The volume of stocks trading on Friday surged 785 percent and the value climbed 45 percent higher than on Thursday, but the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market, just squeezed out a modest rise at the close on Friday, as the market closed out February five percent higher than January and 10.5 percent higher than December last year.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 41 on Thursday, with 17 stocks rising, 11 declining and nine ending unchanged. The market closed with Everything Fresh, Fosrich and iCreate, ending at 52 weeks’ highs.
At the close, the Market Index inched 0.87 points higher to 2,920.35, the highest point since February 27 last year. The average PE Ratio ends at 15.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors exchanged 26,611,809 shares for $45,997,837, up sharply from 3,006,108 units at $8,350,224 on Thursday. GWest Corporation led trading with 51 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 13.57 million shares followed by Indies Pharma with 22.3 percent for 5.92 million units, Derrimon Trading followed with 5.7 percent and 1.5 million units and Jamaican Teas 5.2 percent, with 1.40 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 719,238 units at $1,243,185, a surge from 73,320 at $203,664 on Thursday. Month to date trading averaged 365,365 units at $881,118, compared to 345,881 units at $861,183 on Thursday. January closed with an average of 232,651 units at $569,885.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial advanced $2.30 to $23.30, with an exchange of 31,291 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 5 cents to end at $1.80 after transferring 80,472 stock units. Caribbean Cream gained 10 cents to $4.80 trading 2,080 units, Caribbean Flavours finished 11 cents higher at $2.11, with 68,480 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Producers shed 15 cents to $3.39 in an exchange of 139,589 stocks. Everything Fresh gained 12 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.12 in trading 253,217 stock units. Fontana picked up 10 cents in ending at $6, with 98,494 shares changing hands, Fosrich rose 99 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.39 in an exchange of 63,738 shares, General Accident rose 44 cents to $5.94 with the swapping of 62,170 units. GWest Corporation gained 8 cents in closing at 80 cents after an exchange of 13,568,963 stock units, Honey Bun increased 9 cents to $5.19, with 24,823 units crossing the market, iCreate gained 5 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of 92 cents, with 562,008 stocks clearing the market. Indies Pharma shed 14 cents to $3.01 with the swapping of 5,922,061 shares, Jamaican Teas lost 7 cents at $3.08 after trading 1,396,887 units, Jetcon Corporation slipped 10 cents to 70 cents in exchanging 52,651 shares. Knutsford Express rose 30 cents to $6.80, with the swapping of 721 units, Lasco Distributors gained 17 cents in closing at $3.87 after transferring 11,980 units, Lasco Financial ended 19 cents higher at $2.65, with 43,965 stock units crossing the exchange. 
Lasco Manufacturing lost 9 cents in closing at $4.61, with 26,997 units changing hands, Limners and Bards rose 25 cents to $2.75, after trading 167,072 stock units, Mailpac Group lost 6 cents in closing at $3.56 with an exchange of 694,920 shares. Medical Disposables gained 10 cents to close at $4.30 after transferring 183,901 units, Paramount Trading lost 17 cents to end at $1.32 with the swapping of 5,800 units, SSL Venture rose 10 cents to 65 cents trading 916,152 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 30 cents in closing at $4, with 57,150 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
