Junior Market gains 18.7% YTD

After taking a battering in March last year with the market index dropping 39 percent from the end of 2019 to the bottom in March last year, junior Market stocks have put in a spirited recovery with the marketing adding 23.63 points to 3,136.56 on Thursday with a rise of 18.7 percent for 2021 to date and 54 percent from the March 2020 low point for the year for the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Overall, 35 securities traded compared to 36 on Wednesday, with prices of 11 rising, 20 declining and four remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 12.9
The market closed with an exchange of 4,442,267 shares for $18,272,766, up from 4,400,394 units at $13,254,158 on Wednesday. Lasco Manufacturing led trading with 51.8 percent of total volume trading 2.3 million shares followed by Mailpac Group with 10.8 percent for 478,805 units and Derrimon Trading with 9.2 percent market share for 406,825 units for 9.2 percent.
Trading averaged 126,922 units at $522,079, in contrast to 122,233 at $368,171 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 190,819 units at $630,894, compared to 195,649 units at $639,120 on Wednesday. March closed with a higher average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 40 cents to close at $21.50 with the trading of 10 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers picked up 14 cents to end at $2.14 after an exchange of 4,000 shares, Caribbean Cream fell 40 cents to $5.50 in a transfer of 4,116 stock units, Caribbean Flavours lost 5 cents in closing at $2.30 in trading 99,017 stock units. Caribbean Producers ended 20 cents higher at $4 with investors switching ownership of 111,856 units. Consolidated Bakeries shed 4 cents to end at $1.51 in an exchange of 10 shares, Elite Diagnostic gained 14 cents in ending at $3.14 after a transfer of 20,782 stocks. Express Catering shed 39 cents to end at $4.11 with the swapping of 88,449 stock units, Fontana lost 5 cents to settle at $5.80 with 69,879 stocks changing hands. Fosrich slipped 7 cents in closing at $6.98 in switching ownership of 28,721 shares, General Accident rose 30 cents to finish at $5.80 with an exchange of 26,529 stocks, Indies Pharma shed 13 cents to end at $4.12 after trading 84,271 units, Jetcon Corporation picked up 6 cents in closing at 84 cents with 5,120 stock units crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express fell 10 cents to close at $8.90 finishing with 1,210 stocks changing hands. Lasco Distributors shed 15 cents to end at $3.84 in switching ownership of 28,431 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 cents to end at $4.70 with the swapping of 2,302,500 shares after it traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $5. Mailpac Group lost 6 cents in closing at $3.50 in the trading of 478,805 stocks, Main Event shed 35 cents to end at $4.45 after clearing the market with 4,910 stock units, Medical Disposables closed 40 cents lower at $4.10 with 35,096 shares crossing the exchange, at the same time Stationery and Office Supplies lost 7 cents to end at $5.50 in the trading of 11,676 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.