Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a fall in the volume of stocks exchanged, with a slightly greater value than on Wednesday, resulting in the Main Market major indices falling, the Junior Market index rising and the JSE USD Market slipping. At the end of trading the prices of 37 shares rose, 50 declined and 28 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 68.19 points to finish at 342,051.75, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 401.76 points to conclude trading at 380,609.53, the JSE Main Index fell by 255.90 points to 330,127.82, the Junior Market Index gained 24.62 points to end at 3,675.76 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.17 points to end at 236.66.
At the close of trading, 9,885,996 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 42,849,534 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $103.07 million, up from $98.61 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 176,396 shares for US$76,642 compared to 10,853,995 units at US$299,532 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 1.50 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share ended with 1.29 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 842,421 units.
In Junior Market trading, Stationery and Office Supplies led with 1.05 million shares followed by Fosrich with 556,899 stocks and EduFocal with 338,220 units.
In the preference segment of the market, Eppley 7.25% preferrence share rose $2.89 in closing at $19, 138 Student Living preferred share climbed $40.12 to close at $279, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share lost $165 and ended at $935 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $5 to close at $109.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 14 based on 2024-25 earnings and 20.2 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 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 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also 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.