Atlantic Hardware led trading with 64.8 percent of total volume on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the stock hitting an intraday record high of $1.70 as trading in the stock pushed the volume of stocks traded up by 263 percent, with a 234 percent increase in value from Wednesday. Trading ended with an exchange in 44 securities compared with 39 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 23 declining and five closing unchanged as three hardware stocks hit new highs during trading.
The market closed with trading of 24,114,652 shares for $36,360,760 compared with 6,643,942 units at $10,874,824 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 548,060 shares at $826,381 compared to 170,357 stocks at $278,842 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 271,852 units at $414,611, up from 173,842 stock units at $268,500 on the previous day and October with an average of 191,865 shares at $349,252.
Atlantic Hardware led trading with 15.64 million shares for 64.8 percent of total volume, followed by Omni Industries which ended with 2.95 million stocks for 12.2 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 1.12 million units for 4.6 percent of traded stocks.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 42.83 points to end at 3,347.48. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4, based on last traded price, in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2026.
At the close on a day of increased trades, AMG Packaging popped 17 cents to close at $2.41, with 23,566 shares passing through the exchange, Atlantic Hardware fell 13 cents to close at $1.34 after a transfer of 15,637,738 stocks, with the stock hitting a record high of $1.70. Cargo Handlers sank 6 cents in closing at $13.28 after an exchange of 65 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 20 cents and ended at $1.90 in an exchange of 110 units, Caribbean Flavours rose 10 cents to end at $1.60 with just 2 stock units clearing the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 50 cents to finish at $1.79 with traders dealing in 17,070 shares. Dolphin Cove rallied 88 cents to $11.99 in switching ownership of 61,114 units, Elite Diagnostic sank 17 cents to close at $1.50, with 58,545 stocks changing hands, Express Catering increased 30 cents and ended at $3.05 in trading 45,933 stock units. Fontana shed 25 cents in closing at $8.85, with 79,248 shares crossing the market, Fosrich lost 11 cents to end at $2.17 with investors swapping 218,239 stock units, 
GWest Corporation climbed 6 cents to finish at 66 cents after an exchange of 299,213 stocks. Honey Bun dipped 38 cents and ended at $7 after 24,233 units passed through the market, Iron Rock Insurance gained 8 cents to $3.48 in an exchange of 10,227 shares, Jamaican Teas fell 26 cents in closing at $2.20 with investors trading 1,119,981 stock units. Jetcon Corporation skidded 17 cents to end at $1.50 with an exchange of 82,651 stocks, JFP slipped 13 cents to close at 62 cents, with 15,850 units crossing the market, Knutsford Express sank 80 cents to finish at $13 after an exchange of 1,634 shares. Lasco Financial dropped 7 cents to $1.88 with investors trading 3,615 units, Limners and Bards lost 12 cents to finish at $1 as investors exchanged 339,856 stocks, Lumber Depot popped 14 cents and ended at a 52 weeks high of $3.74 after hitting an intraday high of $4 in trading 621,201 stock units. Main Event rallied 12 cents to close at $6.67 with a transfer of 1,708 shares, Medical Disposables rose 8 cents to $1.50 with investors dealing in 584 stocks.
Omni Industries climbed 14 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $1.12 after it closed with an exchange of 2,946,594 units and Paramount Trading declined 11 cents in closing at $1.01 with investors swapping 63,093 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.