Rising stocks were barely edged out by declines, but rebounds in the prices of Access Financial, Cargo Handlers, Knutsford Express and Regency Petroleum helped push the Junior Market Index up by 50.37 points to 3,390.40 as trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Trading ended with only 40 securities changing hands, down from 45 on Monday, ending with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and seven closing unchanged.
The market closed with a 45 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 41 percent lower value than Monday, with trading of 5,317,670 shares worth $8,323,400, down from 9,594,7 ended with an averaged 132,942 shares at $208,085 compared to 213,218 stocks at $313,238 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 175,441 stock units at $263,754 compared with 213,218 shares at an average of $313,238 on the previous day and October with an average of 191,865 shares at $349,252.
Atlantic Hardware hit a new high and led trading with 3.20 million shares for 60.2 percent of total volume, followed by Regency Petroleum, which traded 350,115 units for 6.6 percent of the day’s trade and Kintyre Holdings with 214,208 stocks for 4 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded price, in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2026.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $2.28 and ended at $19.49 with investors dealing in 886 shares, AMG Packaging increased 25 cents to $2.41 after an exchange of 8,117 stocks, Atlantic Hardware climbed 15 cents to finish at a record closing high of $1.30, with 3,202,497 shares changing hands. Blue Power sank 37 cents to close at $3.36 after a transfer of 1,056 stock units, Cargo Handlers rose $1.83 to end at $12.96 as investors exchanged a mere 29 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 25 cents in closing at a 52 weeks low of $1.65 with a transfer of 1,241 shares. Caribbean Flavours gained 11 cents to $1.63, after clearing the market of 1,578 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 19 cents to end at $2.09 with investors trading 4,465 stocks, Dolphin Cove sank 20 cents in closing at $12.80 in an exchange of 3,384 stock units. Everything Fresh declined 5 cents to finish at $2.10 with traders dealing in 93,144 shares, Express Catering fell 15 cents and ended at $2.85 in an exchange of 58,009 stock units, Fontana advanced 10 cents to close at $9.10 with investors trading 19,023 stocks. Future Energy slipped 7 cents to $2.98 after the trading 51,292 units, GWest Corporation rose 14 cents to close at 74 cents in trading 164,959 shares, Honey Bun lost 20 cents to end at $7, after closing with an exchange of 7,451 stock units. JFP rallied 9 cents in closing at 72 cents with investors trading 67,128 stocks, Knutsford Express increased 80 cents to finish at $13.80 in switching ownership of 5 units, Lasco Financial dropped 7 cents and ended at $1.88, with 103,643 shares crossing the exchange. Lumber Depot climbed 27 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of $3.60 in trading 122,981 units, Mailpac Group shed 8 cents to close at $2.39 with an exchange of 188,114 shares. Main Event skidded 7 cents to finish at $6.60, with 5,926 stock units crossing the market after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks low of $5.71. Omni Industries popped 12 cents and ended at 96 cents after 83,550 shares passed through the market, Paramount Trading sank 12 cents in closing at $1.13, with 50,119 stock units crossing the market and Regency Petroleum gained 35 cents to end at $3.90 after an exchange of 350,115 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.