Stocks closed in positive territory on Friday for only the second time since the start of the year on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the Junior Market Index rallying 27.88 points to 3,416.68, to record the highest close since October last year. Future Energy hit a 52 weeks high following outstanding third quarter results, gaining 54 percent since the end of December, to be a major contributor to the market’s gain. Trading ended with activity in 45 securities, compared with 42 on Thursday, with prices of 14 rising, 14 declining and 17 closing unchanged.
Market activity closed, with the volume of stocks traded falling 26 percent to 6,782,030 shares, down from 9,202,694 units on Thursday. The value fell by 15 percent to end at $17,225,291, from $20,259,101 on Thursday.
Trading closed with an average of 150,712 shares with a value of $382,784, down from 219,112 stocks at $482,360 on Thursday, with a month to date, average of 350,430 units at $421,206, just a bit below 373,068 stock units at $425,561 on the previous day, but higher than February, with an average of 301,118 shares at $408,514.
Future Energy led trading with 2.90 million shares for 42.7 percent of total volume, followed by Kintyre Holdings, ending with 1.61 million stocks for 23.7 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 1.23 million units for 18.1 percent of the day’s volume.
At the close of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.9, derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share.
ICInsider.com compiles the PE ratios in this report for companies with their financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of a week of the market rising, Access Financial declined by 12 cents to close at $17.65, with an exchange of a mere one share, Blue Power sank 36 cents to $3.34 in trading 3,229 stock units, Cargo Handlers climbed 51 cents to end at $18.71 after it closed with an exchange of 950 shares. Dolla Financial dipped 10 cents in closing at $2.55 with investors swapping 3,037 stocks, Dolphin Cove sank 30 cents and ended at $10.50 with an exchange of 8,288 units, Future Energy popped 11 cents to finish at a 52 weeks high of $4.46 following trading in 2,899,105 shares.
Iron Rock Insurance lost 17 cents to close at a 52 weeks low of $2.35 after an exchange of 1,061 stock units, KLE Group slipped 15 cents in closing at 90 cents with a transfer of 900 stocks, Medical Disposables fell 15 cents and ended at $1.15, with 4,595 stocks changing hands. Regency Petroleum shed 43 cents to close at $4.51 in an exchange of 128,292 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 11 cents to end at $1.69 with traders dealing in 35,676 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.