Junior Market rises on increased trading

Rising stocks beat out those falling and pushed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange markedly higher at the close on Friday, with the Junior Market Index climbing 44.41 points to wrap up trading at 3,685.30 following a 185 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with a 283 percent increased value than Thursday with trading in 45 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 21 rising, 15 declining and nine closing unchanged as Indies Pharma closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.19 with Regency Petroleum trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high in closing at $2.80.
The market closed with trading of 13,353,161 shares having a market value of $41,917,800 compared to 4,679,216 units at $10,946,258 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 296,737 shares at $931,507 compared to 114,127 stock units at $266,982 on Thursday with a month to date average of 444,479 stock units at $777,107 compared to 455,168 shares at $765,937 on the prior day and August with an average of 389,714 shares at $570,529.
Future Energy led trading with 10.21 million shares for 76.5 percent of total volume followed by RA Williams with 613,701 units for 4.6 percent of the day’s trade and Express Catering with 280,624 stock units for 2.1 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of an active trading day, Access Financial declined 45 cents to end at $18.50 as investors exchanged 3,484 shares, Blue Power rose 37 cents to $4.38 after 18,977 stocks changed hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 39 cents to $3.54 in an exchange of 50,881 shares. Caribbean Flavours sank 19 cents to end at $1.30 with investors trading 15,026 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 8 cents to close at $2.10 in switching ownership of 5 shares, Dolphin Cove skidded 40 cents to finish at $22 with traders dealing in 10,655 stocks. Express Catering popped 33 cents and ended at $3.60 in an exchange of 280,624 units, Fosrich climbed 10 cents to $2.35 after 80,512 stock units passed through the market, Future Energy increased 19 cents to finish at $3.50 in trading 10,209,807 shares. Honey Bun rallied 10 cents to close at $8.29 after an exchange of 31,255 stocks, Indies Pharma rose 10 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.19 with a transfer of 30,087 units, Iron Rock Insurance fell 35 cents to end at $3.55, with 195,078 stock units crossing the market. Jamaican Teas rallied 7 cents in closing at $2.27 in trading 420 shares, Jetcon Corporation dipped 20 cents to $1.05 and closed with an exchange of 17,849 units, Lumber Depot lost 15 cents to end at $2.75 with 178,299 stocks clearing the market. Main Event popped $2.16 to close at $12.96 with investors trading 801 stock units, Omni Industries gained 6 cents and ended at $1.10 after 40,942 shares crossed the market, Spur Tree Spices dropped 7 cents to finish at $1.94 after an exchange of 102,848 stocks and tTech advanced 19 cents to $2.19 with investors swapping 12,031 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.