Trading drops on JSE Markets

Stocks mostly fell at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to start the second half of 2024 on Monday with the Junior Market slipping and the Main and JSE USD markets closed marginally higher as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands falling, from the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 26 shares rising and 44 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 303.60 points to close at 332,830.15, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 147.08 points to end trading at 358,283.67, the JSE Main Index rose 488.45 points to lock up trading at 319,408.32. The Junior Market Index shed 23.11 points to end at 3,820.12 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.13 points to end the day at 236.80.
At the close of trading, 16,632,807 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 78,640,697 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $91.77 million, well below the $326.65 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 6,425 shares for US$5,351 compared to 1,447,374 units at US$79,036 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.84 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.34 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 1.22 million stock units.
In Junior Market trading, EduFocal led trading with 3.82 million shares followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.29 million units and ONE on ONE Educational with 571,549 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share sank $1 in closing at $19, Eppley 7.75% preference share slipped $1.42 to finish at $18.57, 138 Student Living preference share fell $1.56 to close at $198.44 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% declined $6 to end at $102.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20.6 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.8 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.