Trading plunged on the JSE on Wednesday

Trading plunged to a low level on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday as market interest rates continued to rise with the Bank of Jamaica CD rate averaging 11.9 percent at Wednesday’s auction, the highest since interest rates were reversed from the low levels in 2021.
At the close of the market, the Main and JSE USD markets closed higher but the Junior Market that rose in the morning session continued to decline after a small rise on Tuesday, with trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 33 shares rising and 33 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1141.55 points to close at 340,587.82, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,140.00 points to close at 367,649.84, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,376.12 points to 328,139.31. The Junior Market Index fell 25.49 points to culminate at 3,734.49 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 4.38 points to conclude trading at 242.35.
At the close of trading, 11,106,203 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 14,166,946 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $33.36 million, well below the $51.59, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 233,494 shares for US$6,425 compared to 325,197 units at US$9,274 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.43 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.75 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 663,546 units.
In a low-keyed trading session on the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 251,673 shares followed by Fosrich with 228,475 units and Dolla Financial with 224,947 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $2.03 in closing at $216 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $5 to finish at $106.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.9 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.7 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 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.