Rising stocks were dominant at the end of trading on Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange one day after Jamaica’s general election was held with the governing party retaining power. At the close on Friday, stocks enjoyed modest gains for the third consecutive day after 61 percent fewer shares traded than on Thursday.
Trading ended with 28 securities changing hands compared to 31 on Thursday and ended with the prices of 12 stocks rising, the prices of eight declining and eight, with remaining unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 12.62 points to settle at 2,469.98, the average PE Ratio of the market ended at 10 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,643,360 shares for $5,533,060 compared to 4,265,667 shares for $9,982,025 on Thursday.
Mailpac Group led trading with 865,762 shares for 52.7 percent of total volume, followed by Lasco Financial with 140,446 units for 8.6 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Flavours with 118,584 units for 7.2 percent market share.
Trading ended with an average of 58,691 units at $197,609 in contrast to 137,142 units at $322,001 on Thursday. For the month to date, the average trade resulted in an exchange of 83,389 units at $246,517, in comparison to 90,668 units at $260,932 to Thursday. Trading in August resulted in an average of 104,426 units at $321,996.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial rose 1 cent to settle at $20.97 with 7 stock units traded, AMG Packaging gained 14 cents to end at $1.70 in an exchange of 100 stock units, Blue Power fell 22 cents to finish at $3.10 with 4,198 units changing hands. Caribbean Flavours jumped 50 cents to close at $18.50 with investors transferring 118,584 stock units, Caribbean Producers slipped 1 cent to $2.39 with 19,000 stocks traded, Elite Diagnostic added 1 cent to settle at $3.06 with investors switching ownership of 2,930 shares. Everything Fresh declined by 5 cents to end at 65 cents in an exchange of 37,527 stock units, Fontana gained 2 cents in to close at $4.73 with 40,975 stocks changing hands, Fosrich advanced 10 cents to finish at $4 with investors transferring 13,761 stock units. General Accident increased by 2 cents to settle at $6.42 after trading 512 shares, 
GWest Corporation fell 19 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 56 cents with an exchange of 112,000 stock units, Indies Pharma dropped 21 cents to end at $2.63 with investors switching the ownership of 95,088 stocks. Jetcon Corporation rose 3 cents to finish at 83 cents with 31,162 units changing hands, Lasco Distributors closed 2 cents higher at $3.12 with 11,000 stock units traded, Lasco Financial dropped 9 cents to end at $2.06 with investors transferring 140,446 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing climbed 18 cents to finish at $3.79 in an exchange of 2,176 shares, Mailpac Group gained 14 cents to settle at $2.14, trading 865,762 units, Medical Disposables added 10 cents in closing at $4.99 with 12,387 stocks changing hands. SSL Venture declined by 11 cents to finish at 75 cents with 8,084 units trading and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 4 cents to end at $5.61 after with 9,986 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
