Trading in Express Catering shares was the dominant development in Junior Market activity on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the trade accounting for more than half of the total volume traded. Trading resulted in a 9 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, but that did not hold down the value as 38 percent more money was exchanged than Thursday following trading in 43 securities down from 47 on Thursday and ending with prices of just 12 rising, 23 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 8,255,718 shares at $23,382,493 compared with 9,108,643 units at $16,934,260 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 191,993 shares at $543,779 from 193,801 stocks at $360,303 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 192,937 units at $447,964 compared with December with an average of 326,483 shares at $898,324.
Express Catering led trading with 5.0 million shares for 60.6 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.13 million units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade and AMG Packaging with 270,978 stock units for 3.3 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 24.74 points to end the day at 3,717.98. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by the ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of trading, Access Financial shed $3.67 to close at $15.33 after a transfer of 1,849 stocks, CAC 2000 rallied 26 cents in closing at $2.36 with investors trading 760 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 47 cents to end at $18.97 after an exchange of 896 shares. Everything Fresh sank 7 cents to finish at $2.08 in trading 21,419 stock units, Image Plus dipped 8 cents and ended at $1.55 with 17,353 shares crossing the market, ISP Finance popped $1.29 to close at $24.99 after an exchange of 378 stocks. 
Jamaican Teas rallied 9 cents to $2.24 with investors swapping 52,345 units, after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.92, Lasco Financial lost 16 cents and ended at $1.47 with 29,074 stock units changing hands, Lumber Depot skidded 72 cents to close at $2.08 after 12,694 shares were traded. Mailpac Group sank 10 cents to $2.65 with 257,362 units crossing the exchange, RA Williams declined 9 cents to end at 77 cents with 40,004 stocks switching owners and Regency Petroleum shed 17 cents to finish at $3.16 with 35,152 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.