Junior Market slips again

The volume of stocks traded dropped 54 percent on Wednesday below Tuesday level, with the value of stocks traded falling 57 percent, leading to a fall in the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange index.
Market activity led to 33 securities trading compared to 35 on Tuesday, with nine rising, 15 declining and nine closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 20.50 points to settle at 3,242.48. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 11.3 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
A total of 3,663,127 shares changed hands for $11,641,559 compared to 8,565,841 units at $25,324,572 on Tuesday. Lumber Depot led trading with 44.4 percent of total volume after trading 1.63 million shares, followed by Jamaican Teas 19.9 percent with 728,146 units and Future Energy Source 14.1, with 516,351 shares.
Trading averaged 111,004 units at $352,775 in contrast to 244,738 shares at $723,559 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 222,342 units at $638,846, compared to 232,326 units at $664,500 on Tuesday. August closed with an average of 464,471 units at $1,258,652.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power declined 30 cents to $3, trading 12 shares, Cargo Handlers shed 55 cents to end at $7 with the swapping of 1,221 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 10 cents to $1.65 trading 19,294 stocks, Express Catering rallied 10 cents to $4.90 after exchanging 500 units. Fontana fell 57 cents in closing at $6.03, with 126,041 stock units clearing the market, Future Energy Source dropped 5 cents to $2.39, with 516,351 shares changing hands. Honey Bun increased 35 cents to $9 in exchanging 12,380 stock units, Indies Pharma declined 22 cents to $3.17 while exchanging 1,012 stocks, ISP Finance spiked $6.10 to $23.50 trading 259 units. Jetcon Corporation gained 4 cents to close at $1 after exchanging 173 units, Lasco Distributors advanced 4 cents to $3.85 with 534 stock units changing hands. Limners and Bards climbed 25 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $4, trading 309,877 units. Lumber Depot rose 5 cents to close at $2.80, with 1,628,060 shares crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies shed $1.14 in ending at $5.81, with 10,610 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share declined 10 cents to 90 cents after trading 1,006 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.