Junior Market still 2023 positive after sharp fall

Stocks mostly dropped in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday with the market index diving 62.44 points to 3,995.80, leaving the market in positive territory for the year to date, following a 42 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, with 71 percent lower value than on Tuesday with trading of 45 securities similar to trading on Tuesday and ended with 11 rising, 25 declining and 9 closing unchanged.
A total of 10,060,543 shares were traded for $24,020,110 compared to 17,230,599 units at $84,183,965 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 223,568 shares at $533,780 compared with 382,902 units at $1,870,755 on Tuesday. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 3.74 million shares for 37.2 percent of the total volume, Regency Petroleum followed with 998,836 units for 9.9 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 909,926 units for 9 percent market share. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that fall between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined $1.99 in closing at $24.01 after trading 654 shares, Blue Power fell 44 cents to end at $2.43 in an exchange of 50,000 units, CAC 2000 shed $1.37 to $7.10 with a transfer of 1,106 stock units. Cargo Handlers lost 10 cents in ending at $13.20 with 189,491 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Flavours dipped 13 cents to $1.62 in switching ownership of 5,313 stock units, Dolphin Cove dropped 34 cents to $15 in an exchange of 4,854 stocks. EduFocal gained 12 cents in ending at $2.31 after 34,935 shares cleared the market, Express Catering popped 25 cents to close at $5.25 in trading 32,900 units, Fontana fell 65 cents to end at $8.50 as investors switched ownership of 40,274 units. Fosrich dipped 7 cents in closing at $3.69 with the swapping of 865,091 stocks, Future Energy Source lost 9 cents in ending at $4.77 afte365,816 stock units were traded, GWest Corporation fell 16 cents to end at 97 cents with 10,000 shares crossing the market. Honey Bun dipped 20 cents to $7.24 as investors exchanged 73,077 stocks, iCreate lost 10 cents to close at $1.69 after a transfer of 103,865 units, Indies Pharma shed 48 cents in closing at $2.80 with 19,857 shares changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance fell 23 cents to finish at $2.17 trading 140 stock units, ISP Finance declined $1 ending at $25 after clearing the market with 126 stocks, Knutsford Express advanced $1.50 to $12.50 with investors transferring 7,526 stock units. MFS Capital Partners gained 18 cents to end at $3.04 with 909,926 shares changing hands, Spur Tree Spices lost 40 cents in closing at $2.95 with the swapping of  100,088 units and  Stationery and Office Supplies fell 70 cents to $15.15 after transferring 2,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.