Junior Market loses more grounds

Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining by 36 percent with the value 24 percent lower than on Thursday and resulting in falling stock prices overwhelming those rising, with earnings season virtually at an end.
Market activity led to 44 securities trading the same as Thursday and ended with only 10 rising, 23 declining and 11 unchanged. At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 20.57 points to 4,444.25.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values averages 13.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 14,998,955 shares traded for $69,879,663 versus 23,316,932 units at $92,287,477 on the Thursday. Trading averaged 340,885 shares at $1,588,174 down from 529,930 shares at $2,097,443 on Thursday with month to date, averaging 483,905 units at $2,198,219 compared to 500,041 units at $2,267,045 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.91 million shares for 12.7 percent of total volume, followed by Derrimon Trading with 1.59 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade, Honey Bun chipped in with 1.21 million units for 8 percent market share, JFP Limited traded 1.16 million units for 7.7 percent market share, Elite Diagnostic, 1.13 million units for 7.5 percent of the volume and Future Energy Source with 1.02 million units for 6.8 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rose 59 cents to $21.50 after exchanging 149 shares, Cargo Handlers lost $2.75 to $10.25 in an exchange of 23,829 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 15 cents in closing at $2.59 while trading 45,112 stocks. Dolphin Cove declined $3.20 in ending at $18 in exchanging 105,134 stock units, EduFocal fell 13 cents to close at $3, with 642,761 stocks crossing the market, Fontana advanced 89 cents to $10.99 in an exchange of 85,158 stock units. Fosrich lost $1 in ending at $30.98 with 122,203 units changing hands, Future Energy Source shed 38 cents to close at $6.50 in switching ownership of 1,017,033 shares, General Accident lost 15 cents to close at $5.95, with 13,000 units clearing the market. Honey Bun dropped 15 cents to $9.20 after finishing trading of 1,206,963 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance shed 25 cents to close at $3.20 in an exchange of 26,771 stock units, Jetcon Corporation fell 26 cents to end at $1.35, trading 102,085 shares. Lasco Distributors climbed 10 cents to $3.50, with 828,816 shares crossing the market, Lasco Financial gained 19 cents to $3.59 in trading 539,344 units, Main Event declined 49 cents in closing at $8.50 with the swapping of 325,825 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied $3.40 to a 52 weeks’ high of $11 after 429,937 stock units changed hands and tTech fell 25 cents to end at $3.50, with 26,531 stocks crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share declined 11 cents in, ending at $1.05, with 4,867 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.