Rising stocks edged out those declining on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, pushing the market higher at the close. The volume of stocks traded fell 66 percent, and the value decreased 49 percent compared to Thursday, after investors swapped just 36 securities, down from 42 on Thursday and ending with prices of 12 rising, 10 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 1,742,399 shares for $5,351,762, plunging from 5,162,477 units at $10,476,652 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 48,400 shares worth $148,660, well below the 122,916 stocks at $249,444 on Thursday, with the month to date, averaging 1,017,894 stock units at $2,477,450, down from 1,082,408 stock units at $2,632,416 on the previous day and June that ended with an average of 186,843 shares at $332,162.
On a day of extremely low trading, Jamaican Teas led trading with only 460,337 shares for 26.4 percent of total volume, followed by Fontana, with 293,850 units for 16.9 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus, 242,679 stocks for 13.9 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index increased 30.38 points to finish at 3,413.16. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close, Blue Power declined by 58 cents in closing at $4.31, with 897 shares crossing the market, Cargo Handlers gained 10 cents to end at $11.10 after investors traded 906 stock units, Derrimon Trading lost 8 cents in closing at $1.83, with 238,342 shares crossing the market. Express Catering popped 12 cents to end at $2.75 after an exchange of 6,026 units, Honey Bun increased 68 cents to finish at $7.90, with 2,547 shares changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance climbed 93 cents and ended at $4.94 with an exchange of 106 units. Jamaican Teas rose 17 cents to $2.35, after 460,337 shares passed through the market. Lasco Financial gained 21 cents and ended at $1.99 in trading 6,500 shares, 
Medical Disposables skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.54 after a transfer of 34,639 stock units. Omni Industries rallied 9 cents to finish at 60 cents with traders dealing in 5,500 shares, RA Williams increased 9 cents to end at 50 cents as investors traded 10,000 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 9 cents to close at $1.64 in switching ownership of a mere 1,172 units and Tropical Battery sank 10 cents to $1.90 with investors trading 104,647 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.