Junior Market closed week up

Activity on the Junior Market closed with 8 securities traded and ending with only 48,272 units changing hands valued at a mere $112,162. The JSE Junior Market Index increased 12.17 points to close at 713.70, with the prices of 4 stocks advancing and none declining.
At the close of the market, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with a lower offer. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and there were 8 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Producers concluding trading with 1,100 shares to end with an increase of 20 cents to $2.30, Lasco Distributors closing with 10,000 shares, the price gained 2 cents to $1.48, Lasco Financial finishing trading with 17,802 shares, to end with an increase of 9 cents at $1.15. Lasco Manufacturing closing with 2,759 shares trading, 3 cents higher at $1.19, Eppley 9.5% preference share ended with 10,035 units trading, unchanged at $6, General Accident had just 100 shares changing hands at $1.65 and Honey Bun ending with 5,235 shares trading at $1.91 as investors reacted to the December quarter’s results which shows reduced profit in the quarter. Profits fell 17 percent for the quarter to $16.5 million compared to the prior year. Management in their report said the “reduction was mainly due to increased distribution cost resulting from the takeover of a large contract distributor to maintain our customer service and the lease of vehicles due to accidents of two of our main distribution vehicles.” At the close of trading, there were no stocks listed to be bought and 206,849 units being offered to sell at $1.91.