Trading activity on Thursday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in an 8 percent increase in volume of stocks traded, with a 22 percent greater value than on Wednesday, following a drop to 39 securities being traded, down from 43 on Wednesday and ending with prices of just eight rising, 17 declining and 14 closing unchanged after three stocks hit 52 weeks’ lows during the trading session as the market index closed at a new yearly low.
The market closed with trading of 7,176,741 shares for $13,887,774, up from 6,649,966 stock units at $11,415,609 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 184,019 shares at $356,097 compared with 154,650 stocks at $265,479 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 184,939 units at $534,974 in line with 185,009 stocks at $548,626 on the previous day and March with an average of 307,021 stock units at $759,432.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.77 million shares for 24.6 percent of the total volume, followed by Lasco Financial with 1.05 million units for 14.6 percent of the day’s trade and Indies Pharma with 753,672 stocks for 10.5 percent of th volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 36.99 points to 3,412.23, the lowest in more than a year. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer, a positive signal for opening on Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of the last day before the long Easter break for trading, Dolla Financial slipped 5 cents to finish at $2.45 with an exchange of 57,765 shares, Dolphin Cove sank 83 cents to end at $13.75 with 17,874 units crossing the market, Express Catering traded 87,645 shares and closed unchanged at $3, after the stocks traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.41 that triggered the circuit breaker, with trading in the stock suspended until 11.30. Honey Bun declined 20 cents and ended at $7.80 in trading 652,212 stocks. Iron Rock Insurance lost 70 cents in closing at $3 with 2,172 shares crossing the market, 
Jamaican Teas dipped 6 cents to close at $2.29 in switching ownership of 301,647 stock units, Jetcon Corporation rallied 22 cents to end at $1.15 trading just 103 shares. Knutsford Express sank 40 cents to $12.50 as investors exchanged 28 stock units, Mailpac Group rose 9 cents to finish at $2.39 after a transfer of 7,169 stocks, Medical Disposables skidded 31 cents and ended at $1.34 with traders dealing in 10,315 units. One Great Studio fell 6 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of 34 cents in an exchange of 1,765,573 stocks, Spur Tree Spices shed 9 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.22 with investors dealing in 400,685 shares and Tropical Battery climbed 10 cents to end at $2.10 with 107,559 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.