Junior Market clears 2022 close for the first time

For the first time in 2023, the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher than the 2022 close with Market Index advancing 25.13 points to settle at 4,006.69 after the volume of stocks traded climbed modestly and the value just 11 percent more than on Monday, resulting from 43 securities trading versus 44 on Monday and ended with 19 rising, 15 declining and 9 closing unchanged.
A total of 12,267,173 shares were exchanged for $30,849,632 up from 11,787,222 units at $27,770,919 on Monday.
Trading averaged 285,283 shares at $717,433 compared with 267,891 units at $631,157 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 182,588 units at $469,051 compared to 172,775 stock units at $445,317 on Monday, the previous day. December closed with an average of 333,42 units at $925,533.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 4.85 million shares for 39.5 percent of total volume followed by Regency Petroleum with 1.21 million units for 9.9 percent of the day’s trade, JFP Ltd with 1.18 million units for 9.6 percent of the market and ONE on ONE Educational with 1.03 million units for 8.4 percent market share.
The PE Ratio,  a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.2. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending falling between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 28 cents to $2.98 in an exchange of 1,300 shares, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 19 cents to $1.81 with a transfer of 3,043 stock units, Dolla Financial gained 9 cents to close at $3 after 316,836 units were traded. Dolphin Cove rose 50 cents to end at $15 with investors transferring 62,902 stocks, EduFocal gained 27 cents to close at $2.53 after exchanging 155,546 shares, Future Energy Source lost 10 cents to end at $4.80 after trading 405,086 stock units. General Accident fell 39 cents to $4.70 with the swapping of 24,051 units, Honey Bun lost 6 cents to end at $7.14 in transferring 13,971 stocks, iCreate popped 6 cents in closing at $1.85 after switching ownership of 145,247 units. Knutsford Express shed 35 cents ending at $12.50 with 61,133 stock units changing hands after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $13.45, Lasco Distributor gained 6 cents to close at $2.76 with an exchange of 7,915 shares, Lasco Financial rallied 27 cents to $2.85 as investors traded 1,279 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing popped 46 cents in closing at $4.50 with the transfer of 163,636 units, Limners and Bards declined 21 cents after ending at $2.45 and exchanging 34,616 stocks, Lumber Depot dipped 14 cents to end at $2.31 as investors swapped 194,373 stock units. MFS Capital Partners dropped 13 cents to $2.85 after 493,900 shares passed through the market, ONE on ONE Educational gained 6 cents to close at $1.30 with 1,034,621 units changing hands, Paramount Trading rose 11 cents to end at $2.12 after clearing the market with 842,416 stocks. Regency Petroleum rallied 9 cents in closing at $1.55 trading 1,209,964 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 55 cents to end at $14.60 with an exchange of 6,412 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.