The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday, with the market rising after more stocks fell than rose as 28 percent fewer shares changed hands than on Friday with just six percent lower value.
Trading ended with 32 securities changing hands compared to 31 on Friday and ended with the prices of nine stocks rising, the prices of 15 declining and eight, with remaining unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 23.08 points to settle at 2,520.18, the average PE Ratio of the market ended at 10.5 based on IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 2,230,691 shares for $4,393,330 compared to 3,117,697 units at $4,670,235 on Friday. Lumber Depot led trading with 37 percent of total volume after 824,663 shares were exchanged followed by Mailpac Group with 33.3 percent or 742,481 stock units and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 95,620 units for 4.3 percent market share.
Trading ended with an average of 69,709 units at $137,292 in contrast to 100,571 at $150,653 on Friday. For the month to date, the average trade resulted in an exchange of 101,915 units at $228,699 in comparison to 104,252 units at $235,332 on Friday. Trading in August resulted in an average of 104,414 units at $321,996 trading.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial shed 28 cents to end at $21.72, after exchanging 6,003 stock shares, Blue Power closed at $3.30, after losing 29 cents, with 1,587 units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 5 cents to end at $1.88, in exchanging 95,620 stock units. Caribbean Producers gained 1 cent in closing at $2.36 with 15,055 shares changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries finished at $1.37, after losing 12 cents with 3,213 units crossing the market, Derrimon Trading lost 5 cents to settle at $2.85, with investors switching ownership of 4,099 shares. Elite Diagnostic gained 34 cents after exchanging a mere 8 stock units, to settle at $3.39, Express Catering lost 5 cents to end at $4.25 in trading 11,540 units. Fontana slipped 5 cents to close at $4.65 after exchanging 57,485 shares, General Accident gained 5 cents to end at $7.05, in transferring 3,000 units, GWest Corporation lost 1 cent to finish at 97 cents after exchanging 20 units. 
Indies Pharma slipped 1 cent to $2.83, in transferring 4,895 shares, Iron Rock Insurance closed at $3.10, after gaining 10 cents with 13,319 stock units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas lost 30 cents to settle at $4.25, with 37,304 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors rose 10 cents to end at $3.10, in an exchange of 42,982 shares, Lasco Financial lost 2 cents to close at $2.08, with 59,055 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards gained 12 cents to close at $2.69 after investors switched the ownership of 60,313 shares. Lumber Depot shed 5 cents to end at $1.04 with 824,663 shares crossing the market, Mailpac Group dipped 3 cents to $2.05, with 742,481 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables dropped 59 cents to settle at $4.55, in transferring 11,448 stock units. Paramount Trading gained 11 cents to close at $1.41, with investors swapping 1,000 units, SSL Venture rose 5 cents to 75 cents in trading 2,459 units and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 58 cents to $5 in exchanging 13,215 stock units.
In the preference segment of the market, Derrimon Trading preference shares rose 10 cents to close at $2 in trading 8,017 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
