Image Plus pushes Junior Market trading

Shares of the last Initial Public Offer in 2022, Image Plus Consultants, were listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday bringing the number of companies on the market to a record 48. The company’s shares dominated trading with just over 61 percent of the total volume of stocks traded, pushing the volume of stocks trading in the market 77 percent higher, with a 68 percent rise in the value compared to Thursday.
Trading in 46 securities on Friday, compares to 45 on Thursday and resulted in prices of 20 rising, 15 declining and 11 left unchanged and led to an exchange of 20,295,875 shares for $50,102,944 compared to 11,460,696 units at $29,877,310 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 441,215 shares at $1,089,194, from 254,682 units at $663,940 on Thursday, with the month to date, averaging 205,980 stocks at $525,918 compared with 187,355 shares at $481,322 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 333,420 units at $925,533.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 12.44 million shares for 61.3 percent of total volume followed by Express Catering with 1.27 million units for 6.3 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum with 1.16 million units for 5.7 percent market share and JFP Ltd with 1.12 million units for 5.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 30.02 points to settle at 3,993.91, ending the week much higher than at the close of the previous one.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year that falls between November last year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rose 29 cents to $2.90 after an exchange of 15,339 shares, Caribbean Cream shed 65 cents to close at $3.20 with 32,014 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries popped 34 cents to end at $2.15 in transferring 164,626 stocks. Dolphin Cove dipped 10 cents to $15.20 after 41,594 stock units passed through the market, Express Catering gained 50 cents ending at $5.50 with an exchange of 1,270,658 stocks, Future Energy Source popped 7 cents to settle at $4.85 in trading 348,162 units. Honey Bun shed 13 cents to close at $7.02 with the swapping of 31,125 stock units, newly listed Image Plus Consultants rallied 20 cents to end at a record closing high of $2.20 with investors transferring 12,439,670 shares, Indies Pharma lost 17 cents in closing at $2.70 with 2,032 shares changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance gained 25 cents to end at $2.40 after trading 22,599 stock units, Knutsford Express advanced 47 cents to $12.49 after a transfer of 15,192 stocks, Lasco Financial lost 8 cents in closing at $2.60 after an exchange of 4,542 units. Lasco Manufacturing rose 37 cents to $4.55 as investors transferred 6,703 shares, Limners and Bards gained 19 cents to close at $2.59 after investors exchanged 3,900 stocks, Lumber Depot lost 17 cents to end at $2.30 trading 150,521 units. MFS Capital Partners advanced 14 cents to $2.97 with the swapping of 387,932 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 8 cents in ending at $2.20 after an exchange of 5,592 stocks and Spur Tree Spices shed 27 cents to $2.75 in switching ownership of 458,199 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.