Sharp jump for Junior Market

Stocks mostly rose on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, pushing the market higher at the close of the month, following a 14 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with 11 percent more value than on Thursday with trading in 39 securities down from 43 on Thursday and ending with prices of 17 rising, eight declining and 14 closing unchanged.
Trading ended with 14,832,174 shares for $31,162,735 up from 13,020,959 units at $28,069,231 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 380,312 shares at $799,044 compared to 302,813 units at $652,773 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 451,257 stocks at $953,021 compared with 454,355 stocks at $959,745 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 3.44 million shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 2.46 million units for 16.6 percent of the day’s trade, ONE on ONE Educational with 2.19 million stock for 14.7 percent market share and JFP Ltd with 1.68 million stock units for 11.3 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index increased 77.06 points to lock up trading at 3,836.50, ending with a minor loss of just 0.03 percent and marginally lower than the close for May.
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 the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.50 to $21 with traders dealing in 14,849 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 68 cents and ended at $3.83 in an exchange of 204,277 shares, following the announcement that the company is hiking the dividend by 428 percent over the payment of 2.67 cents in 2023 to 14.11 cents. Express Catering rose 10 cents to finish at $4, with 650,219 units changing hands following an announcement that the board of directors will meet on June 7, to consider a dividend payment. Future Energy advanced 19 cents in closing at $3.49 with 446,613 stocks passing through the market, GWest Corporation dipped 13 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 46,493 units, Indies Pharma increased 24 cents to close at $2.74 with 355,212 stocks clearing the market. Iron Rock Insurance fell 8 cents to $2.10 with an exchange of 1,536 shares, JFP Ltd climbed 9 cents to close at $1.28 with 1,680,756 stocks crossing the market, Limners and Bards dipped 20 cents to $1.38 with investors dealing in 1,000 shares. Main Event rallied 50 cents to end at $13 with just 705 stock units crossing the market, Medical Disposables gained 22 cents in closing at $2.20 after an exchange of 452 stocks, Regency Petroleum rose 20 cents to finish at $2.38 and closed with an exchange of 3,444,639 units. Spur Tree Spices sank 18 cents and ended at $2.27 in trading 518,539 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 7 cents to $1.72 after a transfer of 2,455,914 stock units and tTech rallied 23 cents in closing at $2.49 with investors swapping 4,210 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.