Rising stocks were in the ascendency at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with trading in 43 securities up from 39 on Friday, ending with prices of 16 rising, 12 declining and 15 closing unchanged, with the activity moving the market index marginally higher at the close following a 90 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 167 percent more than Friday.
Trading ended with 8,027,745 shares traded for $21,682,237 compared with 4,230,099 stock units at $8,122,644 on Friday.
Trading averaged 186,692 shares at $504,238 compared to 108,464 units at $208,273 on Friday and trading for the month to date, averages 163,019 stock units at $346,929 compared to 161,282 stocks at $335,386 on the previous trading day and December that ended with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Express Catering led trading with 3.37 million shares for 42 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.43 million stocks for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 1.05 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 7.42 points to end at 3,737.00, down 2.9 percent for the year so far.
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 three with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rose 20 cents to end at $3.15 in an exchange of 100 units, Caribbean Flavours added 10 cents in closing at $1.70 with investors transferring 80,000 stocks, Dolla Financial dropped 11 cents to $2.60 with 1,053,076 shares clearing the market. Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents and ended at $19 after a transfer of 37 stock units, EduFocal popped 12 cents to close at $1.49 with investors trading 132,596 shares, Express Catering increased 36 cents to $3.97 with an exchange of 3,374,968 stock units after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.51. Fontana declined 19 cents in closing at $10.30 with 8,847 units crossing the market,
Jetcon Corporation gained 8 cents and ended at 91 cents while exchanging 464 stocks, KLE Group rallied 45 cents to end at $2.30 with traders dealing in 118,337 units. Knutsford Express advanced 39 cents to close at $12.39 in an exchange of 2,730 stocks, Lasco Distributors rose 15 cents to $4 with investors swapping just 475 shares, Limners and Bards traded at 52 weeks low of $1.29 after the price slipped 2 cents with 191,035 shares changing hands and Spur Tree Spices advanced 7 cents and ended at $2.41 after 4,150 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading drops, with most prices up
Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 43 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 63 percent lower value than Thursday, 
with trading in 39 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged on a day mostly small price changes and a few of note.
The market closed on Friday with 4,230,099 shares trading at $8,122,644 from 7,401,497 units at $21,829,864 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 108,464 shares at $208,273, compared with 180,524 units for $532,436 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 161,282 stocks at $335,386 down from 165,048 shares at $344,449 on the previous day compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 2.31 points to end the day at 3,729.58.
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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 20 cents to end at $1.90 with investors transferring 1,274 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to close at $19.50 in an exchange of 4,349 shares, Elite Diagnostic popped 8 cents to $1.68 with investors dealing in 2,379 units. Express Catering shed 14 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.61, with 53,300 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Honey Bun rallied 13 cents and ended at $6.30 in trading 1,871 shares, Indies Pharma increased 26 cents to $2.94 after a transfer of 62,259 stocks. KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85 in trading 217,136 units, Knutsford Express rose $1 $12, with 1,112 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors lost 15 cents to close at $3.85 after an exchange of 42,502 shares. Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 cents and ended at $4.52 after an exchange of 11,540 stocks, Main Event advanced $1 to close trading at $16 with traders dealing in 60,755 units and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents to end at $1.59 after 437,366 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jump in money entering Junior Market on Thursday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the market slipping as declining stocks overpowered those rising following moderate price changes following a 15 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a value that was 11 percent more than on Wednesday after trading in 41 securities compared with 42 on Wednesday and ending with prices of eight rising, 18 declining and 15 closing unchanged.
The market ended with an exchange of 7,401,497 stock units at $21,829,864 versus 8,696,982 units for $19,603,907 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 180,524 shares at $532,436, compared with 207,071 units at $466,760, Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 165,048 stock units at $344,449 compared with 163,794 shares at $329,217 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Future Energy led trading with 2.23 million shares for 30.1 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 888,112 units for 12 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 641,782 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of the market, the Junior Market Index slipped 9.51 points to wrap-up trading at 3,731.89.
