Advancing Junior Market stocks crush losers

Rising stocks outnumbered those declining by a wide margin but that led to the Junior Market Index increasing a mere 5.05 points to lock up trading at 3,832.51, with the index just 0.4 percent lower than the close for 2023, with trading closing on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 23 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, after 29 percent less funds entered the market compared to Wednesday after trading in 42 securities up from 37 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 22 rising, 12 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday after 5,836,386 shares were exchanged by investors for $11,800,314 compared to 7,539,058 stock units at $16,711,931 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 138,962 shares at $280,960, compared with 203,758 units at $451,674 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 201,600 units at $501,717 compared to 213,894 units at $545,043 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
EduFocal led trading with 2.78 million shares for 47.6 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 495,943 units for 8.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 442,836 stock units for 7.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power increased 8 cents to $3.38 after a transfer of 448 shares, Cargo Handlers popped 10 cents to $14.50, with 500 units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 35 cents to close at $2.09 with a transfer of 16,869 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries gained 12 cents and ended at $2.21 with investors dealing in 89,685 stock units, Dolla Financial fell 8 cents to close at $2.81 in switching ownership of 287,886 shares, Dolphin Cove rose $1.46 to $18.98 with investors swapping 20,170 stocks. EduFocal rose 8 cents and ended at $1.53 with an exchange of 2,778,915 units, Everything Fresh climbed 20 cents in closing at $1.70 after an exchange of 12,591 stock units, Honey Bun rallied 9 cents to end at $6.49, with 12,615 shares changing hands. Indies Pharma dipped 10 cents to close at $2.70 after 226,366 stock units passed through the market, Jamaican Teas increased 8 cents to $2.59 with investors trading 4,962 units, Lasco Financial climbed 25 cents in closing at $2.05, with 1,200 stock units crossing the market. Limners and Bards sank 42 cents to close at $1.30 as investors exchanged 10,454 shares, Lumber Depot popped 10 cents to end at $2.60 with investors trading 172 stock units, Main Event lost 10 cents and ended at $15 in an exchange of 16,178 stocks. MFS Capital Partners dropped 33 cents to $2.11 after 495,943 units crossed the market, Spur Tree Spices advanced 15 cents and ended at $2.45 after an exchange of 27,148 shares and tTech skidded 49 cents to close at $2 with investors transferring 9,241 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.