Junior Market falls on Tuesday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market slipped at the close on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 26 percent, with a 17 percent fall in the value compared to trading on Monday as all 45 listed securities traded compared to 43 on Monday and ended with 13 rising, 26 declining and six closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 27.63 points to settle at 4,171.59.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9 for the 2022-23 fiscal year based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Overall, 10,881,450 shares traded for $41,038,700 compared to 8,658,067 units at $49,169,751 on Monday. Lumber Depot led trading with 2.70 million shares for 24.8 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal, 1.54 million units for 14.2 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Limited, with 1.34 million units for 12.3 percent market share.
Trading averaged 241,810 shares at $911,971 in contrast to 201,350 shares at $1,143,483 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 313,476 units at $1,444,823 compared to  351,868 units at $1,730,280 on Monday the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial lost $1.40 in ending at $19.50 with the swapping of 9,672 shares, Blue Power rose 16 cents to $3.90 after trading 6,233 stock units, CAC 2000 popped 30 cents in closing at $7.35, with 1,394 units changing hands. Cargo Handlers fell $1.10 to close at $11 after exchanging 1,269 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries shed 10 cents to end at $1.31 with an exchange of 188,959 units, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to $22.80 while exchanging 97,097 stock units. Fosrich climbed $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high at $20 in trading 152,078 stocks, Honey Bun dropped 17 cents in closing at $9.89, with 56,244 shares changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 14 cents to $3.74, with 150 stock units clearing the market. KLE Group dropped 43 cents to close at $2.32 in switching ownership of 10,545 stocks, Knutsford Express declined 23 cents to end at $7.77 with 4,893 units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing fell 24 cents to $5.45 as 44,626 shares were traded. Paramount Trading increased 15 cents in ending at $1.65, with 63,802 stocks crossing the market, Spur Tree Spices lost 16 cents to close at $3.52 in an exchange of 549,279 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 87 cents in closing at $7 in trading 900 units. Tropical Battery dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.60 after 997,759 shares crossed the exchange and tTech gained 49 cents to close at $4.25 after exchanging 9,241 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.