The JSE Markets mostly rallied to close Month

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Junior Market closed out February positively, with the market indices rising moderately in trading on Thursday as the JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands falling, and resulting in prices of 46 shares rising and 34 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 341.07 points to close at 349,147.70, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,486.05 points to end at 376,632.95, the JSE Main Index increased 228.87 points to settle at 336,105.13. The Junior Market Index popped 14.44 points to wrap up trading at 3,874.71 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 2.46 points to settle at 263.47.
At the close of trading, 49,347,388 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 61,823,227 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $161.13 million, from $286.20 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 21,861 shares for US$7,612 compared to 125,830 units at US$25,026 on Wednesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 10.37 million shares for 40.6 percent of total volume followed by Palace Amusement with 5.01 million units for 19.6 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.65 million units for 10.4 percent market share, JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 2.27 million units for 8.9 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.01 million units.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 4.80 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 4.25 million units, Regency Petroleum ended with 3.34 million stock units, Fosrich closed trading with 2.11 million units, Lasco Distributors closed with 1.95 million stocks and ONE on ONE Educational exchanged 1.02 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $12.08 to close at $204.92 after a transfer of 7 units. Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share dropped $9 to end at $1274.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.4 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 for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.