Junior Market squeezes out gains

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange eked out a modest gain on Tuesday, with trading declining sharply from Monday’s levels as the volume of stocks traded declined 71 percent as the value dropped 70 percent, with 41 securities trading versus 43 on Monday and ended with 15 rising, 22 declining and four closing unchanged.
A total of 7,315,888 shares were exchanged for $25,872,080 compared to 25,484,902 units at $87,225,378 on Monday.
Trading averaged 178,436 shares at $631,026 compared with 592,672 units at $2,028,497 on Monday. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Main Event closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.35 and Derrimon Trading ended at the 52 weeks’ low of $2.07 and Dolla Financial led trading with 1.81 million shares for 24.7 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 895,365 units for 12.2 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 565,494 units for 7.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 8.37 points to settle at 4,060.08.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7, The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.50 to close at $25 with a transfer of 18,291 shares, AMG Packaging declined 30 cents to $3.18 in an exchange of 9,740 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 29 cents in closing at $2.36, with 506 stocks passed through the market. Caribbean Cream dipped 14 cents to close at $3.86 after an exchange of 8,101 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained 98 cents after ending at $13.98, with 142,469 stocks changing hands, Express Catering dropped 29 cents to end at $5 with the swapping of 200 units. Future Energy Source fell 17 cents in closing at $5.21 while exchanging 230,614 shares, Honey Bun rallied 63 cents to $7.19 after an exchange of 209,359 stock units, Indies Pharma dipped 34 cents after ending at $2.80 in exchanging 3,526 stock units. ISP Finance advanced $1.10 to close at $16.20, with 2,116 stocks clearing the market, Knutsford Express dropped 90 cents in closing at $8.80 after trading 7,421 units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 19 cents to $4, with 3,839 shares crossing the market. Lumber Depot fell 19 cents to end at $2.51 as investors exchanged 354,569 stocks, Main Event increased $1.35 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.35, with 356,770 stock units crossing the market, Medical Disposables declined 59 cents ending at $5.10 after trading 11,339 shares. MFS Capital Partners shed 10 cents to end at $3 in switching ownership of 296,066 units, Paramount Trading popped 11 cents to $2 after a transfer of 4,727 shares, Spur Tree Spices lost 29 cents in closing at $3.48 with an exchange of 186,306 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies shed 86 cents to close at $16.13 after exchanging 700 units and tTech rose 59 cents to $3.29, with just one stock unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.