There were more gains for the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close on Friday, following gains on two previous days, with the market index rising after trading picked up, with 33 percent more shares changing hands with a 48 percent increase in value than on Thursday.
Trading concluded with 31 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Thursday and ended with 10 stocks rising, the prices of 13 declining and eight with prices remaining unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index carved out a meager gain of 5.05 points to settle at 2,539.17. The average PE Ratio of the market ended at 10.8 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 2,268,215 shares for $5,993,926 compared to 1,700,358 units at $4,040,852 on Thursday. Mailpac Group led trading with 38.5 percent of total volume, with an exchange of 872,171 shares, followed by Lumber Depot with 15.1 percent of the day’s trade or 342,738 units for and Fontana carved out an 8.7 percent market share with 198,418 units.
Trading ended with an average of 73,168 units at $193,352, up from 51,526 at $122,450 on Thursday. For the month to date, the average trade resulted in an exchange of 105,313 units at $212,908, compared to 107,083 units at $232,850 on Thursday. Trading volume for the month to date is in with August’s average of 104,426 units at $321,996.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial rose $2.42 to $24.42 with 204 shares changing hands, Cargo Handlers declined 5 cents to end at $7.90 with an exchange of 10,000 stocks units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 cents to finish at $1.85 with investors transferring 48,000 units. Caribbean Cream shed 46 cents to close at $3.88 with 1,010 shares traded, Caribbean Flavours dropped 70 cents to settle at $17.49 with 3,009 shares passing through the market, Caribbean Producers gained 5 cents to end at $2.35 with investors switching ownership of 3,865 units. Consolidated Bakeries fell 15 cents to finish at $1.34 in an exchange of 9,826 stock units, Elite Diagnostic closed 2 cents higher at $3.04 with 126,229 shares changing hands, Express Catering lost 15 cents to settle at $4.05 with 1,400 shares traded. Fontana rose 1 cent to end at $4.80 with 198,418 stock units passing through the market, Fosrich climbed 30 cents to finish at $3.90 with investors switching ownership of 9,113 shares, General Accident advanced 84 cents to close at $7.04 with an exchange 70,269 stock units. 
Honey Bun dropped 28 cents to settle at $4.71 with 38,000 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma slipped 2 cents to $2.81 with 81,707 shares traded, Jamaican Teas climbed 32 cents to end at $4.59 with investors transferring 46,300 stock units. Knutsford Express fell 10 cents to finish at $6.80 with 1,000 stocks passing through the market, Lasco Distributors gained 10 cents to close at $3.10 trading 63,350 shares, Lasco Manufacturing declined 10 cents to close at $3.50 with investors switching ownership of 56,694 shares. Limners and Bards lost 4 cents to end at $2.65 with 48,164 shares changing hands, Lumber Depot fell 4 cents and traded 342,738 stocks to settle at $1.05, Main Event added 1 cent to finish at $3.38 with 3,560 units passing through the market. Medical Disposables gained 8 cents to end at $5.08 with 9,001 stock units traded and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 5 cents to close at $5.55 with 12,340 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
