Rising and declining stocks were almost even in numbers at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with the market index just inching higher at the close with nine percent fewer shares traded than on Friday.
The market closed with 33 securities changing hands, the same number as on Friday, and finished with the prices of 12 stocks rising, 13 declining and eight closing with prices remaining unchanged.
The Junior Market Index rose 5.58 points to 2,501.80. The average PE Ratio ended at 13.1 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 3,445,343 shares for $7,674,800 compared to 3,764,642 units at $7,764,562 on Friday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 43.5 percent of total volume for a transfer of 1.5 million shares, followed by Caribbean Producers with 10.5 percent of the day’s trade with an exchange of 363,416 units and Tropical Battery with 9.2 percent market share or 317,250 units.
Trading averaged 104,404 units at $232,570 in contrast to 114,080 at $235,290 on Friday. The month to date, averaged 149,021 units at $339,320, compared to 160,524 units at $366,841 on Friday. November closed with an average of 193,331 units at $566,885 trading.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gained 3 cents to end at $1.69 with 13,738 shares changing hands, Blue Power jumped 63 cents to $3.43 exchanging 6,900 units, Caribbean Cream rose 2 cents to $4.15 with 623 stock units changing hands. Caribbean Flavours advanced 11 cents to $1.75 with 41,705 stocks passing through the market, Caribbean Producers traded 363,416 shares and increased by 3 cents to settle at $2.63, Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents to $1.40 with a transfer of 30 units. Derrimon Trading climbed 24 cents to $2.55 in switching ownership of 9,542 stock units, Everything Fresh lost 5 cents, exchanging 152 stocks to finish at 71 cents, Express Catering gained 10 cents to end at $3.50 with 94,352 shares changing hands. Fontana closed 4 cents higher at $5.39 with 81,806 stocks passing through the market, Fosrich dropped 30 cents to $3.60 with 8,021 stock units traded, Honey Bun rose 5 cents to $5.50 with a transfer of 107,069 units, iCreate fell 4 cents to 62 cents with investors switching ownership of 111,646 shares, Indies Pharma declined by 19 cents to settle at $2.36 with 135,226 stock units changing hands, Jamaican Teas exchanged 1,500,182 stocks and lost 10 cents to finish at $1.80. KLE Group rose 15 cents to $1.15 with 3,000 units passing through the market, Lasco Financial gained 5 cents to close at $2.65 in trading 2,425 shares, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 12 cents to end at $3.68 with a transfer of 7,439 stock units. Limners and Bards fell 10 cents to $2.60 with 47,694 stocks trading, Mailpac Group slipped 1 cent to $2.18 with an exchange of 253,036 units, Medical Disposables fell 33 cents to $4.01 with 8,932 shares changing hands. Paramount Trading declined by 16 cents to finish at $1.34 with 15,075 stocks passing through the market, SSL Venture rose 1 cent to 55 cents with a transfer of 600 units, Stationery and Office Supplies fell 38 cents to $4.05 with the trading of 76,597 stock units and Tropical Battery slipped 2 cents to $1.13 with 317,250 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.