Junior Market slips on Thursday

Declining stocks edged out rising ones at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, following an increase in trading activity resulting from a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 51 percent more than for trading on Tuesday following activity in 41 securities compared with 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 16 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 6,026,066 shares for $13,427,737 compared with 3,460,585 stock units at $8,913,356 on Tuesday, following release of several results of companies for the December quarter prior to the start of trading.
Trading averaged 146,977 shares at $327,506, compared with 76,902 units at $198,075 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 209,968 units at $499,840 compared with 216,711 stock units at $518,289 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Mailpac Group led trading with 2.05 million shares for 34.1 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus with 783,408 units for 13 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 731,290 units for 12.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 5.26 points to end trading at 3,808.58.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.27 to close at $22.68 with investors trading 774 shares, CAC 2000 climbed 38 cents to $4.21 in an exchange of 469 units, Caribbean Flavours increased 10 cents and ended at $1.70 with investors swapping 3,038 stocks. Derrimon Trading rose 15 cents in closing at $2.06 in an exchange of 16,927 stock units, Dolphin Cove rallied 97 cents to end at $18.97 after an exchange of 7,290 shares, Elite Diagnostic advanced 8 cents in closing at $1.77 after investors traded 144,846 units. Fontana dropped 12 cents to $10.48 with an exchange of 42,236 stocks, Honey Bun sank 39 cents to end at $6.30, with 24,354 stock units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas shed 18 cents to close at $2.40 with traders dealing in 124,722 shares. Knutsford Express declined 8 cents and ended at $12.30 after a transfer of 1,785 stocks, Lasco Distributors gained 11 cents to $3.87 in switching ownership of 27,706 units, Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to close at $1.91 while exchanging 5,933 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to end at $4.90 with 11,723 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards lost 18 cents in closing at $1.47 after an exchange of 9,866 stock units, Lumber Depot skidded 12 cents to $2.20, with 185,704 units changing hands. Mailpac Group popped 19 cents to $2.38, with an exchange of 2,052,755 stocks and Medical Disposables increased 18 cents and ended at $2.70 with investors transferring 11,894 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.