Trading jumps on Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading climbed sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday with trading in the Main Market dominating the volume and value of stocks that were exchanged and resulted in the Main and Junior Markets declining but the JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the value and the number of stocks changing hands rising sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 29 shares rising and 46 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,871.23 points to 344,494.32, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,953.23 points to end at 371,323.01, the JSE Main Index dived 3,941.08 points to 331,907.30. The Junior Market Index dipped 19.99 points to culminate at 3,792.90 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.67 points to end the day at 255.68.
At the close of trading, 31,242,143 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,676,383 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $171.6 million, up from $74.93, million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 610,533 shares for US$78,231 up from 178,798 units at US$56,398 on Friday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Carreras led trading with 10.07 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.44 million stock units, JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.91 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 1.76 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.46 million shares followed by Regency Petroleum with 685,156 units and Image Plus with 493,784 stocks.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments sank $1.50 to $69.90, Caribbean Cement rose $2.20 to $59.20, Eppley increased $3.51 and ended at $38.50, Kingston Wharves gained $1.42 to $30.17, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.10 to end at $10.10, but Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to close at $360, Jamaica Producers shed 84 cents in closing at $23.10, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 90 cents and ended at $9, Massy Holdings dipped $1.49 in closing at $90.01, Stanley Motta sank $1 and ended at $6 and Sygnus Real Estate Finance skidded $1.40 to close at $9.85.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Blue Power declined 50 cents in closing at $2.85, CAC 2000 rose 30 cents to $4.51, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 22 cents to close at $2.20 and ISP Finance popped $5.98 to end at $31. At the close Blue Power declined 50 cents to $2.85, Cargo Handlers shed 59 cents and ended at $14, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents to close at $2.13, Caribbean Cream skidded 55 cents to $3.35, Express Catering sank 19 cents in closing at $3.80, Fontana dipped 25 cents and ended at $10, Honey Bun dropped 24 cents to $6.45, Main Event dipped 66 cents to end at $14.10 and Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 19 cents to $1.61.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rallied $1.59 and ended at $7.47 and 138 Student Living preference share rose $5.55 to close at $190.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.9 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.3 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 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.
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 for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.