Trading surges on Jamaica Stock Exchange  

Trading surged sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the Junior market listed Mailpac Group trading 50.04 million shares, Jamaican Teas, 32.66 million units, Future Energy 10.9 million units and Spur Tree Spices with 1.84 million units, while in the Main Market, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 10 million shares followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 5.84 million units, Jamaica Producers 2.87 million units and Pan Jamaica with 1.50 million units as a total of 123,026,015 shares were traded in all three markets, up sharply from just 10,449,490 units on Tuesday.
The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets surged to $527.23 million compared with a mere $48.29 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 159,494 shares were traded, for US$2,742 compared to 6,525 units at US$320 on Thursday.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were GraceKennedy up $3.59, Eppley Caribbean Property with a rise of $2.60, Seprod rose $1, Scotia Group closing at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $38.40, after gaining 90 cents and MPC Caribbean Energy rose 88 cents. Falling Main Market stocks were mostly modest except for Eppley down $4.48 and Jamaica Producers with a fall of $1.47.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Caribbean Cream with a gain of 64 cents, Iron Rock Insurance up 49 cents, Dolphin Cove with a gain of 44 cents and Spur Tree gaining 25 cents. There were declining stocks of note.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 1,162.73 points to close at 328,594.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,555.49 points to lock up trading at 353,538.78, the JSE Main Index rallied by 812.63 points to end trading at 316,798.45. The Junior Market Index rallied 45.75 points to end the day at 3,728.14 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 2.03 points to wrap up trading at 221.10.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $4 to end at $45 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $4.50 and ended at $120.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 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 to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 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.