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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cream dipped 31 cents and ended at $3.41, with a mere 2,000 stock units crossing the exchange, Consolidated Bakeries fell 8 cents to end at $2.10, with 688 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove shed 19 cents to end at $18.01 after 3,030 units passed through the market. Elite Diagnostic rallied 9 cents in closing at $1.60 after an exchange of just 785 stocks, Fontana declined 9 cents to close at $10.50 with 171,795 units clearing the market,
Honey Bun lost 8 cents to end at $6.17 with 1,000 stock units being traded. Lasco Distributors sank 10 cents to end at $4, with 55,480 shares crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners increased 7 cents in closing at $2.48 in switching ownership of 351,808 stock units, Paramount Trading popped 14 cents to close at $1.55 with investors trading 44,442 shares. Spur Tree Spices dropped 12 cents and ended at $2.34 in an exchange of 86,314 stock units and Tropical Battery skidded 17 cents to $2.13 with traders dealing in 64,785 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rose on reduced trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 26 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 10 percent lower value than Tuesday following trading in 42 securities compared with 39 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The market ended with 8,696,982 shares being traded for $19,603,907 compared with 11,812,842 units at $21,832,768 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 207,071 shares at $466,760, compared with 302,893 units at $559,815 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 163,794 units at $329,217 compared to 159,877 stock units at $316,767 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Express Catering led trading with 2.12 million shares for 24.4 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 2.04 million units for 23.5 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 971,348 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 17.68 points to finish trading at 3,741.40.
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 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 76 cents and ended at $3.18 after investors ended trading 27,607 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 33 cents to $3.72, with 2,635 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 19 cents to end at $1.60 with investors dealing in 442 shares. Dolphin Cove skidded 30 cents in closing at $18.20 with 1,195 stock units clearing the market, Elite Diagnostic sank 18 cents to close at $1.51 with an exchange of 9,870 shares, Express Catering dropped 20 cents to $3.80 with 2,117,976 units changing hands. 
Fosrich fell 16 cents in closing at $2.22 with investors swapping 100,442 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance gained 44 cents to close at $2.51 in switching ownership of just one stock unit, ISP Finance rose $1.19 and ended at $22.64 while exchanging 1,435 shares. Knutsford Express declined $1.38 to end at $11 with traders dealing in 1,825 units, Lasco Distributors climbed 25 cents in closing at $4.10 in an exchange of 27,528 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing increased 9 cents to $4.61, with 32,190 stock units crossing the market. Main Event advanced 20 cents to end at $15 in an exchange of 30,918 shares, Spur Tree Spices rallied 10 cents to close at $2.46 and ended with an exchange of 82,607 stock units and Tropical Battery popped 17 cents and ended at $2.30 as investors exchanged 28,150 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on the JSE Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a 36 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 36 percent greater value than Monday, with trading ending with an exchange of 39 securities compared with 43 on Monday and ending with prices of 12 stocks rising, 14 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The market closed with trading in 11,812,842 shares for a value of $21,832,768 compared with 8,711,353 units at $16,041,925 on Monday.
Trading averaged 302,893 shares at $559,915, compared with 202,590 units at $373,068 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 159,877 units at $316,767 compared to 146,753 stock units at $294,464 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Fosrich led trading with 2.86 million shares for 24.2 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 2.06 million units for 17.5 percent of the day’s trade, One Great Studio closed with 1.24 million units for 10.5 percent market share, iCreate ended with 1.14 million units for 9.6 of trading, 
Tropical Battery had an exchange of 1.12 million units for 9.5 percent market share and EduFocal with 1.02 million units for 8.6 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 11.23 points to finish at 3,723.72.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $2.17 to close at $22.68, with 2,379 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging skidded 63 cents to $2.42 with investors dealing in 131,215 stocks, Blue Power rallied 30 cents and ended at $3 and closed with an exchange of 4,114 shares. Cargo Handlers sank 92 cents to end at $13.08 while exchanging 304 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 23 cents in closing at $2.25 after a transfer of 6,758 shares, but the stock still has an overhang of selling, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 30 cents to $2.18 with traders dealing in 1,000 units. 
