Trading plunges on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

Stocks registered losses in all three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday as trading plunged well below that on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks 23 percent of that traded previously and a value just under 30 percent of Wednesday’s traded value.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 522.54 points to 334,647.92, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 757.11 points to 353,308.06, the JSE Main Index lost 457.71 points to end at 320,755.70, the Junior Market Index fell 10.42 points to finish at 3,862.94, the JSE USD Market Index shed 6.47 points to close at 236.58.
There was only one Preference share trading that ended with a notable price change as Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $9.75 to $55.25.
At the close, investors dealt in 10,094,461 shares in all three markets, down from 43,258,967 stocks on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at just $47.9 million, down sharply from $162 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 445,494 shares for US$17,444, compared with 797,307 units at US$115,172 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 17.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.8 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 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.