced 50 cents to finish at $39.50, with 862 stocks changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 60 cents and ended at $40 after an exchange of 2,436 units, First Rock Real Estate shed 40 cents to close at $9.70 as 30,617 stocks passed through the market. General Accident climbed 74 cents to $7.09 with traders dealing in a mere 1,015 shares, GraceKennedy declined 36 cents to $73.50 in switching ownership of 91,189 stock units, Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to end at $31 with 28,550 shares clearing the market. Jamaica Producers dipped $3.13 and ended at $18.01 in trading 65,775 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange sank 95 cents to finish at $10, with 65,106 units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors dropped 31 cents to close at $5.19 with investors transferring 30,496 stocks. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities skidded 91 cents to $9.51 after an exchange of 41,564 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy slipped $1.16 to close at $91.99 with a transfer of 331 stocks, NCB Financial rallied $1.98 to close at $61.99, with 96,708 shares crossing the exchange. Pan Jamaica gained $1 and ended at $46 with investors swapping 2,623 stock units, Portland JSX lost 77 cents to end at $7.81 after investors exchanged just 19 shares, Proven Investments dipped 49 cents to $21 and closed with an exchange of 13,650 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 49 cents to $7.15 as investors exchanged 447 stocks, Stanley Motta rose 91 cents to end at $6.06 following trading of 6,095 units and Wisynco Group climbed 50 cents in closing at $21.50 in an exchange of 35,184 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share sank $2.94 and ended at $17.06 with investors dealing in 59,061 units, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share jumped $165 to close at $1,200 in an exchange of 23 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $6.50 to finish at $113.50 and closed after 415 stock units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
No impact from added hours on Jamaica Stock Exchange trading
Monday was the first day of extended trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the market opening at 9 o’clock instead of the 9.30 opening, the norm for several years and closing at 2 pm instead of 1 pm previously. The market activity resulted in all three markets closing moderately lower than Friday, with the increased trading hours having no impact on the volume and value of stocks trading so far, instead there was a sharp fall in both the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared with market activity on Friday, resulting in prices of 42 shares declining and 31 rising.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 577.51 points in ending at 329,284, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 148.69 points to end at 354,558.12, the JSE Main Index skidded 571.38 points to end trading at 316,691.12. The Junior Market Index slipped 4.28 points to 3,687.26 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.84 points to close at 235.96.
At the close of trading, 9,688,074 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from units on 18,855,563 Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $59.56 million, well below the $81.15 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 299,302 shares for US$36,390 compared to 233,466 units at US$32,685 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.49 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.19 million stock units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 485,182 units.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.54 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 929,509 stocks and One Great Studio with 330,703 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share sank $2.94 and ended at $17.06, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share surged $165 to close at $1,200 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $6.50 to end trading at $113.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.9 based on 2023-24 earnings and 13 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Three additions to ICTOP10
In a week of volatility in the Junior Market and a calmer Main Market, the Junior Market TOP10 has one new addition and the Main Market two after five Junior Market stocks posted notable moves and three in the Main Market.
Dropping from the ICTOP10 are Dolla Financial from the Junior Market and Lasco Manufacturing and Jamaica Broilers from the Main Market.
The Junior Market ICTOP10, AMG Packaging, climbed 12 percent to $3.25, followed by Access Financial, with an 11 percent rise to $20. Edufocal dropped 11 percent to 80 cents, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers is down 9 percent to close at $2.90 and Caribbean Cream fell 7 percent to $3.90.
In the Main Market, Pulse Investments popped 9 percent to close at $1.75, JMMB Group rose 4 percent to $24.51 while Berger Paints fell 6 percent to close at $8.
Lumber Depot is the only new listing for the Junior Market ICTOP10 for the week, this follows the announcement by the company of the purchase of a 35 percent interest in Atlantic Hardware. Earnings per share for the current fiscal year starting June, is projected at 35 cents by ICInsider.com. General Accident and VM Investments are new additions to the Main Market ICTOP10. VMI posted b first quarter results with gains from securities providing the bulk of the profits. Some of these gains are from the one off sale of its associate company. 
With the investing environment slowly improving, the company appears set to enjoy a profitable year, accordingly, ICInsider.com’s estimate is for earnings of 50 cents per share, which could be bettered if investments deliver more returns in the next three quarters.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 13.6 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.4, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 298 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 228 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 86, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 43, averaging 21, well above the market’s average.
The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Falling stocks edged out Main Market losers
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 101 percent and the value 16 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 60 securities up from 57 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 18 stocks rising, 21 declining and 21 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 14,203,187 shares trading for $79,115,438 versus 7,063,416 stock units at $68,154,039 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 236,720 shares at $1,318,591 compared to 123,920 units at $1,195,685 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 372,703 units at $2,376,327 compared with 381,355 units at $2,443,627 on the previous day and April that closed with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.19 million shares for 64.7 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.39 million units for 9.8 percent of the day’s trade and Wisynco Group with 753,254 units for 5.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 333.74 points to wrap up trading at 354,409.43, the JSE Main Index fell 236.81 points to 317,262.50 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.06 points to 67.27.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden dipped 64 cents in closing at $36.95 with an exchange of 26,127 stocks, Berger Paints rose 65 cents to $8 after investors ended trading of 10 units, Guardian Holdings fell $4 to end at $360, with 22,161 shares crossing the exchange. Jamaica Broilers lost 30 cents and ended at $31.50 with investors swapping 427,863 stock units, Jamaica Producers declined $1.36 to finish at $21.14 and closed after an exchange of 1,179 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 58 cents to close at $10.95 in an exchange of 2,005 units. Massy Holdings sank $1 to $88 with traders dealing in 428 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $12.15 in closing at $93.15 after 65 stock units passed through the market, NCB Financial dropped $1.99 to close at $60.01 with investors dealing in 166,673 shares. 
Pan Jamaica gained 40 cents to end at $45 in an exchange of 71,493 stocks, Sagicor Group increased $1 and ended at $41, with 68,224 units changing hands, Scotia Group skidded $2.79 to finish at $41.50 with investors trading 80,038 stock units. Seprod climbed $1.30 and ended at $78.50 with 5,238 shares clearing the market and Supreme Ventures shed 70 cents to $24.30 after exchanging 31,826 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rallied $1.41 to close at $18.46 with investors trading 338 stocks. 138 Student Living preference share rose $2 to end at $217 after an exchange of 13 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $2 in closing at $107, with 8,800 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors rise as Main Market slips
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped in trading on Friday with the JSE USD market dipping lower and the Junior Market closing moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands climbing sharply over Thursday volume, with the value moderately higher, resulting in prices of 41 shares declining and 23 rising on the last trading day before the extended trading starts on Monday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 152.52 points to close at 329,861.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 333.74 points to 354,409.43, the JSE Main Index skidded 236.81 points to 317,262.50. The Junior Market Index gained 10.69 points to wrap-up trading at 3,691.54 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.81 points to settle at 237.80.
At the close of trading, 18,855,563 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 10,562,804 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $81.15 million, over the $76.65 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 233,466 shares for US$32,685 compared to 276,289 units at US$33,572 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.19 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.39 million units and Wisynco Group with 753,254 stocks.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.77 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 731,474 units and Spur Tree Spices with 434,369 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share increased $1.41 to end at $18.46, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $2 in closing at $217 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rose $2 to finish at $107.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20. on 2023-24 earnings and 13.1 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.