The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday, with the market dropping 12.5 percent year to date, with decliners outnumbering risers by a wide margin, with several heavily weighted stocks suffering declines, following poor profit performance. Trading closed on Friday with activity in 42 securities, down from 43 on Thursday, with prices of 19 rising, 15 declining and eight closing unchanged as the market slipped in value. The volume of stocks traded rose just 5 percent and the value sank 12 percent compared with the preceding day.
The market closed with trading of 23,106,280 shares at $37,269,312 up from 21,955,175 stock units at $33,321,331 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 550,150 shares for $887,365, after increasing from 510,585 stock units at $774,915 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 280,479 units at $401,436, up from 267,964 stock units at $378,885 on the previous day and well below June, with an average of 1,591,326 shares at $1,703,148.
The leading traded stocks include two that suffered major losses in the first quarter, with Derrimon Trading leading trading with 7.97 million shares for 34.5 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich with 2.83 million stocks for 12.2 percent of the day’s trade. Jamaican Teas closed with 2.77 million stock units for 12 percent of the volume traded, Stationery and Office Supplies ended with 1.80 million shares for 7.8 percent of the overall trade, ONE on ONE Educational chipped in with 1.47 million stocks for 6.4 percent of the number of stocks traded and Mailpac Group with 1.12 million stock units for 4.9 percent of market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index lost 5.81 points to conclude trading at 2,976.70. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending wth bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended with an average PE Ratio of 11.6. ICInsider.com compiles the PE ratios, derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share for the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, Atlantic Hardware rallied 7 cents to close at $1.22 with 215,890 units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers increased 75 cents to $17 with a transfer of 2,939 stocks, Caribbean Cream slipped 9 cents to finish at $1.90 as investors exchanged 10,772 shares. Derrimon Trading lost 12 cents and ended at $1.20 with 7,969,109 stock units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove fell $2.12 to end at $10.21 after an exchange of 4,853 shares, Express Catering declined 5 cents in closing at $1.95 with 162,317 units crossing the market. Fosrich popped 7 cents to $1.56 after trading of 2,828,396 stocks, GWest Corporation advanced 8 cents to finish at 59 cents in an exchange of 500 stock units, Honey Bun rose 39 cents and ended at $5.90 with 19,113 shares passing through the market. 
Image Plus shed 7 cents in closing at $1.12 in switching ownership of 200,630 stocks, ISP Finance climbed 25 cents to end at $7.75 with 290 units changing hands, Jamaican Teas dropped 6 cents to close at $2.23 with investors swapping 2,769,440 stock units. Jetcon Corporation gained 11 cents to close at $3.43 after a transfer of 261,648 shares, Knutsford Express popped 99 cents to close at $7.47 with investors trading 1,276 stock units, Lumber Depot increased 28 cents to finish at $2.75 with an exchange of 825,205 stocks. Mailpac Group climbed 8 cents and ended at $2.63 with 1,124,130 units clearing the market, Medical Disposables dipped 5 cents to end at $1.10 with investors trading 16,238 stocks, Omni Industries skidded 8 cents to close at 88 cents in an exchange of 200,000 units. ONE on ONE Educational rose 5 cents to 75 cents with investors dealing in 1,472,316 shares, Regency Petroleum advanced 16 cents to end at $4.49 after an exchange of 169,031 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 5 cents in closing at $1.62 after trading of 1,804,900 shares.
Closing prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.