The market closed on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining by 33 percent and the value slipping 29 percent from Thursday outcome, after 34 securities traded, similar to Thursday, with prices of 12 rising, 10 falling and 12 closing unchanged leading the Market Index to spike 14.49 points to close at 3,322.77 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.
The market that closed at 3,370.59 points in June, tried to build on it during July, moving up to 3,421.90 points in Mid-month, failed to hang on to the gains and end up closing below the June close. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Trading ended with 2,153,858 shares changing hands for $7,010,164 compared to 3,204,788 units at $9,817,160 on Thursday.
Future Energy Source led trading with 26.2 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 563,890 shares, Jamaican Teas followed with 21.5 percent, for 462,064 units and Tropical Battery 11.2 percent with an exchange of 240,306 units.
Trading averaged 63,349 units at $206,181 in contrast to 94,258 at $288,740 on Thursday. Month to date, trading averages 163,918 units at $481,755, versus 168,538 units at $494,416 on Thursday. June closed with an average of 225,705 units at $644,459.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial jumped 85 cents to $21.49 with an exchange of 548 shares, AMG Packaging advanced 15 cents to $1.65 with 4,855 stocks changing hands, Blue Power fell 32 cents to $3.26 with 10,603 stock units traded. Caribbean Flavours gained 9 cents to close at $2.07, with 2,512 units passing through the market, Elite Diagnostic slipped 5 cents to $3.10 with a transfer of 482 shares, Future Energy Source lost 12 cents to finish at $1.38 with an exchange of 563,890 stocks. 
GWest Corporation declined by 5 cents to 94 cents with 10,000 units changing hands, Lasco Distributors dropped 16 cents to $4.04 with 1,222 stock units traded, Lumber Depot fell 10 cents to $3.30, with 15,040 shares passing through the market. Main Event climbed 43 cents to $4.79 with a transfer of 13,551 units, Medical Disposable jumped 46 cents to $4.99 with investors switching ownership of 13,999 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies shed $1.49 to close at $5.76 with 13,525 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
