Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a rise in the volume and value of stocks exchanged compared to Tuesday, resulting in the Main Market major indices sliding, the Junior Market and the JSE USD Market indices rising. At the end of trading, the prices of 35 shares rose, 45 declined and 26 ended unchanged, a vast improvement over Tuesday when the prices of 21 shares rose, 66 declined and 32 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 1,348.46 points to 336,421.39, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 2,749.97 points to finish at 375,446.10, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,665.25 points to close at 325,036.41, while the Junior Market Index climbed 34.11 points to end at 3,569.60 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.86 points to 218.19.
At the close of trading, 59,690,075 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 28,957,821 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks changing hands on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $157.41 million, well above the $110.59 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 441,767 shares for US$12,713 compared with 161,911 units at US$40,305 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 11.27 million shares followed by JMMB Group 10% preferred shares with 10.08 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 8.30 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Regency Petroleum led with 17.02 million shares followed by Kintyre Holdings with 3.40 million stocks and ONE on ONE Educational with 1.70 million stock units.
In the preferred segment, Eppley 7.25% preferred share slipped $2.99 to close at $17, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $30 to $230 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $14 to end at $105.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 12.6 based on 2024-25 earnings and 20.06 based on 2024 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help in decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, not deviating 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.