Falling prices hit the Junior Market hard

Rising stocks outpaced those falling on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but that did not prevent to market index from dropping, following a 15 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and a 7 percent fall in value compared with Thursday with trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 18 rising, 13 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with the trading of 4,006,350 shares for $9,943,397 down from 4,733,856 units at $10,743,830 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 95,389 shares at $236,748 compared to 115,460 units at $262,045 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 161,098 stock units at $353,985 compared with 177,525 units at $383,294 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Fosrich led trading with 1.15 million shares for 28.6 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 763,547 units for 19.1 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 534,396 units for 13.3 percent market share.
The Junior Market Index dipped 39.08 points to close at 3,699.06 at the close of trading.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power sank 20 cents to end at $3.05 in an exchange of 33,006 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to $3.85 with 66,906 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 45 cents and ended at $3.75 after investors ended exchanging 36,578 shares. Elite Diagnostic lost 8 cents in closing at $1.48 with a transfer of 23,761 stock units, Express Catering rose 39 cents to close at $4.20 after an exchange of 1,189 shares, Fontana advanced 7 cents to finish at $8.12 and closed after an exchange of 7,228 stock units. Honey Bun popped 9 cents and ended at $8 after a transfer of 13,092 units, Indies Pharma fell 9 cents to $2.65, with 11,315 stocks crossing the exchange, ISP Finance shed 60 cents to finish at $24.40 in switching ownership of 501 units. Knutsford Express increased 13 cents in closing at $11.50 after 554 shares crossed the market, Limners and Bards climbed 16 cents to end at $1.70 with an exchange of 151 stock units, Main Event rallied 49 cents to close at $12.99 with trading of 71,986 stocks and tTech popped 12 cents to $2.47 as investors exchanged 9,310 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.