Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 145 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, valued 233 percent more than Friday with trading in 45 
securities compared with 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 19 rising, 18 declining and eight stocks closing unchanged and Medical Disposables ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.28 with the market Index falling for a third consecutive day.
The market closed with trading of 9,154,038 shares for $23,562,473 up from 3,732,698 units at $7,075,691 on Friday.
Trading averaged 203,423 shares at $523,611 compared with 93,317 units at $176,892 on Friday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 162,808 units at $369,487 compared to 151,929 stock units at $328,204 on the previous trading day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Express Catering led trading with 3.61 million shares for 39.5 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.63 million units for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 1.02 million units for 11.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 21.57 points to close at 3,744.99.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $2 to finish at $21.86 with traders dealing in 46 shares, AMG Packaging rose 30 cents to $3.42, with 13,950 stocks crossing the market, CAC 2000 gained 63 cents to close at $4.45 with a transfer of just one share.
Cargo Handlers dropped $1.45 to end at $12.50 as investors exchanged 4,230 units, Fontana popped 16 cents in closing at $8.99 after investors ended trading 34,403 shares, Future Energy sank 9 cents and ended at $3.40 with investors trading 177,701 units. Honey Bun dipped 8 cents to $7 in an exchange of 3,406 stock units, Jamaican Teas climbed 13 cents to end at $2.53 after 5,000 stock units passed through the market, Knutsford Express increased 88 cents in closing at $11.88 with an exchange of 6,176 shares. Lumber Depot advanced 36 cents to close at $2.70, with 990 units changing hands, Mailpac Group rose 10 cents to finish at $2.10 after a transfer of 482,420 stocks, Main Event advanced 19 cents and ended at $13.80 with investors dealing in 18,295 stock units and tTech lost 29 cents to $2.01 in an exchange of 83 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
CPJ enters ICTOP10 Broilers out
With what has become the norm, the markets pulled back to start April from the pump-up end of month prices in March, resulting in varied outcomes for the ICTOP10 and ending with Jamaica Broilers falling from the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Producers entering at the number 9 spot.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Junior Market TOP10 this past week.
Caribbean Producers is the primary supplier of foods and beverages to the growing tourist industry on the north coast of Jamaica and St Lucia, the company is also expanding its meat processing arm as well as retail areas in both countries. ICInsider.com’s projected EPS is $1.35 for the fiscal year to June 2024. With plans for long term growth in the local tourism sector, the company has a B base for growth for many years to come.
Jamaica Broilers although out of the TOP10, is undervalued and possesses good long term growth prospects as they constantly spend resources to expand or modernise the operation.
In Main Market activity this past week, General Accident jumped 16 percent to $6.15, a 52 weeks’ high, with buying interest in recent weeks, being very high and active supply in the market low, a recipe for higher prices ahead and Key Insurance lost 14 percent to end at $2.22.
The Junior Market closed the week with a 17 percent jump for Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51 while Consolidated Bakeries gained 8 percent to $2.19 but Jamaican Teas dropped 13 percent to $2.40 and Caribbean Cream lost 8 percent to land at $3.58 while Express Catering and Access Financial fell by 7 percent to $3.70 and $19.86 respectively.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 274 percent by May 2025, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 183 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 30 and 27 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Lasco companies out of ICTOP10
Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.
There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Big drop for Junior Market on Friday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with a big drop in the market index following a 10 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 28 percent drop in value compared to market activity on Thursday with trading in 40 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of nine rising, 20 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dived 51.06 points to end at 3,766.56, down 2.1 percent for the year to date.
