The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday, with the market declining after slightly more stocks rose than fell after 78 percent more shares traded than Thursday.
Trading resulted in the same number of securities on Thursday and Friday changing hands with 31 each day and closed with the prices of 13 stocks rising, 11 declining and seven remaining unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 11.17 points to settle at 2,497.10. The average PE Ratio of ended at 10.6 based on IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 3,117,697 shares for $4,670,235 compared to 1,750,144 units at $6,183,716 on Thursday. Lumber Depot led trading with 80 percent of total volume after 2.50 million shares changed hands, followed by Mailpac Group with 7.2 percent or 223,047 units and General Accident with 70,442 units for 2.3 percent market share.
Trading ended with an average of 100,571 units at $150,653 compared to 56,456 at $199,475 on Thursday. For the month to date, the average trade resulted in an exchange of 104,252 units at $235,332 compared to 104,530 units at $241,734 on 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 four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial gained 44 cents to settle at $22, in an exchange of 4,740 shares, AMG Packaging lost 1 cent to close at $1.79 trading 600 units, Blue Power rose 9 cents to $3.59 while exchanging 100 stock units. Cargo Handlers dropped $1.34 to $6.16, in transferring 1,000 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 1 cent and ended at $1.93 with 6,276 stock units crossing the exchange. Caribbean Producers closed at $2.35, after gaining 3 cents trading 500 shares, Consolidated Bakeries ended 14 cents higher at $1.49, with 3,513 stock units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 23 cents to finish at $3.05, with 5,000 units crossing the exchange. Express Catering gained 10 cents in clearing the market with 8,156 stocks to end at $4.30, Fontana lost 5 cents to settle at $4.70, after 32,958 shares crossed the exchange, Fosrich finished 31 cents higher at $3.95, in exchanging 16,662 stock units. Honey Bun slipped 9 cents to $5, with 2,200 units passing through the market, iCreate lost 6 cents to end at 62 cents and clearing the market with 62,218 shares, Indies Pharma rose 9 cents in closing at $2.84 while trading 1,903 stock units. 
Iron Rock Insurance gained 12 cents to settle at $3, with an exchange of 6,681 units, ISP Finance dropped $3 to $12 with 100 shares clearing the market, Knutsford Express gained 5 cents to close at $6.90 with an exchange of 4,334 stock units. Lasco Distributors lost 7 cents, finishing at $3, exchanging 48,120 shares, Lasco Manufacturing shed 13 cents to settle at $3.52, in trading 49,975 stocks, Limners and Bards fell by 13 cents to end at $2.57, in exchanging 43,120 shares. Lumber Depot gained 5 cents to close at $1.09, in finishing with a transfer of 2,495,326 stock units, Mailpac Group rose 2 cents to settle at $2.08 trading 223,047 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 2 cents in closing at $5.58, with investors switching ownership of 10 stocks.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000, 9.5% preference shares gained 1 cent to close at $1.02 with 18 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
