The JSE Market fell to start February’s trading

The Main Market index and the JSE USD market index of the Jamaica Stock Exchange eked out gains to start February but the Junior Market slipped at the close of trading on Thursday with market activity and ended with the number of shares and the value changing hands falling below the previous trading day’s levels and ended with 25 shares rising and 44 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 258.54 points to close at 341,720.39, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 266.16 points to 365,561.82, the JSE Main Index popped 608.95 points to conclude trading at 329,084.04. The Junior Market Index declined 35.69 points to 3,778.49 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.75 points to cease trading at 251.01.
At the close of trading, 24,848,411 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 35,568,273 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $94.99 million, down from $134.96 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 393,307 shares for US$18,728 up from 15,298 units at US$860 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.53 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.04 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.17 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 2.92 million shares followed by EduFocal with 2.67 million units, MFS Capital Partners ended with 2.55 million stock units and Lasco Manufacturing with 2.20 million shares.
At the close of the market, the major Main Market stocks rising are Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2.01 to close at $40, Massy Holdings popped $3.05 and ended at $93.05.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Caribbean Cement that fell $3 and ended at $54, Guardian Holdings declining $3 to end at $367, Jamaica Producers shedding $2.39 in closing at $21.61, JMMB Group losing $2.03 to end at $23.97 and Sagicor Group dropping $1 to end at $43.98. Scotia Group skidded $1.59 in closing at $41 and Wisynco Group dipped $1.40 to end at $21.10 with traders dealing in 80,737 shares.
Stocks ending with major gains in the Junior Market are AMG Packaging that popped 30 cents and ended at $2.92, Cargo Handlers advancing $1.92 to $14.92 and Main Event which rose 96 cents to end at $16, with major losing stocks being Dolphin Cove down 80 cents to close at $18.20, Fosrich dipping 37 cents in closing at $2.10, MFS Capital Partners skidding 38 cents to $2.32 and Spur Tree Spices that shed 38 cents to $2.50.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share skidded $3.45 in closing at $19.50, 138 Student Living preference share rose $18.72 and ended at $211 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share shed $125 to close at $1,075.
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 14.1 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.