Junior Market clears 3,800 mark on Thursday

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged higher on Thursday, with the Junior Market Index climbing 75.77 points to close at 3,801.37, the second time for the month that it closed above 3,800 points for the year to date, with the volume of stocks traded declining 8 percent, with an 11 percent lower value than on Wednesday, following trading in 38 securities compared with 44 on Wednesday with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Trading ended with 2,193,612 shares for $6,494,237 down from 2,371,932 units at $7,325,090 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 57,727 shares at $170,901 compared to 53,908 units at $166,479 on Wednesday with a month to date average of 168,337 units at $390,530 compared to 174,216 stock units at $402,203 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Future Energy led trading with 349,804 shares for 15.9 percent of total volume followed by Stationery and Office Supplies  with 339,937 units for 15.5 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 299,144 units for 13.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped 76 cents to close at $23.96 after an exchange of 193 stock units, AMG Packaging dropped 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 76 shares, Cargo Handlers advanced $1.82 to end at $14.90, with 165 units crossing the market. Dolla Financial rose 7 cents in closing at $2.65 in an exchange of 223,937 stocks, EduFocal climbed 7 cents and ended at $1.48, with 114,258 units changing hands, Express Catering increased 12 cents to $3.85 after a transfer of 54,730 stocks. Fosrich sank 6 cents to close at $2.29 in trading 24,461 shares, Honey Bun rallied 14 cents to end at $6.26 with 2,676 stock units clearing the market, ISP Finance gained 7 cents in closing at $22.29 with a transfer of 676 shares. KLE Group lost 22 cents and ended at $2.25 while exchanging 53,296 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 33 cents to $4.94 in switching ownership of 4,914 units, Limners and Bards gained 10 cents in closing at $1.30 with investors swapping just one stock. Regency Petroleum rose 8 cents to end at $2.38 with an exchange of 31,412 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 12 cents to close at $1.43 after an exchange of 339,937 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.