Another record close for Junior Market

Tuesday was another record breaking day on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the market Index popping 35.96 points to a new record close of 4,384.22 after the market opened just over 4,202 points but drifted lower after and closed, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 56 percent and the value 23 percent higher than on Monday.
Some 42 securities traded against 43 on Monday, with 18 rising, 17 declining and seven unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.7. Junior Market PE ratios incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
A total of 14,524,296 shares traded for $53,604,474 compared to 9,311,516 units at $43,681,007 on the Monday. Tropical Battery led trading with 2.82 million shares for 19.4 percent of total volume, followed by iCreate, 1.44 million units for 9.9 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices chipped in with 1.34 million units for 9.2 percent market share. JFP Limited ended with 1.29 million units for 8.9 percent market share, Medical Disposables exchanged 1.15 million units for 7.9 percent market share and Lumber Depot closed with 1.12 million units for 7.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 345,817 shares at $1,276,297 in contrast to 216,547 shares at $1,015,837 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 430,328 units at $1,635,995 compared to 435,831 units at $1,659,417 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined 69 cents in closing at $20.38 in switching ownership of 3,206 shares, CAC 2000 gained 20 cents to close at $7.40 in trading 65 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 34 cents, to end at $2.56, with the swapping of 37,066 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 10 cents to $1.30 in an exchange of 513,167 stocks, Dolphin Cove dropped 40 cents to $23 after exchanging 5,524 stocks, EduFocal lost 17 cents to end at $3.22 with an exchange of 859,952 stock units. Express Catering increased 32 cents in ending at $6.49 while exchanging 11,127 units, Fontana fell 29 cents in closing at $11 after finishing trading 207,790 shares, Fosrich rose 35 cents to $28.35 after trading 151,846 stock units. Honey Bun climbed 27 cents to close at $9.30, with 21,470 shares clearing the market, iCreate dropped 73 cents to $2.33, with 1,442,863 stocks crossing the market, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents to end at $3.29, with 55,131 units crossing the market. Jetcon Corporation advanced 30 cents to close at $1.80 after 823,775 shares crossed the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 10 cents in closing at $5.10 after trading 26,510 stocks, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to $3.56 in exchanging 1,124,459 units. Main Event increased 58 cents to close at $9.58, with an exchange of 98,341 stock units, Spur Tree Spices popped 21 cents to $3.91, with 1,339,807 shares changing hands, SSL Venture lost 10 cents in closing at $1.58, with 21,001 stock units clearing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 85 cents ending at $8.25, trading 27,093 units, Tropical Battery rose 11 cents to end at $2.85, with 2,822,833 stocks crossing the market and tTech fell 26 cents and ended at $3.79 after an exchange of 1,556 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.