Trading drops on Jamaica Stock Exchange

The Main Market and the USD markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined at the close of trading on Friday while the Junior Market rose, with the volume and value of stocks changing hands declining from trading on Thursday.
At the close of trading, Eppley climbed $4, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund recovered the $3.80 it lost on Thursday, Guardian Holdings gained $2, Scotia Group up $1.50 and GraceKennedy with a rise of $1. Declining stocks were led by Pan Jamaica,, down $6.73 and NCB Financial fell $1.47.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index slipped 66.62 points to close at 324,332.88, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 451.88 points to 346,035.74, the JSE Main Index lost 392.04 points to close at 311,317.38. The Junior Market Index gained 34.37 points to end the day at 3,695.69 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 4.56 points to wrap up trading at 219.33.
Investors traded 10,332,299 shares, in all three markets, down from 22,170,439 units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amount to a mere $38 million up from $63.54 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 49,892 shares were traded, for US$8,545 compared to 10,110 units at US$968 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share skidded 54 cents in closing at $6.24 and Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $4.50 to $40.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.7 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 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 company.