Junior Market holding head above water

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday just managed to end above Monday’s close following a 12 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a moderately lower value than on Monday with trading in 45 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ended with 21 rising, 20 declining and four closing unchanged as one stock closed at a one year high and two at 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 9,615,167 shares for $25,289,603 versus 10,918,480 units at $26,373,173 on Monday.
Trading averaged 213,670 shares at $561,991 compared to 237,358 shares at $573,330 on Monday, with the month to date averaging 232,896 units at $615,218 compared to 233,887 stock units at $617,962 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 2.26 million shares for 23.5 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.40 million units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and Lasco Distributors with 885,161 units for 9.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 4.97 points to close at 3,762.62.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 26 cents to end at $2.64 as investors exchanged 6,005 shares, CAC 2000 rallied $1.10 to close at $7.10 in switching ownership of 6,451 units, Cargo Handlers rose 75 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $17.50 after an exchange of 11,300 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 12 cents in closing at $2.57 after 323,317 stocks changed hands. Caribbean Cream rallied 20 cents and ended at $3.20 with an exchange of 50 stock units, Caribbean Flavours increased 8 cents to $1.48 in an exchange of 9 units, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to close at $2.30 after a transfer of 125,334 stocks, Dolphin Cove popped 49 cents in closing at $15.45 with shareholders swapping 28,133 shares, Elite Diagnostic dropped 18 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.20, with 48,123 stocks clearing the market. Everything Fresh gained 8 cents to end at $1.80 while exchanging 154,617 units, Fontana lost 8 cents in ending at $9.40 with investors transferring 109,966 shares, Fosrich declined 29 cents to $2.40 after 2,255,770 stock units changed hands. Future Energy Source fell 19 cents to $3.92 in an exchange of 325,599 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 15 cents in closing at $3.30 after trading 131,851 units, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 28 cents to $2.16 after 5 shares passed through the market, ISP Finance climbed $3.83 to $23.98 after 2,092 stocks passed through the market. Knutsford Express rose 23 cents and ended at $11.52 after investors traded 20,220 stocks, Lasco Distributors rallied 34 cents to end at $3.09 with 885,161 stock units crossing the market, following full year’s results showing earnings of 38.5 cents per share, up from 29 cents in 2022. Lasco Financial declined 10 cents in closing at $2.35 in trading 454,503 units, following the release of full year results showing a fall from 24 cents per share to 16.7 cents. Main Event increased 40 cents to close at $14.65 with a transfer of 6,950 shares, Medical Disposables dipped 66 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $4.14 after 750 stock units crossed the market, Paramount Trading shed 10 cents to close at $2.09 in trading 25 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 42 cents in closing at $15.16 in switching ownership of 417 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.