Rising stocks power Junior Market higher

Rising stocks closed trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the ascendancy on Monday, with trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Friday as the market closed with prices of 19 rising, 11 declining and 12 closing unchanged, following a 64 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued 58 percent less than on Friday.
Investors traded 2,456,405 shares for $5,558,360, down sharply compared to 6,875,037 units at $13,226,821 on Friday.
Trading averaged 58,486 shares at $132,342, well below 159,885 units at $307,600 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 202,969 units at $447,761 compared with 211,159 stock units at $465,639 previously and well down from October with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
One Great Studio led trading with 551,203 shares for 22.4 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 306,320 units for 12.5 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 272,877 units for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 22.19 points to close at 3,709.40.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cream shed 60 cents to end at $3.10, with just 194 stocks changing hands, as demand for the stock remains extremely low, Derrimon Trading advanced 12 cents to $2.17 in trading 18,830 units, Dolphin Cove rose $1.39 and ended at $17.90 after closing with an exchange of 703 shares. EduFocal popped 10 cents in closing at $2 in an exchange of 43,106 stock units, Express Catering increased 25 cents to close at $4 with investors trading 9,979 shares, Fontana dropped 29 cents to $10.31 with a transfer of 97,904 stock units. Honey Bun fell 26 cents to $6 while exchanging 35,831 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance popped 45 cents in closing at $2.65 with traders dealing in just one stock unit, Jamaican Teas gained 10 cents and ended at $2.45 with 3,122 shares clearing the market. Jetcon Corporation rallied 12 cents to 85 cents with shareholders swapping 1,500 stock units, JFP Ltd popped 8 cents to $1.45 in an exchange of 88,280 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.09 in closing at $11.11after 6,301 units crossed the market. Lasco Distributors lost 9 cents to end at $4.10 after a transfer of 7,251 stocks, Limners and Bards declined 9 cents to close at $1.61, with 9,159 units crossing the exchange,  Main Event gained 47 cents and ended at $13.99 with investors transferring 256 shares and Spur Tree Spices rose 10 cents to $2.20 after an exchange of 272,877 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.