Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a big rise in the volume of stocks exchanged, following a big trade in Transjamaican Highway 8% with 10 million units changing hands as the value of the day’s trade rose well over that on Wednesday. The market closed with the major indices Main Market rising, the Junior Market and the JSE USD Market indices declining. At the end of trading the prices of 47 shares rose, 41 declined and 32 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 851.53 points to 342,343.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 1,489.03 points to end at 382,324.66, the JSE Main Index rallied 932.79 points to 330,268.71, the Junior Market Index slipped 5.64 points to finish at 3,697.68 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 14.41 points to 219.58.
At the close of trading, 114,183,228 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well above the 10,243,857 stock units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amount0 to $258.89 million, up from $67.19 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 172,951 shares for US$8,636 compared to 127,825 units at US$3,803 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway 8% led with 100.07 million shares followed by JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 with 3.59 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 3.40 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Regency Petroleum led with 881,108 shares followed by Future Energy with 566,301 stocks and RA Williams with 560,000 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share dropped $2.25 to close at $17, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $4 to end at $44 and 138 Student Living preference share sank $75 to $255.The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on 2024-25 earnings and 19.7 based on 2023-24 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 the ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and grouped by industry, allowing for an ease in comparing stocks 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.