EduFocal dipped 11 cents to close at $1.44 in switching ownership of 1,018,324 stocks, Fosrich rose 8 cents to end at $2.38 after exchanging 2,862,584 stock units, Future Energy fell 9 cents in closing at $3.71 with 112,460 shares clearing the market. KLE Group declined 15 cents to $1.34 with trading of 30,000 stocks, Knutsford Express gained 38 cents to end at $12.38 after an exchange of one unit, Limners and Bards shed 16 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.30 after a transfer of 26,028 stock units. Main Event advanced 60 cents to close at $14.80 as investors exchanged 25,200 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 13 cents in closing at $1.52, with 211,741 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops to start week
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 119 percent with 77 percent more value than Friday with trading in 43 securities compared with 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged but shares of Limners and Bards traded at a 52 weeks’ low.
The market closed with trading of 8,711,353 shares valued at $16,041,925 up from 3,979,718 units at $9,087,458 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,590 shares at $373,068, compared with 97,066 units at $221,645 on Friday, Trading for the month to date, averaged 146,753 units at $294,464 compared to 140,468 stock units at $285,616 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
One Great Studio led trading with 2.19 million shares for 25.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.25 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 904,279 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 54.46 points to settle at 3,712.49.
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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging skidded 12 cents to end at $3.05 with an exchange of 4,000 units, after the company posted a 64 percent rise in profit $to 40 million for the first quarter to November, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 23 cents to end at $2.02, with 7,382 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 40 cents and ended at $4.05 as investors exchanged 2,223 shares. Fontana shed 7 cents in closing at $10.63 after 73,121 stock units crossed the market, Future Energy rallied 9 cents to close at $3.80 with investors trading 155,057 shares, Indies Pharma declined 24 cents to $2.71 in an exchange of 64,959 units. Iron Rock Insurance lost 43 cents to close at $2.07 with investors swapping 176 stocks, ISP Finance dropped $3.41 to $21.45 with a transfer of 2,380 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 19 cents and ended at $2.40 while exchanging 182,250 shares. Jetcon Corporation rose 7 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 33 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 40 cents to $12 in an exchange of 2,223 units, Lasco Distributors fell 20 cents and ended at $3.90 with traders dealing in 56,178 stock units.
Lasco Manufacturing lost 7 cents to close at $4.48 after an exchange of 58,705 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to end at $2.50 in trading 360,630 stock units, Main Event sank 60 cents in closing at $14.20, with 20,634 stocks changing hands, before the company released 2023 full year results with earnings of 69 cents per share. MFS Capital Partners shed 9 cents to $2.35 after trading in 456,811 units, Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $1.45, with 15,826 shares crossing the exchange and Tropical Battery popped 7 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 528,007 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Profit plunges at Paramount
Profit dropped sharply at the Junior Market distributor, Paramount Trading for the November 2023 half year to $82 million from $149 million in 2022 and plunged from $65 million in the November quarter 2022 to just $25 million in the latest quarter.
Operating revenues declined by 27 percent to $439 million in the November quarter from $601 million in the similar quarter in 2022 and for the half year, revenues fell by 28 percent from $1.2 billion to just $865 million. The company generated nearly $15 million in other operating income for the quarter versus a loss of $3, million in 2022, with the half year bringing in $33 million up from $27 million in 2022.
The company’s management attributes the reduction in revenues and profits, “primarily in the food grade and SIKA-construction segments that resulted from a one-off supply challenge and the expiration of a large building project respectively”. They also indicate that “the technical grade segment which accounted for 52% of total revenue performed one percent above the prior year. The lubricant segment also performed well with a 10 percent growth in revenues.”
Gross profit declined at a slower pace than the fall in revenues with the November quarter suffering a 19 percent fall from $202 million in 2022 to $164 million in 2023 and for the half year it declined 17 percent from $435 million down to $363 million. At the same time, administrative, selling and distribution costs rose marginally by 2.5 percent in the November quarter to $120 million from $117 million in 2022 and for the half year it declined 1.2 percent from $242 million down to $239 million.
