The volume of stocks traded was heavy with a 663 percent surge on Friday, with a 448 percent greater value than on Thursday, resulting from 35 securities trading compared to 37 on Thursday, with 13 rising, 15 declining and seven closing unchanged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 12.12 points to settle at 3,367.03 to be up 39 points for the week as the market seems to be moving steadily away from the downward pull of resistance, just below 3,300. The PE Ratio, a measure that compares the relative value of each stock, averages 13 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Trading ended with 41,113,964 shares changing hands for $73,698,638 well up on the 5,390,213 units at $13,454,101 on Thursday. Caribbean Flavours led trading with 48.6 percent for 20 million shares, followed by Future Energy Source 40.1 percent with 16.47 million units and Indies Pharma with 2 percent of the day’s trade for 816,718 units.
Trading averaged 1,174,685 units at $2,105,675 in contrast to 145,681 at $363,624 on Thursday. Trading month to date averages 244,787 units at $661,267, compared to 177,819 units at $557,252 on Thursday. May closed with an average of 318,089 units at $760,337.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power lost 13 cents to end at $3.61 with an exchange of 13,542 shares, Caribbean Cream lost 6 cents to close at $5.94 in trading 18,826 stock units, Caribbean Flavours declined 2 cents to $2.14 with the swapping of 20,001,191 shares. Consolidated Bakeries picked up 5 cents in ending at $1.75 with a transfer of 62,000 units, Elite Diagnostic gained 5 cents to finish at $3 with the swapping of 246,724 stocks. Express Catering shed 35 cents to $6 in switching ownership of 49,301 shares, Fontana lost 19 cents in ending at $6.01 with 33,979 units crossing the market, Future Energy Source advanced 1 cent, ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.10 with the swapping of 16,472,703 stock units, Honey Bun closed 29 cents higher at $6.99 after exchanging 16,600 stocks, Indies Pharma rallied 40 cents to $3.59 in exchanging 816,718 units, ISP Finance dived $4.40 in closing at $15.60 with 1,569 stock units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas dipped 7 cents to finish at $3.93, with a transfer of 431,601 shares. Jetcon Corporation fell 13 cents to close at $1.55 with an exchange of 70,197 stock units, Knutsford Express lost 15 cents after ending at $8.75 in trading 20,068 stocks.
Lasco Distributors gained 8 cents to close at $4.10 with a transfer of 627,504 shares, Lasco Financial lost 15 cents to end at $3.07 in exchanging 116,562 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing fell 4 cents to $5.41 with 233,487 stock units crossing the market. Lumber Depot gained 10 cents to $3.29 with 509,063 shares changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 90 cents to close at $7.98 with the swapping of 70,956 stock units and tTech lost 10 cents to end at $4.70 after exchanging 6,072 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