The market closed on Friday with trading of 3,732,698 shares valued at $7,075,691 compared with 4,130,132 stock units at $9,762,303 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 93,317 shares at $176,892, compared with 93,867 units at $221,871 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 151,929 stock units at $328,204 compared with 170,245 stocks at $375,489 on the previous day and compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.23 million shares for 32.8 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 432,820 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade as the price hit a 52 weeks’ low in trading and Fosrich with 222,006 stock for 5.9 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on the 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined $2.09 to $19.86 after an exchange of 121 shares, AMG Packaging fell 34 cents and ended at $3.12, with 500 units changing hands, Blue Power rose 23 cents in closing at $3.23 after an exchange of 69,564 shares. CAC 2000 dropped 67 cents to finish at $3.82 with investors transferring 569 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 15 cents to end at $2.35 in an exchange of 84,264 shares, Caribbean Cream shed 30 cents to close at $3.58 with investors swapping 2,030 units. Derrimon Trading sank 10 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 207,716 stocks, 
Elite Diagnostic popped 25 cents in closing at $1.66 with traders dealing in 1,471 stock units, Image Plus skidded 7 cents to finish at $1.88 as investors exchanged 12,718 shares. Jetcon Corporation lost 7 cents and ended at 88 cents in trading 2,056 stock units, Knutsford Express slipped 80 cents to end at $11 with investors exchanging 2,293 stocks, Limners and Bards dipped 41 cents to close at $1.34 with a transfer of 11,395 units. Lumber Depot sank 36 cents to close at $2.34 following the trading of 181,052 shares, Main Event lost 66 cents to end at $13.61 in an exchange of 39,401 stock units, ONE on ONE Educational slipped 7 cents in closing at 92 cents with investors trading 1,225,460 stocks and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.18 after a transfer of 26,549 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 60 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent lower value than Wednesday flowing from
trading in 44 securities up from 39 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 4,130,132 shares for $9,762,303 compared with 10,446,628 units at $22,291,796 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 93,867 shares at $221,871, compared with 267,862 units at $571,585 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 170,245 units at $375,489 compared to 210,253 stock units at $455,956 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Express Catering led trading with 805,692 shares for 19.5 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 793,618 units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 461,757 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 17.46 points to end the day at 3,817.62.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 rallied 24 cents to close at $4.49 with traders dealing in 29 stock units, Dolla Financial dropped 10 cents to $2.70 as investors exchanged 235,216 shares, Dolphin Cove popped 41 cents to finish at $19.39 after trading 320 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 26 cents and ended at $1.41 with a transfer of 64,794 stocks, Fontana skidded 10 cents to end at $8.80 with investors swapping 129,128 units, 
Iron Rock Insurance gained 16 cents in closing at $2.51, with 76 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas lost 28 cents to $2.40 with investors trading 35,389 shares, Knutsford Express slipped 9 cents in closing at $11.80, with 1,965 stock units changing hands, Lasco Financial rose 11 cents and ended at $1.91 in trading 5,980 shares. Limners and Bards climbed 28 cents to finish at $1.75 with 1,449 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents to end at $1.53 with an exchange of 461,757 stocks, Tropical Battery shed 15 cents to close at $2.05 after 99,901 stock units passed through the market and tTech increased 29 cents to $2.30 in switching ownership of just one share.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market bounces Wednesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered a third of the losses incurred on Tuesday at the close of the Wednesday session, with trading in 39 securities down from 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 15 declining and seven unchanged, following a 45 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, after a 39 percent increase in value compared with Tuesday’ trading.
The market closed with trading of 10,446,628 shares for $22,291,796 compared with 7,214,648 units at $16,008,489 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 267,862 shares at $571,585, compared with 160,326 units at $355,744 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 210,253 units at $455,956 compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 4.31 million shares for 41.2 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 990,360 stocks for 9.5 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 912,316 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 21.25 points to close at 3,835.08.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7 based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years, ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rose 33 cents to end at $3.45, with 6,170 stock units changing hands, Blue Power rallied 20 cents in closing at $3 in trading 236 shares, CAC 2000 increased 43 cents to $4.25 after a mere one unit passed through the market. Cargo Handlers climbed 97 cents to $13.97, with 1,092 stocks crossing the exchange, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.80 after a transfer of 544,654 shares, Dolphin Cove fell 42 cents to $18.98, with 525 stock units crossing the market. Elite Diagnostic gained 8 cents in closing at $1.67 with an exchange of 2,808 shares, Express Catering shed 10 cents to end at $3.70 with 113,522 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun advanced 31 cents and ended at $7.08 with investors transferring 64,540 units. Image Plus rose 7 cents to close at $1.95 in switching ownership of 281,668 stocks, ISP Finance climbed $6.50 to $31 after exchanging just 17 shares, Jamaican Teas popped 18 cents in closing at $2.68, with 668,933 stock units crossing the market. 
Knutsford Express rallied 9 cents to end at $11.89 with traders dealing in just one share, Lasco Financial dropped 11 cents to close at $1.80 after closing with an exchange of 46,156 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.70 with a transfer of 165,200 units. Mailpac Group dipped 13 cents to $2.02 after trading in 84,301 stock units, MFS Capital Partners lost 13 cents in closing at $1.65 with investors dealing in 912,316 shares, Spur Tree Spices skidded 51 cents to end at $2.40 in an exchange of 4,307,450 stock units and Tropical Battery increased 10 cents to $2.20 with investors trading 32,200 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market’s big drop on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gave up all of last week’s Thursday gains but still retained a fair bit of the 84 points rally in the holiday-shortened trading week, following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of 12 rising, including GWest Corporation that traded at a 52 weeks’ high with 24 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed with an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded of 7,214,648 shares for $16,008,489, 84 percent lower than on Thursday’s 37,301,154 units at $98,792,252.
