Investors continue to drive the prices higher at the closed of trading on Monday, pushing the market to a thirteen-month high on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the market index closing just below the close of 2,947.43 points on February 21 last year.
The junior market now at 13 months high.
The market closed after an even number of stocks advanced as declined and four stocks traded at 52 weeks’ high and the Market Index advanced 21.83 points to settle at 2,945.98. The PE Ratio averaged 16.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands up from 34 on Friday and closed with prices of 15 rising, 15 declining and seven remaining unchanged. Indies Pharma surged 27 percent to a record high, Blue Power traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.47 but ended lower at the close. Lasco Distributors and CAC2000 preference share ended at 52 weeks’ high.
Market activity ended with 72 percent fewer shares trading, valued 71 percent less than on Friday as 4,093,792 shares traded for $12,580,039 versus 14,753,485 units at $42,656,041 on Friday. Derrimon Trading led with 19.2 percent of total volume for an exchange of 784,647 shares, followed by Limners and Bards 13.2 percent with 540,986 units and Caribbean Producers with 11.3 percent of the day’s trade for 464,245 units.
Trading averaged 110,643 units at $340,001, versus 433,926 at $1,254,589 on Friday. The month to date averaged 244,206 units at $708,404, compared to 253,478 units at $733,977 on Friday. February averaged 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial shed 50 cents to close at $20.01, with 5,836 stock units crossing the exchange, AMG Packaging lost 8 cents to end at $2.02 with the swapping of 600 stocks, Blue Power slipped 10 cents to finish at $4 in exchanging 49,000 units after trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.47. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 18 cents to $2.01, with 18,675 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours dipped 10 cents to $2.20 trading 76,427 stock units, Caribbean Producers gained 7 cents to close at $3.17 in transferring 464,245 shares. Consolidated Bakeries declined 39 cents to $1.25, with 100,000 units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic picked up 10 cents to close at $3.09 in trading 88,981 units. Everything Fresh closed 10 cents higher at $1.05, with 58,259 stock units crossing the market, Express Catering fell 24 cents to end at $3.50 after an exchange of 51,311 shares, Fontana lost 10 cents to close at $5.80 with the swapping of 87,437 stocks. Fosrich shed 20 cents in closing at $5.20 with an exchange of 35,133 shares, General Accident advanced 34 cents to $5.84 in switching ownership of 7,590 stocks, iCreate lost 8 cents in ending at 74 cents, with 55,770 stock units crossing the market. 
Indies Pharma advanced 90 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $4.20 with 427,490 shares clearing the market. Knutsford Express rose 45 cents to $5.55, with 2,437 shares crossing the exchange, Lasco Distributors picked up 7 cents to close at to end at 52 weeks’ high of $4.15 in switching ownership of 125,573 stock units, Lasco Financial rose 5 cents to $2.64, after transferring 3,146 shares. Lasco Manufacturing climbed 12 cents to $4.46, with 23,948 units changing hands, Lumber Depot dipped 13 cents to $2.45, after clearing the market with 176,529 stocks, Main Event ended 6 cents higher at $3.12 in an exchange of 50,000 units. Paramount Trading gained 12 cents to settle at $1.43 trading 1,000 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 96 cents to $5.58 trading 106 units and tTech gained 9 cents to close at $4.84, transferring 21,683 stocks.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share advanced 30 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $1.50 after an exchange of 25,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
