Trading closed Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a much lower value than on Tuesday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, with the Junior Market index and that of the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading, prices of 39 shares rose, 40 declined and 32 remained firm.
The market ended with, the JSE Combined Market Index falling 3,059.82 points to 374,687.31, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 4,195.71 points to close at 442,731.70, the JSE Main Index lost 3,432.24 points toend trading at 369,836.89, the Junior Market Index rallied by 30.92 points to end trading at 2,935.70 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.81 points to settle at 321.34.
Trading closed with 22,876,276 shares being exchanged in all three markets, down from 28,129,222 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $164.65 million, down from $240.88 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 219,156 shares for US$16,395, well lower than the 674,631 units at US$64,197 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.38 million shares, followed by Stanley Motta with 4.10 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.41 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Atlantic Hardware led with 1.64 million shares, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.24 million stocks and Image Plus with 716,273 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, Guardian Holdings gained $7 to finish at $355.00, Pan Jamaica rose $4 to $46.00, Kingston Wharves rallied $3 to end at $34.00, Caribbean Cement increased $1 to close at $114.00 and Sagicor Group popped $1 to close at $41.00.
Among the top losers, Barita Investments dropped $4.80 to end at $63.00, AS Bryden fell $1.55 to $23.43, Carreras declined 50 cents to finish at $33.00, NCB Financial shed 50 cents and ended at $72.00 and 138 Student Living dropped by 32 cents in closing at $2.58.
In the preference share segment, 138 Student Living preferred share declined by $32.70 to end at $185 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% fell $1.80 to close at $110.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Cargo Handlers climbed $1.34 to end at $15.99, Access Financial advanced 50 cents to close at $18.50, Jetcon Corporation rose 18 cents to $3.96, Lasco Financial climbed 18 cents to close at $1.78 and Fosrich increased 10 cents to end at $1.18. Among the top losers, Knutsford Express dropped 44 cents to close at $7.55, Dolphin Cove lost 43 cents and ended at $10.80, Mailpac Group skidded 28 cents to finish at $2.22, Honey Bun lost 15 cents to $5.98 and Regency Petroleum shed 15 cents to close at $4.30.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 14.3 and 15.9 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 frequently 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 daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist 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 going 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 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.