Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday after a rise in the volume and the value of stocks traded, compared with trading on Friday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, the Junior Market index declining and the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading, the prices of 26 shares rose, 52 declined and 34 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 390.29 points to 371,326.74, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 567.37 points to end at 435,363.97, the JSE Main Index slipped 184.16 points to close at 365,776.08, the Junior Market Index fell by 29.85 points to end at 3,008.44, but the JSE USD Market Index rose 4.67 points to 277.89.
At the close of trading, 43,403,951 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 26,452,457 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $181.87 million, up from $169.15 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 887,366 shares for US$55,429, up from 252,482 units at US$15,043 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 7.49 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.41 million stocks and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 930,429 units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led with 22.61 million shares, followed by Woodcats International with 899,387 stocks and Lasco Financial with 873,088 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $2.49 in closing at $44.49, Kingston Wharves and ended at, Carreras rallied $1.15 to finish at a record high of $34.15, Caribbean Cement rose 68 cents and ended at $106.23 and Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 48 cents to close at $9.98.
Included in the top losers, Seprod dropped $2.30 to close at $75.00, Eppley declined $1.25 to $32.00, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined by 90 cents in closing at $29.00, Mayberry Group fell by 88 cents in closing at $5.07 and Jamaica Producers declined by 79 cents to finish at $22.20. In the preferred segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share advanced $2.40 and ended at $19, Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $1.45 to $30, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% fell $10 in closing at $1,140 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% shed $1.30 to end at $105.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Caribbean Cream gained 43 cents to end at $2.14, Cargo Handlers climbed 20 cents to finish at $17.95, Mailpac Group increased 17 cents and ended at $2.60, Medical Disposables rallied 8 cents to close at $1.00 and Derrimon Trading increased 6 cents to $1.31. Among the top losers, Atlantic Hardware dropped 23 cents in closing at $1.17, Consolidated Bakeries shed 23 cents to $1.22, Dolphin Cove fell 23 cents and ended at $11.02, Knutsford Express dipped 20 cents to close at $8.00 and Fosrich slipped 17 cents and ended at $1.40.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings is 11 and 15.9 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 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.
