More fall for Junior market

Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Tuesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining by 38 percent and the value falling 35 percent from Monday’s trades as investors’ interest in buying stocks waned, sending the market into further decline for the week to date.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading, down from 45 on Monday and ended with 15 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 36.97 points to settle at 4,374.73 and is down 7 percent from the market’s peak last week.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 13,653,490 shares traded for $48,511,390 compared to 21,953,604 units at $74,776,818 on the Monday. Trading averaged 317,523 shares at $1,128,172 down from 487,858 shares at $1,661,707 on Monday with month to date, averaging 470,540 units at $2,063,823 compared to 484,277 units at $2,147,816 on Monday the previous trading day. April ended with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
JFP Limited led trading with 3.69 million shares for 27 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 1.97 million units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade, Mailpac Group traded 1.90 million units for 13.9 percent of market share. Spur Tree Spices ended with 1.78 million units for a 13 percent market share and Tropical Battery with 1.24 million units for a 9.1 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $1.85 to $23.33 after exchanging 1,015 shares, AMG Packaging declined 20 cents to $3.50 while trading 90,887 stocks, Blue Power fell 25 cents in closing at $3.70 with the swapping of 162 units. Cargo Handlers dropped 82 cents to end at $10.93 after trading 845 stock units, Caribbean Cream lost 30 cents to close at $4.90 after 30,250 units crossed the exchange, Dolphin Cove climbed 89 cents in closing at $20.70 in switching ownership of 12,082 shares. Elite Diagnostic rose 40 cents to $4.15 with an exchange of 238,300 stocks, Fontana shed 48 cents ending at $10.50 in trading 80,397 stock units, Fosrich shed 79 cents to close at $29.99, with 91,153 stock units changing hands. Future Energy Source declined 42 cents to $5.89 after 1,973,947 units crossed the market, ISP Finance gained $1.43 to close at $29.50 trading 31 stocks, Jamaican Teas rallied 11 cents in closing at $3.48 while trading 455,898 shares. Jetcon Corporation popped 13 cents to $1.55, with 68,666 units crossing the market, JFP Limited lost 15 cents to end at $1.54 in exchanging 3,691,107 shares, Knutsford Express dropped 20 cents in ending at $7.60, with 3,000 stock units clearing the market. Lasco Distributors fell 17 cents in closing at $3.33 after exchanging 119,173 stocks, Main Event fell 74 cents to close at $8.26 after an exchange of 95,412 stocks, Medical Disposables increased 85 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $8.40, with 98,567 stock units changing hands. Spur Tree Spices dropped 22 cents in ending at $3.78 after 1,780,721 units crossed the market, Stationery and Office Supplies increased 50 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $13.50 in switching ownership of 52,406 shares and tTech rallied 15 cents to $3.65, with 12,050 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share climbed 15 cents to close at $1.15, with an exchange of 493 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.