Investors’ confidence in stocks is returning, with three times as many shares rising at the close of trading on Thursday than those declining on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The market index gained 14.47 points to 2,660.38, just 27 points below the close April 14th last year of 2,686.90 but still below the previous higher close of 2758.76 on March 4.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands, up from 33 on Wednesday, ending with the prices of 14 rising, five declining and 17 remaining unchanged.
The average PE Ratio ended at 14 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 3,708,908 shares for $9,028,138 versus 5,219,009 units at $11,861,927 on Wednesday. Derrimon Trading led trading with 13.8 percent of total volume or 513,583 shares, followed by Mailpac Group accounted for 13 percent with a transfer of 482,322 units and Jamaican Teas with 12.8 percent with an exchange of 474,028 units.
Trading averaged 103,025 units at $250,782 in contrast to 158,152 at $359,452 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 121,661 units at $286,293 compared to 128,304 units at $298,951 on Wednesday, which remains well below trading in December with an average of 263,428 units at $638,694.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than its last selling price and three with lower offers.
At the market close, Caribbean Flavours fell 9 cents to $1.60 with 217,986 shares changing hands. Consolidated Bakeries advanced 23 cents to $1.36 with 1,819 stock units traded, Express Catering climbed 24 cents to $3.74 with 500 shares passing through the market, Fontana increased by 5 cents to $5.46 with a transfer of 277,081 stocks. Fosrich climbed 20 cents to $4.40 with an exchange of 4,185 units, Honey Bun slipped 5 cents to $5.65 with 11,082 stock units changing hands iCreate gained 8 cents to finish at 68 cents with 241,005 shares traded. Indies Pharma rose 5 cents to $2.70 with 8,799 units passing through the market, Knutsford Express climbed 24 cents, exchanging 75,676 units at $6.80. 
Lasco Distributors increased 5 cents to $3.20 with 66,153 stock units changing hands, Limners and Bards dropped 26 cents to $2.69 trading 448,162 shares, Mailpac Group had an exchange of 482,322 stocks and gained 13 cents to end at $2.95, Medical Disposables slipped 8 cents to $4.27 with a transfer of 8,593 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies shed 25 cents to settle at $4.25 with 13,176 stocks changing hands and Tropical Battery rose 7 cents to $1.20 with 91,218 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
