Stocks pushed higher in trading on Monday to post year to date gains of just over three percent, with the Market Index increasing 22.89 points to 2,725.48 as the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed after rising stocks exceeded declining ones.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 35 on Friday, with prices of 14 stocks rising, 13 declining and 10 remaining unchanged. Jamaican Teas and Mailpac ended at record closing highs.
The average PE Ratio ended at 13.9 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 13 percent fewer shares with 32 percent lower value than on Friday as 9,478,771 shares traded for $18,322,788, down from 10,923,530 units at $27,075,114 on Friday.
Tropical Battery led trading with 50.2 percent of total volume for 4.76 million shares followed by Jamaican Teas with 15.2 percent for 1.44 million units and Derrimon Trading with 1.15 million units for 12.2 percent market share.
Trading averaged 256,183 units at $495,210, in contrast to 312,101 at $773,575 on Friday. Trading month to date averaged 224,762 units at $545,641, compared to 221,421 units at $551,003 on Friday. December closed with an average of 263,428 units at $638,694.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Blue Power lost 9 cents ending at $2.81, in exchanging 15,922 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 6 cents to close at $1.86 trading 13,665 stock units, Caribbean Cream shed 40 cents to finish at $4.30, with investors swapping 7,800 units. Caribbean Flavours rose 5 cents to $1.65, after a transfer of 24,204 stocks, Caribbean Producers closed at $2.61, with a loss of 14 cents, in exchanging 68,474 shares. Express Catering ended 21 cents lower at $3.55, with the swapping of 12,913 stocks, Fontana shed 30 cents to end at $5.40 trading 238,408 shares, General Accident rose 12 cents to $6.37, in swapping of 500 units, Honey Bun shed 5 cents to close at $5.54, with 3,600 shares changing hands. Indies Pharma gained 5 cents to close at $2.50, after 38,684 stock units, crossed the market, ISP Finance advanced by $3.39 to $22.89, and transferred 5,000 shares, Jamaican Teas rose 29 cents to $2.77, with an exchange of 1,444,299 stock units, Lasco Distributors closed 22 cents higher at $3.40, in clearing the market with 118,975 shares.
Limners and Bards slipped 20 cents to $2.62 after trading 50,000 units. Lumber Depot gained 13 cents in ending at $1.59, after switching ownership of 38,266 stock units, Mailpac Group rose 15 cents to $3.90, with an exchange of 798,398 shares, Medical Disposables closed at $4.22, after gaining 12 cents transferring 57 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies slid 44 cents to $4.10, with 31,308 units crossing the market, Tropical Battery slipped 12 cents to $1, trading 4,760,765 shares after the company posted audited accounts showing profit falling to just $29 million from $73 million based on the interim, full-year results. tTech lost 5 cents to close at $4.10, with 29,396 units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
