Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with a rise in the volume of stocks changing hands with a value that was marginally higher, with a vastly greater value than in Thursday’s activities resulting in Main Market major indices falling, while the Junior Market and USD Market indices closed moderately higher than the previous close as trading resulted in prices of 22 shares rising, 48 declining and 33 remaining firm.
At the close of trading the JSE Combined Market Index lost 1,457.31 points to close trading at 330,956.92, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,128.02 points to finish at 363,676.06, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,605.10 points to end at 317,717.03, the Junior Market Index rose 10.77 points to end at 3,783.39 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 4.94 points to cease trading at 246.45.
At the close of trading, 19,818,291 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 19,717,982 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $255.86 million, which is greater than the $75 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 45,633 shares for US$7,963 compared to 200,050 units at US$36,385 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led trading with 5.08 million stocks followed by Lasco Distributors with 1.95 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.56 million units.
In Junior Market trading, EduFocal led trading with 2.04 million stocks followed by Spur Tree Spices with 244,502 shares and Dolla Financial with 124,039 units.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped $3 and ended at $102.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 12,9 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 21.1 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and other 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 earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major time income or expenses.
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 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 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.