Stocks were pushed higher on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday to close at a near three months high after prices of 19 stock rose, eight declined and 14 closed unchanged following trading in 41 securities, compared with 44 on Thursday. The volume of stocks traded fell 43 percent and the value of trades dropped 63 percent than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 5,447,885 shares for $6,185,164, after sliding from 9,607,200 units at $16,791,971 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 132,875 shares at $150,858, after decreasing from 218,345 stocks at $381,636 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 222,654 units at $374,366, compared to 227,568 stock units at $386,601 on the previous day and an average of 433,821 shares at $676,565 for August.
RA Williams ended trading as the market leader following an exchange of 2.27 million shares accounting for 41.7 percent of total volume, followed by Woodcats International with 1.14 million units for 21 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 536,154 stocks for 9.8 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 35.43 points to settle at 3,050.16, the highest point since the first week of July. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Trading closed on the Junior Market with an average PE of 11.5. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, which 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 increased 30 cents to $19.30, with a transfer of a mere 26 units, Blue Power gained 43 cents and ended at $3.63, with investors trading 10,129 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped 10 cents to close at $14.40, in switching ownership of 12,990 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 5 cents to close at $1.75 with 3,902 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cream rose 24 cents and ended at a 52 weeks high of $2.99 in an exchange of 155,780 shares, Caribbean Flavours advanced 16 cents to finish at $1.34 with 3,162 stock units crossing the market. Consolidated Bakeries climbed 7 cents and ended at $1.45 with investors trading 8,072 units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 13 cents to $1.65 with an exchange of 100 stocks, Express Catering increased 5 cents to close at $1.95 with 13,170 units changing hands. 
Fontana popped 23 cents to close at $6.25 with investors trading 29,541 stock units, Image Plus advanced 10 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $1.90 after an exchange of 197,326 shares, Jamaican Teas rose 5 cents to finish at $2.15, with investors dealing in 10,000 stock units. Jetcon Corporation shed 23 cents and ended at $4.52 after trading of 122,727 shares, Knutsford Express rallied 65 cents to $8.65 with 387 stock units passing through the market, ONE on ONE Educational declined 7 cents in closing at 65 cents as investors exchanged 130,988 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 12 cents to finish at $1.54 with 1,002 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.