Junior Market gains

Stocks closed higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday following a 25 percent fall in the volume traded following 34 percent less funds entering the market than on Wednesday, with trading in 40 securities compared with 42 on Wednesday and ended with 17 rising, 13 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
A total of 6,781,412 shares were traded for $17,334,001 versus 9,004,048 units at $26,089,560 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 169,535 shares at $433,350 compared with 214,382 units at $621,180 on Wednesday with the month to date averaging 195,318 units at $519,305 compared to the 199,195 stock units at $532,230 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 2.06 million shares for 30.3 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.05 million units for 15.5 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 701,099 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 13.50 points to end at 3,919.02.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.20 at $22.05 with 157 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging lost 15 cents to close at $2.75 with 400 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers dipped 19 cents to $13.20 with a transfer of 3,000 stock units. Caribbean Cream rose 17 cents in closing at $3.50 in trading 1,500 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries lost 45 cents to end at $2.05 after 26,482 stocks passed through the market, Dolphin Cove rallied 43 cents to close at $14.98 with a transfer of 13,787 stock units. EduFocal declined 20 cents to $2.08 in exchanging 239,169 units, Express Catering popped 8 cents to end at $5.08 with the swapping of 31,315 shares, Fontana advanced 13 cents to end at $8.65 as investors exchanged 19,362 stock units. Indies Pharma gained 14 cents to finish at $2.98 with 23,885 shares changing hands, Jamaican Teas lost 8 cents in closing at $2.50 with swapping of 701,099 units, JFP Ltd shed 8 cents to close at $1.71 after a transfer of 103,503 stocks. Knutsford Express gained 23 cents in ending at $10.31 after trading 2,691 shares, Lasco Financial lost 20 cents to settle at $2.62 in an exchange of 10,242 stocks, Mailpac Group gained 11 cents to end at $2.12 with a transfer of 171,346 stock units. Main Event advanced 70 cents to $10.20 in exchanging 68,525 units, Spur Tree Spices dipped 15 cents to $2.75 in switching ownership of 292,613 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 19 cents to close at $14.50 with an exchange of 20,005 shares and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to end at $2.44 with investors transferring 30,338 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.