Profit resulted in 1.6 cents earnings per share for the quarter down from 4.2 cents in the similar period in 2022 and 5.3 cents for the six months to November, a fall from 9.6 cents in the prior year.
Profit rise 23% in Q2 at Knutsford Express
Profit at Jamaica’s intra-island luxury bus service, Knutsford Express, rose 23 percent for the quarter ending November 2023 to $72 million up from $59, million in 2022 and 10 percent for the half year to $158 million from $143 million in 2022.
Knutsford Express
Revenues for the second quarter and the half year were up 19 percent respectively to $473 million from $398 million for the November 2022 quarter and for the half year, to $965 million from $830 million in 2022.
Profit resulted in 14 cents earnings per share for the quarter and 32 cents for the six months to November. ICInsider.com projects 85 cents for the year to May 2024.
The company generated net cash from operating activities of $225 million up from $173 million in 2022 but ended with cash outflows of $32 million that arose from payments of dividends, purchase of property and loan repayment, reduced the funds at the end of May of $87 million to $55 million at the end of November.
Junior Market ends steady trading day slightly down
Declining stocks whipped those rising on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but price movements were mostly moderate with a few exceptions, following 41 securities being traded compared with 42 on Thursday, 
with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged after a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 37 percent lower in the value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 3,979,718 shares for $9,087,458 down from 7,215,549 units at $14,447,149 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 97,066 shares at $221,645, compared with 171,799 units at $343,980 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 140,468 units at $285,616 compared to 145,686 stock units at $293,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 530,862 units for 13.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to close at 3,766.95.
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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $2.50 to close at $20.50 in an exchange of 5,053 stocks, AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to close at $3.17, with 568,839 units crossing the market,
Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25 with an exchange of a mere 500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries lost 32 cents in closing at $1.88 after 210 stock units passed through the market, Fontana advanced 10 cents and ended at $10.70 after an exchange of 73,847 shares, Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 88 stock units. ISP Finance declined by 14 cents to close at $24.86, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 78 cents with investors trading 25 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 112,900 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 13 cents to end at $1.68 while exchanging a mere 1,553 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 9 cents in closing at $2.03 with a transfer of 4,385 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rises
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent higher value than on Wednesday following trading in 42 securities the same as Wednesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday, with 7,215,549 shares changing hands for $14,447,149 up from 4,153,063 units at $9,236,370 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 171,799 shares for $343,980 compared with 98,882 units at $219,914 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 145,686 units at $293,307 up from 142,018 stock units at $286,189 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.19 million shares for 30.4 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.30 million units for 18 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 851,349 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 26.75 points to settle at 3,768.57.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, 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 three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $3 in closing at $23 after an exchange of 2,386 stock units, AMG Packaging popped 40 cents to closed at $2.76 after an exchange of 23 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 24 cents to close at $2.01 with an exchange of 8,602 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 29 cents and ended at $2.20 after 1,584 units were traded, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to end at $18.50 with investors trading 3,891 shares, EduFocal fell 9 cents in closing at $1.50 with an exchange of 184,967 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 22 cents to $2.78 while trading 96 units, Jamaican Teas rose 27 cents to end at $2.59 as investors exchanged 550,059 stock units, Knutsford Express skidded 20 cents and ended at $12.40 in trading 525 shares.
Lasco Distributors climbed 12 cents to close at $4.10, with 183,822 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 10 cents to $4.60 in switching ownership of 110,247 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.40 after 51,017 units passed through the market. Main Event dropped 12 cents to close at $14.85 with an exchange of 3,517 shares, MFS Capital Partners advanced 34 cents in closing at $2.49 with traders dealing in 1,298,213 stocks, following an announcement of a directors’ meeting to consider recapitalization of the company, Spur Tree Spices dipped 12 cents to end at $2.35, with 37,003 units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies sank 14 cents in closing at $1.55 with investors dealing in 25,501 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
