Trading activity dipped to start the new year with the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closing moderately higher on Thursday, following an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, at an 88 percent lower value than Tuesday resulting from trading in 47 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday, ending with prices of 19 rising, 25 declining and three closing unchanged, with the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator flashing negative moves to start trading on Friday.
The market closed with 9,108,643 shares with a value of $16,934,260 trading compared with 48,623,882 units at $139,994,405 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 193,801 shares at $360,303 down from 1,105,088 stocks at $3,181,691 on Tuesday and compared to December with an average of 326,483 shares at $898,324. One Great Studio led trading with 1.13 million shares for 12.4 percent of the overall volume followed by Lasco Financial with 1.12 million stock units for 12.3 percent of Thursday’s trades, Derrimon Trading chipped in with 1.11 million units for 12.2 percent market share and Jamaican Teas with 1.08 million shares for 11.9 percent of the total volume. At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 7.67 points to end the day at 3,742.72. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of trading, Access Financial rose 28 cents to finish at $19 with 207 stocks switching owners, Caribbean Assurance Brokers sank 38 cents and ended at $2.51 with 3,397 units crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours shed 18 cents to end at $1.20 with an exchange of 134,404 shares. Consolidated Bakeries advanced 15 cents to $2.08 with 20,622 stock units clearing the market, Dolla Financial lost 10 cents to close at $2.90 with 587,450 shares changing hands, Elite Diagnostic skidded 7 cents to close at $1.83 with investors dealing in just 2,093 stocks. Express Catering fell 38 cents to $3 with 359,584 units changing hands, Fosrich declined 24 cents and ended at $2.20 in trading 85,518 stock units, Future Energy sank 29 cents to finish at $3.70 with 612,690 shares crossing the market. Honey Bun popped 12 cents to close at $8.50 as investors exchanged 16,206 stocks, Image Plus dropped 7 cents to $1.63 with a transfer of 38,028 units, Indies Pharma increased 11 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.80 with investors swapping 18,141 stock units.
Iron Rock Insurance climbed 28 cents to $4.28 after a transfer of 38 shares, ISP Finance gained 20 cents to close at $23.70 with investors trading a mere 5 units, Jamaican Teas slipped 9 cents to $2.15, after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.80, in an exchange of 1,084,335 stocks. KLE Group rallied 11 cents and ended at $1.25 with traders dealing in 39,964 stock units, Knutsford Express dipped 52 cents to end at $13.66 in an exchange of 2,546 shares, Lasco Financial popped 18 cents to finish at $1.63 with 1,124,171 stocks passing through the market. Lumber Depot climbed 11 cents and ended at $2.80 in trading 1,139 units, Main Event increased $2.19 to $12.99 with 402 stock units crossing the exchange, Medical Disposables rose 27 cents to finish at $1.90 with investors trading 8,204 shares. Regency Petroleum sank 13 cents to end at $3.33 after an exchange of 89,473 stocks,
Spur Tree Spices skidded 8 cents to $1.95 after35,199 units changed hands, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 9 cents to close at $1.60 with investors trading 41,016 stock units and tTech advanced 10 cents to $2.10 with 2,157 shares crossing the exchange.Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.