More Junior Market stocks rose than fall

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 32 percent, with 36 percent lower value than Wednesday, following trading in 42 securities similar to trading on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 11 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,522,157 shares for $12,393,874 from 6,681,293 units at $19,409,351 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 107,670 shares at $295,092, compared with 159,078 shares at $462,127 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 197,915 units at $466,274 compared to 203,801 stock units at $477,438 on the previous day. Trading in July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 1.32 million shares for 29.2 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 409,080 units for 9 percent of trading and Future Energy Source with 396,488 units for 8.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 4.93 points to 3,835.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rallied 25 cents to close at $2.52 after an exchange of 2,068 shares, CAC 2000 dropped $1.04 to end at $5.86 with traders dealing in 6,927 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 25 cents to $2.78 in an exchange of 2,176 units, Caribbean Cream climbed 33 cents in closing at $4.15 after a transfer of 16,688 stock units. EduFocal advanced 13 cents and ended at $1.45 with shareholders swapping 372,002 units, but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.22. Elite Diagnostic increased 19 cents in closing at $1.87, with 1,230 stock units crossing the market, Express Catering popped 23 cents to $4.50 and closed with 47,400 stocks changing hands, Image Plus Consultants gained 8 cents to end at $2.20, with 12,480 shares crossing the market. ISP Finance dipped 12 cents to close at $31 with investors dealing in 4,790 units, Lasco Distributors fell 24 cents and ended at $4.70 in switching ownership of 268,731 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 49 cents to end at $5.20 with stakeholders exchanging 216,718 stocks. Limners and Bards rallied 19 cents in closing at $2 as investors exchanged 147,091 shares, Lumber Depot rose 8 cents to close at $2.04 with 18,654 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners gained 10 cents and ended at $2.30 trading 44,020 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies increased 15 cents to $1.95 with a transfer of 146,374 stock units and Tropical Battery shed 7 cents in closing at $1.98, with investors trading 20,003 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.