New Junior Market record close

Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Monday, with the volume of stocks traded more than twice that on Friday with a 107 percent increase after the value jumped 100 percent and resulted in slightly more stocks rising than declining.
All 45 listed securities traded, up from 44 on Friday, with 20 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The Junior Market Index advanced 45.26 points to a record close of 4,582.41 after the market opened at a record high of 4,613.31, with the market index rising 33.70 percent to date, surpassing the full year gains of 29.75 percent in 2021.
The PE Ratio, a measure in computing appropriate stock values, averages 14. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 38,331,981 shares traded for $155,216,877 up from 18,509,529 units at $77,694,953 on the Friday. Derrimon Trading led with 13.47 million shares for 35.1 percent of total volume, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 10.35 million units for 27 percent of the day’s trade, JFP Limited ended with 3.54 million units for 9.2 percent market share. Tropical Battery closed trading with 2.34 million units  for 6.1 percent market share, Lumber Depot contributed 1.46 million units for 3.8 percent market share and EduFocal, 1.31 million units for 3.4 percent market share.
Trading averaged 851,822 shares at $3,449,264 in contrast to 420,671 shares at $1,765,794 on Friday with month to date, averaging 495,602 units at $2,356,219 compared to 420,345 units at $2,125,294 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial shed 20 cents to close at $25.50, with 3,890 shares clearing the market, Cargo Handlers rallied $1.50 to a 52 weeks’ high of $14 in exchanging 44,307 stock units, Derrimon Trading popped 10 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.21 after 13,469,757 units crossed the market. Dolphin Cove advanced 51 cents in closing at $22.50 after exchanging 333,111 stocks, EduFocal gained 32 cents to end at $3.80 after an exchange of 1,307,069 shares, Elite Diagnostic declined 10 cents to $3.80, with 400,199 stock units crossing the market. Express Catering fell 10 cents to $6.08 while exchanging 144,623 units, Fontana rose 20 cents in closing at $11.15 with an exchange of 350,945 stocks, Fosrich surged $2.42 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $35.41, with 508,542 units changing hands after the price hit an all-time high of $38. iCreate dropped 22 cents to end at $3.23 after exchanging 535,733 shares, Iron Rock Insurance climbed 28 cents in ending at $3.50 with the swapping of 2,122 stocks, ISP Finance lost $5 to close at $22 in an exchange of 214 stock units. JFP Limited gained 13 cents to $1.46 in trading 3,542,705 shares, Knutsford Express climbed 35 cents to $8 after trading 8,250 stock units, Lasco Financial dropped 17 cents to end at $3.29 in switching ownership of 209,362 units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 25 cents to $5.10, with 5,444 stocks crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot shed 20 cents in closing at $3.25, trading 1,460,226 stock units, Main Event fell 55 cents to close at $9.40, with 12,026 shares changing hands. Medical Disposables lost 10 cents to end at $6.90 after exchanging 12,118 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 27 cents to $4.26, crossing the exchange of 10,348,476 stocks, SSL Venture popped 12 cents ending at $1.80, with 32,701 shares clearing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 20 cents in closing at $9.30, with 6,075 stocks crossing the market, Tropical Battery rallied 21 cents to close at $2.95 in exchanging 2,335,013 units and tTech fell 10 cents to end at $3.80, trading 675 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.