Trading averaged 160,326 shares at $355,744 compared to 847,754 units at $2,245,278 on Thursday compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.58 million shares for 21.9 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.31 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 800,308 stocks for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 62.20 points to close at 3,813.83, to be back in the red for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased 69 cents to end at $21.95 with investors trading 403 shares, Blue Power shed 25 cents to $2.80, with 26,771 stock units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.82 with investors dealing in 1,200 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 11 cents and ended at $1.70 in swapping 22,162 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 15 cents in closing at $2.18, with 102 shares crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained 65 cents to end at $19.40 in an exchange of 3,115 units. Elite Diagnostic dropped 9 cents to $1.59 with traders dealing in 28,332 stocks, Everything Fresh fell 10 cents in closing at $1.70 as investors exchanged 97,487 stock units, Express Catering skidded 18 cents and ended at $3.80 in trading 6,841 shares. Fontana sank 10 cents to close at $8.88 after 27,994 stock units passed through the market, Fosrich dipped 27 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 279,618 units, Future Energy declined 15 cents to close at $3.50 with 362,773 stocks clearing the market. Honey Bun lost 23 cents to end at $6.77 in an exchange of 6,393 shares, Iron Rock Insurance rose 21 cents to $2.35 with investors swapping just one stock, ISP Finance dropped $6.41 and ended at $24.50, with 934 units crossing the exchange. Jamaican Teas declined 25 cents to $2.50 after a transfer of 673,503 stock units, Knutsford Express sank 10 cents to close at $11.80 after 24,757 shares passed through the market, Limners and Bards skidded 32 cents and ended at $1.47 after an exchange of 1,282 stocks. Main Event advanced 71 cents to end at $14.29 with investors trading 51,903 units, Medical Disposables shed 20 cents in closing at $2.30 after an exchange of 3,500 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 11 cents to $1.49 in trading 21,516 shares. Regency Petroleum dropped 11 cents in closing at $2.18, with 228,879 stocks crossing the market and Spur Tree Spices dipped 33 cents to end at $2.91 while exchanging 1,579,159 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Investors push Junior Market into black
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 420 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded after a 575 percent jump in value over Wednesday with trading in 44 securities as was the case on Wednesday and ending with prices of 23 rising, 12 declining and nine closing unchanged and closing with a jump in the market index to close with a moderate gain for the year to date.
The market closed with 37,301,154 shares being traded for $98,792,252 up sharply from 7,170,788 units at $14,644,800 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 847,754 shares at $2,245,278 compared with 162,972 units at $332,836 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 190,689 units at $404,736 down from 192,229 stocks at $408,731 on the previous day. The average to date includes shares of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing up to Tuesday this week, before they migrated to the Main Market on Wednesday. Trading in February averaged 243,917 units at $566,909.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 22.59 million shares for 60.6 percent of total volume followed by Indies Pharma with 2.94 million units for 7.9 percent of the day’s trade, Fosrich closed with 2.47 million stocks for 6.6 percent market share, Mailpac Group ended with 2.31 million units for 6.2 percent of stocks traded and Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.79 million shares for 4.8 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 46.14 points to 3,876.03, up 0.7 percent for the year to date.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.26 to end at $21.26 in an exchange of 5,181 stocks, AMG Packaging declined 38 cents in closing at $3.12 after 5,002 units were traded, Cargo Handlers sank 97 cents to $13 with an exchange of just one share. Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 10 cents to close at $2.25 with 657,487 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rose 19 cents and ended at $3.88 with investors transferring 93 shares, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 15 cents to $2.03 as 530 stocks passed through the market. Dolphin Cove fell 65 cents to close at $18.75 with investors trading 7,128 units, Everything Fresh advanced 9 cents to end at $1.80 in switching ownership of 334,309 stock units, Fontana popped 8 cents in closing at $8.98, with 71,377 shares crossing the exchange. 
