The JSE Markets close the month higher


All three Jamaica Stock Exchange markets closed the month higher on Monday following a fall in the volume and value of stocks traded compared to Friday, which was dominated by the trading of two big blocks of Elite Diagnostics shares. Trading ended with the prices of 55 shares rising, 35 declining and 25 remaining firm and resulted in the major indices of the Main, the Junior and the JSE USD Markets all rising.

At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied by 1,407.95 points to close at 378,617.87, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 658.34 points to end at 444,952.20, the JSE Main Index rose by 1,329.07 points to finish at 373,456.26, the Junior Market Index climbed by 19.11 points to 3,001.17 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 2.09 points to finish at 321.17.
At the close of trading on the last day of August, 70,310,030 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 131,771,450 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $228.37 million, down from $351.1 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,186,972 shares for US$82,527 compared to 1,152,520 units at US$117,982 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led trading with 26.12 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 7.84 million stocks and Radio Jamaica with 4.60 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led with 3.92 million shares, followed by Fosrich with 3.68 million stocks and ONE on ONE Educational with 2.92 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, Pan Jamaica increased $2 in closing at $46.00, Sagicor Group popped $1.70 to $42.00, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied $1.19 to end at $9.99, Mayberry Group rose $1 and ended at $6.20 and Eppley advanced 95 cents to finish at $35.95. Among the top losers, Barita Investments declined $2.89 to close at $65.01, NCB Financial shed $1.50 to $68.50, Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped $1.29 to $7.30, Quantas Advantage lost 80 cents to finish at $15.90 and West Indies Petroleum slipped 76 cents and ended at $9.17.
In the preference share segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell by $5.18 to $29, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $16.95 to finish at $250 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $1.82 and ended at $103.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Access Financial gained $1.19 to end at $19.80, on small volume, Cargo Handlers climbed 90 cents in closing at $16.40, Caribbean Cream rose 47 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $2.80, Fontana climbed 29 cents in closing at $6.49 and Blue Power increased 25 cents to $3.50. Among the top losers, Honey Bun dipped 63 cents and ended at $5.35, Jetcon Corporation fell 21 cents to finish at $3.77, Limners and Bards skidded 10 cents to end at $1.00, Regency Petroleum lost 9 cents to $4.30 and Indies Pharma shed 6 cents to close at $2.65.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 14 and 16.3 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 all 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 straying 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 the 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.

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