Falling stock prices beat out rising ones at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the market index declining 19.66 to 2,541.81 after 37 percent fewer shares were exchanged, with 52 percent lower value compared to Tuesday.
Trading ended with 34 securities changing hands compared to 30 on Tuesday and closed with the prices of 12 stocks rising, 16 declining and six remaining unchanged.
The Junior Market closed with an average PE Ratio of 12.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 2,855,958 shares for $5,973,002 compared to 4,533,956 units at $12,319,152 on Tuesday. Mailpac Group led trading with 16.3 percent of total volume after trading 466,426, followed by Jetcon Corporation with 16 percent for 457,555 units and Caribbean Flavours with 14.5 percent market share for 413,643 units.
Trading ended with an average of 83,999 units at $175,677 in contrast to 151,132 at $410,638 on Tuesday. For the month to date, the average trade resulted in an exchange of 210,207 units at $589,328, compared to 221,072 units at $624,934 on Tuesday. October closed, with an average of 230,868 units at $535,509.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial rose $1.88 to close at $21.90, with just 22 shares changing hands, Cargo Handlers gained 4 cents to settle at $6.34, after an exchange of 45,000 stocks, Caribbean Cream lost 6 cents to end at $4.07, switching ownership of 350 units. Caribbean Flavours closed at $1.71, after losing 11 with the trading of 413,643 shares, Caribbean Producers picked up 2 cents in closing at $2.36, in exchanging 2,785 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries lost 8 cents in ending at $1.38 and trading 1,082 units. Derrimon Trading lost 20 cents to close at $2.50, with an exchange of 1,903 stock units, Elite Diagnostic gained 1 cent to end at $3.11 after a transfer of 20,500 stocks, Everything Fresh lost 1 cent to settle at 70 cents, in trading 33,136 shares. Fontana closed 19 cents lower at $5.20, after 47,359 stock units crossed the exchange, Fosrich rose 23 cents to $3.93, in a transfer of 33,540 shares, Honey Bun gained 5 cents in closing at $4.85, after trading 51,403 stock units. Indies Pharma lost 22 cents to settle at $2.60, with 76,509 shares changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance shed 21 cents to end at $3, in exchanging 20,492 units. Jamaican Teas rose 35 cents $6.35, in switching ownership of 123,595 shares. Jetcon Corporation fell 15 cents to end at 70 cents, with 457,555 shares crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express carved out a loss of 10 cents in closing at $6.70 after 50,003 shares changed hands, Lasco Financial gained 1 cent to end at $2.65 trading 1,575 units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 18 cents to $3.81 and finishing with a transfer of 10,000 stock units, Limners and Bards picked up 2 cents to close at $2.48, with an exchange of 190,264 shares. Lumber Depot gained 2 cents to end at $1.17, in trading 196,219 stock units. 
Mailpac Group lost 2 cents to close at $2.18, clearing the market with 466,426 units, Medical Disposables shed 17 cents to settle at $4.50, with 246 stocks changing hands, Paramount Trading lost 14 cents to close at $1.35, after an exchange of 49,855 shares. SSL Venture settled at 53 cents, with a loss of 2 cents trading 21,532 stock units, Tropical Battery lost 1 cent to end at $1.20, in crossing the exchange with 341,083 shares and tTech carved out a gain of 20 cents to settle at $5.65, after trading 4,234 units.
In the preference share segment of the market, CAC 2000 9.5% gained 18 cents to end at $1.14, with investors swapping 4,369 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
