More recovery for Junior Market

Trading closed the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday, with the market index recording its fifth straight day of gains following last week’s 226 points fall in three days after hitting an all-time record high and ended on Wednesday after the volume of stocks traded declining 63 percent below Tuesday’s level less as the value of stock traded dropped 47 percent and leaving stocks rising and falling almost sharing the honours equally.
The number of securities trading remains elevated as all 43 participated in market activity as was the case on Tuesday and ended with 15 rising, 16 declining and 12, closing unchanged. At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 43.38 points to settle at 3,983.90.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 19.6. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 4,440,089 shares traded for $19,969,265 compared to 12,058,347 units at $37,852,476 on the previous day. Spur Tree Spices led trading with 905,497 shares for 20.4 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 651,383 units for 14.7 percent of the day’s trade and Lumber Depot with 352,455 units for 7.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 103,258 shares at $464,402 in contrast to 280,427 shares at $880,290 on Tuesday and month to date, averaging 381,857 units at $1,442,591, compared to 399,658 units at $1,505,090 on previous day. January closed with an average of 319,395 units at $1,181,136.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 74 cents to $19.96, with 638 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging declined 38 cents to close at $3.06 in an exchange of 172,110 stocks, Blue Power increased 38 cents after ending at $4 in switching ownership of 42,500 stock units. Cargo Handlers lost 10 cents to close at $7.60 after exchanging 31,503 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 25 cents to end at $3.25, with 48,628 stock units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cream climbed 45 cents to close at $5.30 after trading 1,108 stocks. Dolphin Cove advanced 50 cents to end at $28.94 after 141,641 shares crossed the market, Express Catering popped 19 cents to $6.19 trading 56,396 units, Honey Bun dropped 15 cents after ending at $9.70, with 38,064 shares clearing the market. ISP Finance shed $2.20 in closing at $30 finishing after an exchange of 11 units, Knutsford Express lost 17 cents in closing at $7.80 after exchanging 569 stock units, Lasco Distributors shed 19 cents to end at $3.70 in an exchange of 44,038 stocks. Limners and Bards gained 23 cents to close at $3.74, with 5,615 stocks crossing the market, Main Event rose 19 cents to $5.30 in trading 3,176 stock units, Spur Tree Spices traded  905,497 shares and rose 7 cents to close at a record closing high of $3.28 and tTech declined 20 cents to $4.15 while exchanging 66,030 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.