Junior Market rallies Wednesday

Stocks mostly rose in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 12 percent less and the value modestly more than on Tuesday with 39 securities trading, down from 41 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 13 declining and eight closing unchanged.
A total of 6,446,267 shares were exchanged for $26,873,467 versus 7,315,888 units at $25,872,080 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 165,289 shares at $689,063 compared to 178,436 units at $631,026 on Tuesday with the month to date, average of 172,027 units at $659,319. October ended with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
JFP Ltd led trading with 1.31 million shares for 20.4 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 747,702 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade and Dolphin Cove with 668,279 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 30.65 points to settle at 4,090.73.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 30 cents to $3.48 while exchanging 9,516 shares, Blue Power fell 11 cents to $2.99 with investors transferring 15,284 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 44 cents to end at $2.99 as 50,197 units passed through the market. Dolphin Cove rose $1.52 to close at $15.50 as investors exchanged 668,279 stocks, following news that the company could be buying Mystic Mountain’s operations that enjoyed years of profitable operation. Everything Fresh climbed 16 cents in closing at $1.78 after trading 11,025 stocks, Fontana dropped 31 cents to $8.79, with 118,115 units changing hands. Fosrich gained 12 cents in closing at $4.57 after an exchange of 511,772 shares, Honey Bun declined 44 cents to close at $6.75 in trading 20,165 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents in ending at $2.94 after 62,708 units changed hands. Iron Rock Insurance advanced 44 cents to end at $2.74 with the swapping of five shares, Jamaican Teas shed 18 cents in ending at $2.58 with a transfer of 262,250 stock units, Knutsford Express rallied 65 cents to end at $9.45, with 302 stocks crossing the exchange. Lasco Distributors lost 14 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.66 after a transfer of 97,782 stocks, Lasco Financial dipped 14 cents to close at $2.70 with an exchange of 44,875 shares, Lumber Depot popped 19 cents to $2.70 in trading 304,239 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped $1.07 in closing at $15.06 after investors exchanged 23,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.