Jamaica Stock exchange activity jumped sharply on Friday following big trades in shares of Caribbean Producers and Express Catering that tower over the Main and Junior markets and pushing the value of trading up sharply over that on Thursday, resulting in all three markets’ major indices declining as trading ended with the prices of 46 shares rising, 36 declining and 31 remaining firm.
At the close of trading, 488,159,035 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 26,160,587 units on Thursday, with the value of stock units traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $3.43 billion, which is greater than the $210.17 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 376,670 shares for US$19,813 down from 2,290,277 units at US$68,443 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Caribbean Producers led trading with 334.34 million stocks with a value of $2.64 billion followed by Wigton Energy with 15.03 million shares and Transjamaican Highway with 3.15 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Express Catering led with 122.90 million stocks valued at $423 million followed by One Great Studio with 629,560 shares and Dolla Financial with 603,641 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $55 and ended at $2,755, 138 Student Living preference share shed $31.86 to $254.19.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 320.43 points to end trading at 332,089.54, the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 406.94 points to 367,406.71, the JSE Main Index declined 305.65 points to end at 319,783.16, the Junior Market Index slipped 3.92 points to close at 3,666.04 and the JSE USD Market Index declined a notable 17.82 points to end at 242.04.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used in valuing stocks, ended at 13.8 based on 2024-25 projected earnings and 20.6 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all the Jamaica Stock Exchange listed ordinary shares, grouped by industry, thus allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. 
Investors can use this measure to assess stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.