Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, with a much greater value than on Wednesday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, the Junior Market index jumping and the JSE USD Market falling. At the end of trading, the prices of 39 shares rose, 44 declined and 25 remained firm.
At the end of market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index slipped 467.09 points to end at 359,668.96, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped by 1,482.84 points to 417,896.84, the JSE Main Index declined by 903.89 points to finish at 353,077.03, the Junior Market Index climbed a solid 55.33 points to end at 3,075.91 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 1.42 points to settle at 243.96.
The market closed with an exchange of 30,298,321 shares in all three markets, up from 28,477,770 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets jumping to $462.22 million, from $97.62 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 535,822 shares for US$27,949, up sharply from 90,111 units at US$4,785 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Supreme Ventures led trading with 11.26 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.10 million stocks and Kingston Wharves with 2.02 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Woodcats International led with 1.48 million shares, followed by EduFocal with 1.25 million stocks and Spur Tree Spices with 947,478 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners are, AS Bryden with a rise of $1.84 to end at $23.95, Eppley gained $1.31 to $33.50, Pan Jamaica rose $1 to close at $47, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 58 cents in closing at $6.77 and Supreme Ventures climbed 40 cents to close at $17.40. Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings skidded $2.01 to close at $337.99, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.19 and ended at $6.74, Caribbean Cement dropped $1 to $102.00, Quantas Advantage shed $1 in closing at $21.00 and Sagicor Group lost $1 to end at $39.00 and Wisynco Group dipped $1 and ended at $19.19.
In the preference share segment, 138 Student Living preference share declined $2.55 to finish at $235 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $1.40 and ended at $105.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Cargo Handlers advanced $2.59 in closing at $18.74, Knutsford Express increased $1.24 to close at $7.74, Lumber Depot climbed by 23 cents to $2.79, Future Energy rose 15 cents to end at $3.50 and CAC 2000 rose 15 cents in closing at $1.85. Among the top losers, Access Financial declined $2.65 in closing at $15.04, Dolphin Cove fell 39 cents to $9.60, Blue Power slipped 24 cents to end at $3.45, Limners and Bards dipped 17 cents to close at $1.02 and ONE on ONE Educational dropped 9 cents to finish at 73 cents.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 12.8 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 utilised 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 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.