Big push higher for Junior Market

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Index surged 85.66 points to end at 3,318.09 on Thursday, the highest close for the year, and the highest point since the latter part of October last year.
Since the close of trading last week Thursday, the Junior Market gained 234.26 and is now 2.2 percent up, for the year. The PE ratio is just 11 times 2019 estimated earnings well off from the more than 15 for the main market.
By the close of trading, Blue Power jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $13.50 and so did Elite Diagnostic that closed trading at $6 and Stationery and Office Supplies trading at a record $12.
The market closed with 34 securities changing hands, compared to 27 on Wednesday, resulting in the prices of 21 rising, 8 declining and 5 remaining unchanged.
Trading picked up over Wednesday’s levels with an exchange of 2,463,608 units valued at $13,106,397, compared to 2,728,440 units valued at $14,270,901, on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 72,459 units for an average of $385,482 in contrast to 101,053 units for an average of $528,552 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 93,288 units with a value of $337,830 for each security traded, compared to 94,629 units with a value of $334,761 traded previously. June ended with an average of 166,169 units at $674,841 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and one closed with a lower offer.
Stocks ending with price changes| Access Financial close with a loss of $1.45 at $46.50, in trading 1,150 shares, AMG Packaging closed 5 cents higher at $2.30, trading 55,604 stock units, Blue Power climbed $13.50 to settle at a record $13.50 with 26,020 shares changing hands, CAC2000 climbed 10 cents and exchanged 770 shares at $15.10. Caribbean Cream fell 5 cents in trading of 29,765 units at $5, Caribbean Flavours climbed $1 to settle at $14, with 63,144 shares changing hands, Cargo Handlers climbed 95 cents and exchanged 5,000 shares at $10.95, Caribbean Producers gained 1 to end at $4.80, trading 73,759 shares, Derrimon Trading climbed 9 cents and exchanged 15,700 shares at $2.65. Express Catering closed trading of 48,368 units and gained 5 cents to end at $6.35, Everything Fresh ended trading with 87,428 shares, after rising 5 cents to close at $1.50, Elite Diagnostic ended trading of 117,172 shares, after rising 50 cents to end at a record closing high of $6, Fosrich Group climbed 6 cents, exchanging 69,189 shares at $4.75. Fontana lost 65 cents in trading of 655,120 units at $8.20, General Accident dipped 6 cents in trading of 239,128 units at $4.29. GWest Corporation staged a big recovery since falling to a low a recent low of 70 cents to end trading at $1.55 after rising 30 cents in exchanging 6,300 units. Honey Bun closed trading of 15,307 units and gained 10 cents to end at $6.15. iCreate closed trading of 133,826 units after rising 3 cents to end at 73 cents, Indies Pharma closed 3 cents higher at $3.06, trading 111,287 stock units. Jamaican Teas climbed 64 cents, in exchanging 52,365 shares at $4.93, after the company posted increased profits for the nine months to June, with earnings of 32 cents per share versus 20 cents in 2018. Jetcon Corporation climbed 25 cents and exchanged 2,500 shares at $1.85, Key Insurance decline 20 cents trading 13,580 units at $3.70, Lasco Distributors lost 10 cents in trading of 98,192 units at $3, Lasco Financial gained 1 cent to land at $4.59, trading 134,995 shares. Medical Disposables declined 31 cents to $6.69, in exchanging 15,000 shares, Main Event closed 50 cents higher at $8, with 25,422 stock units trading. Paramount Trading lost 9 cents in trading 43,306 shares to close at 1.78 cents, Ironrock Insurance ended trading with 40,924 shares, after rising 18 cents to end at $3.75 and Stationery and Office Supplies gained $2 to end at a record close of $12 with 4,200 stock units trading.