Trading rises as markets mostly fall

The Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined in trading on Thursday as the JSE USD market closed moderately higher as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands rising, over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 26 shares rising and 38 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 1,213.73 points to 339,829.59, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 803.27 points to 366,350.22, the JSE Main Index dropped 910.30 points to 327,260.10. The Junior Market Index plunged 41.11 points to close at 3,757.91 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.38 points to 249.03.
At the close of trading, 31,075,461 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 15,867,211 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $91.08 million, up from $82.89, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 9,463 shares for US$5,112 compared to 288,604 units at US$12,293 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway with 8.84 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 6.67 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 5.58 million stock units and Radio Jamaica with 1.03 million shares.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.58 million shares followed by Lumber Depot with 1.15 million units and Future Energy with 807,980 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $123.29 to $1,150, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $19.91 and ended at $115 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied $3 to $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9. 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.