Trading dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market to start the new year on a subdued note on Thursday, with a 94 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded, with a 75 percent lower value than on Tuesday, resulting in exchanges of eight securities, down from 11 on Tuesday with prices of five rising, two declining and one ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading in 59,603 shares for US$7,997 down from 926,638 stocks at US$32,454 on Tuesday. Trading closed with an average of 7,450 shares at US$1,000 well below the 84,240 stocks at US$2,950 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 7,450 units at US$1,000 compared with 229,957 stocks at US$7,451 on the previous day and December that ended with an average of 229,957 units for US$7,451.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 0.44 points to close trading at 252.31. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
The PE Ratio, one of the best known measures used to determine appropriate stock values, averages 7.2. The PE ratio is calculated based on last traded prices divided by projected earnings, computed by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, Margaritaville ended at 6.78 US cents with 1,000 stock units passing through the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied 5.5 cents to end at 60.5 US cents with investors dealing in 270 shares, Proven Investments dipped 0.87 of one cent to close at 12 US cents with 12,628 stocks crossing the market. 
Sterling Investments rose 0.03 of a cent to finish at 1.75 US cents in an exchange of 3,060 units, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.01 of a cent and ended at 7 US cents with traders dealing in 17,355 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 1.49 cents to close at 5.87 US cents in an exchange of 267 units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of one cent to 2.98 US cents with 24,623 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share gained 20 cents to close at US$10.50 as investors exchanged 400 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.