Junior Market drops at start of February

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining marginally, as 12 percent dollars passed through the market on Wednesday with trading in 40 securities compared with 46 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 12 rising, 21 declining and seven closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday with 13,639,370 shares being traded for $32,995,315 versus 13,718,596 units that were exchanged  for $29,550,137 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 340,984 shares at $824,883 compared to 298,230 units at $642,394 on Wednesday and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 2.92 million shares for 21.4 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 2.67 million units for 19.6 percent of the day’s trade, MFS Capital Partners chipped in with 2.55 million stock units for 18.7 percent market share and Lasco Manufacturing ended with 2.20 million shares for 16.1 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 35.69 points to culminate at 3,778.49.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 30 cents and ended at $2.92 with an exchange of 20,648 units, Cargo Handlers advanced $1.92 to $14.92 with 50 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Flavours rose 10 cents to $1.66 after an exchange of 1,000 shares. Derrimon Trading lost 24 cents to end at $1.86, with 164,017 stock units crossing the exchange, Dolphin Cove dropped 80 cents to close at $18.20 after trading of 120 shares, Elite Diagnostic sank 11 cents to $1.53 after 84,370 stocks passed through the market. Fontana rallied 30 cents to end at $10.50 as investors exchanged 61,643 units, Fosrich dipped 37 cents in closing at $2.10 after a transfer of 651,488 stock units, Future Energy fell 15 cents to close at $3.55, with 209,533 shares crossing the market. Honey Bun increased 28 cents and ended at $6.40 in an exchange of 2,340 stock units, Indies Pharma declined 25 cents to $2.70 with investors swapping 118,087 units, Jamaican Teas shed 20 cents to close at $2.50 with a transfer of just 52 stocks. Lasco Distributors climbed 10 cents and ended at $4.10 after an exchange of 125,228 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 17 cents and closed at $4.92 with investors trading 2,202,375 shares, Lumber Depot skidded 8 cents to end at $2.52, with 150,776 stock units changing hands. Mailpac Group fell 16 cents to $2.11 after investors ended trading of 255,522 stocks, Main Event rose 96 cents to end at $16 while exchanging 10 units, MFS Capital Partners skidded 38 cents in closing at $2.32 with traders dealing in 2,546,621 shares. ONE on ONE Educational lost 14 cents to close at 93 cents in switching ownership of 145,540 stocks, Regency Petroleum dropped 19 cents and ended at $2.21 after exchanging 253,645 stock units, Spur Tree Spices shed 38 cents to $2.50 with investors dealing in 66,592 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 24 cents to end at $1.45, with 2,924,503 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.