Stocks rallied decisively on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Thursday, with winners outdoing losers by a wide margin, sending the market index nearly 35 points higher at the close, above 3,000 points, the highest point since July 24, following trading in 44 securities, compared with 45 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 23 rising, just 11 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with a 33 percent rise in volume to 9,607,200 shares up from 7,242,815 units, for a 29 percent higher at $16,791,971, up from $12,972,389 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 218,345 shares at $381,636, and jumping from 160,951 shares at $288,275 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date ends with an average of 227,568 units at $386,601 compared to 228,144 units at $386,911 on the previous day and lower than the average of 433,821 shares at $676,565 for August.
Woodcats International led trading with 2.34 million shares for 24.4 percent of total volume, followed by Iron Rock Insurance with 2.0 million stocks for 20.8 percent of the day’s trade, Image Plus closed with 1.72 million stocks for 17.9 percent of the volume traded and Atlantic Hardware with 1.31 million units for 13.6 percent of market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rallied 34.54 points to end at 3,014.73. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.3. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, that are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, Access Financial skidded by 32 cents to close at $19 in switching ownership of 1,479 stocks, Cargo Handlers rose 41 cents to end at $14.50 with trading in 7,000 units, Caribbean Cream bounced back from a fall on Wednesday, climbing 44 cents to finish at $2.75 in an exchange of 13,826 shares. Derrimon Trading increased 15 cents to end at 91 cents with 188,724 stock units passing through the market, Express Catering lost 5 cents to close at $1.90 with 34,890 shares crossing the exchange, Fontana dropped 13 cents to close at $6.02 after trading of 77,605 stock units. Honey Bun popped 11 cents to $6.10 with 96,430 units clearing the market, Image Plus rallied 25 cents in closing at a 52 weeks high of $1.80 with investors trading 1,721,849 stocks, 
Iron Rock Insurance advanced 38 cents to finish at $3.38 with 1,998,565 units crossing the market. JFP shed 5 cents and ended at 40 cents after an exchange of 126,188 shares, Knutsford Express declined 65 cents to at $8 with investors swapping 9,597 stock units, Lasco Financial gained 15 cents to close at $1.56 after a transfer of 67,845 stocks. ONE on ONE Educational rallied by 7 cents to 72 cents as investors exchanged 26,283 units and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 14 cents to finish at $1.42 with 13,813 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.