Future Energy rallied 15 cents and ended at $3.65 in trading 300,501 units, GWest Corporation gained 9 cents to end at $1.10 with 162,050 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun dropped 8 cents in closing at $7 with traders dealing in 23,012 stock units. ISP Finance popped $2.81 to end at $30.91, with a mere one share crossing the market, Jamaican Teas gained 23 cents to close at $2.75 after an exchange of 562,910 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents and ended at $1.35, with 19,716 stocks crossing the market. KLE Group rose 30 cents to $2.33 with investors swapping 144 units, Lumber Depot climbed 10 cents and ended at $2.80 with a transfer of 366,821 stocks, Mailpac Group increased 16 cents to end at $2.20 after investors ended trading 2,313,996 units. Main Event skidded 89 cents in closing at $13.58 with investors dealing in 6,199 shares, Paramount Trading advanced 14 cents to close at $1.38 after an exchange of 48 stock units, 
Regency Petroleum rallied 7 cents to $2.29 in an exchange of 18,538 shares. Spur Tree Spices rose 70 cents and ended at $3.24 as investors exchanged 22,588,085 units and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 10 cents to close at $1.70 after a transfer of 1,790,379 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 38 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 43 percent decline in value compared with Tuesday with trading in 44 securities compared with 41 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 
17 declining and 13 closing unchanged following the migration from the Junior Market of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing to the Main Market, resulting in 46 listings now on the Junior Market.
The market closed with trading of 7,170,788 shares for $14,644,800 compared with 11,49,682 units at $25,742,485 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 162,972 shares at $332,836, compared with 280,382 units at $627,865 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 190,689 units at $404,736 compared to 192,229 stock units at $408,731 on the previous day and February with an average of 243,917 units at $566,909.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.51 million shares for 21 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.06 million units for 14.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 995,605 stock units for 13.9 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 13.03 points to end at 3,829.89.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5, 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 two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 10 cents to end at $2.15 after exchanging just 3,502 stock units, Dolphin Cove rose 90 cents in closing at $19.40 in switching ownership of 3,252 shares, Express Catering popped 10 cents to $4, with 23,013 units crossing the market. Fosrich popped 9 cents and ended at $2.44 with a transfer of 995,605 stocks, 
Iron Rock Insurance sank 38 cents to close at $2.14 after 45 shares passed through the market, JFP Ltd increased 12 cents to $1.45 with investors transferring 399,930 stocks. KLE Group declined 36 cents to end at $2.03 after trading a mere one stock unit, Knutsford Express advanced $1.14 in closing at $11.94 with an exchange of 355 stock units, Paramount Trading shed 25 cents to close at $1.24 after an exchange of 3,283 shares. Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents and ended at $2.54 in an exchange of 1,060,608 stocks and tTech dropped 29 cents to $2.01, with 250 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The Junior Market bounce
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Tuesday, following a big 94 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded after 127 percent more funds passed through the market compared with trading on Monday with trading in 41 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
The market closed with 11,495,682 shares trading for $25,742,485 up from 5,931,329 stock units at $11,322,870 on Monday.
Trading averaged 280,382 shares at $627,865, compared to 128,942 units at $246,149 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 192,229 units at $408,731 compared with 187,416 stock units at $396,767 on the previous day and February with an average of 253,246 units at $637,481.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 6.79 million shares for 59.1 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 818,975 units for 7.1 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 665,885 stocks for 5.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 23.71 points to close at 3,816.86 after the market hit the 3,856 points mark in the early trading session.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging climbed 40 cents to close at $3.51 after 262 stocks passed through the market, Cargo Handlers skidded 14 cents to $13.97 after an exchange of just 4 stock units, Dolphin Cove sank 81 cents and ended at $18.50, with 17,143 shares crossing the market. Fontana dropped 9 cents in closing at $8.91 in an exchange of 22,217 stock units, Honey Bun increased 54 cents to end at $7.04, with 2,770 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express lost 70 cents in closing at $10.80 with investors trading a mere 472 stocks. Lasco Distributors fell 29 cents to $4.28 in switching ownership of 24,635 units, Lasco Financial popped 27 cents to close at $1.89 as investors exchanged 4,253 stock units, 
Lasco Manufacturing dipped 16 cents to end at $5.40 after 268,980 shares passed through the market. Limners and Bards gained 33 cents and ended at $1.80 in trading a mere one stock unit, Main Event rose 87 cents to $14.45 in an exchange of 508 units, MFS Capital Partners advanced 10 cents in closing at $1.70 with investors dealing in 63,827 stock units. Paramount Trading rallied 29 cents to end at $1.49 and closed a 91 shares and Spur Tree Spices rose 19 cents to close at $2.64 with an exchange of 6,792,429 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
