The volume and value of stocks trading plunged on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange compared with Monday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market rising, the Junior Market index declining and the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading, the prices of 42 shares rose, 51 declined and 22 remained firm, including Transjamaican Highway closing at a record high of $11.28, up 130 percent since the start of the year.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,370.39 points to close at 379,369.28, as the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped a solid 2,439.96 points to 447,123.45, the JSE Main Index gained 1,819.07 points to 375,103.68, the Junior Market Index lost a hefty 51.40 points to end at 2,886.41 and the JSE USD Market Index advanced 10.78 points to finish at 296.85.
At the close of trading, 32,067,994 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 42,765,003 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $259.85 million, down from $423.87 million the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 769,895 shares for US$61,096, down sharply from 5,256,613 units at US$348,331 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 10.29 million shares, after closing at a record high of $11.28, followed by Carreras with 1.51 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.37 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led with 4.74 million shares, followed by Atlantic Hardware with 1.17 million stocks and Woodcats International with 1.15 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Guardian Holdings rose $2 to finish at $367.00, Proven Investments climbed $1.09 to $9.90, Kingston Properties increased $1.05 in closing at $11.50, General Accident popped 79 cents to close at $9.04 and Kingston Wharves rallied 76 cents to end at $34.00.
Among the top losers, Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped $2.11 to finish at $7.39, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $1.99 to close at $42.00, Pan Jamaica skidded $1.51 to $43.49, Seprod fell $1.50 to close at $72.50 and Jamaica Producers shed $1.48 and ended at $20.50.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $37.23 to end at $200 and private capital provider Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $2.51 to close at $104.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, ISP Finance increased 80 cents to close at $8.55, Fontana climbed 14 cents to $6.27, Lasco Financial advanced 10 cents in closing at $1.62, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 9 cents to finish at $2.09 and Dolla Financial rose 6 cents to $2.96. Among the losers, Dolphin Cove dropped $2.02 and ended at $10.15, Access Financial fell $1.86 in closing at $15.30, Knutsford Express declined 50 cents and ended at $6.60, Blue Power shed 30 cents to end at $3.10 and Main Event skidded 17 cents to finish at $4.50.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 11.2 and 14.7 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most commonly used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.