Volume plunges on JSE combined market

The Junior Market cleared the 3,800 barrier at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday but the Main Market JSE USD market closed with losses as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling and the value jumping sharply over the previous trading day, as the Junior and Main markets switched roles for the level of stocks traded compared with Thursday, with the value of stocks traded in the Main Market jumping 390 percent even as the volume dropped by 32 percent, with the Junior Market trading dropping over 95 percent compared with Thursday as trading resulted in prices of 33 shares rising and 32 declining in the markets.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,284.91 points to end at 339,745.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 1,102.99 points to close at 366,500.95, the JSE Main Index fell 1,547.35 points to 326,755.24. The Junior Market Index popped 28.47 points to end trading at 3,804.02 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 0.26 points to settle at 242.15.
At the close of trading, 14,089,380 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down on the 83,531,081 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $166.13 million, moderately below the $188.25 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 9,705 shares for US$1,717 compared to 326,941 units at US$17,135 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Group led trading with 3.08 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.93 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 2.60 million stocks, while in the Junior Market trading, Caribbean Assurance Brokers led trading with 864,573 shares followed by EduFocal with 851,715 units and MFS Capital Partners with 497,347 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $3 to end at $213 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% gained $4 in closing at $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.37 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.7 times those for 2024-25 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.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making 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.