Trading jumped sharply at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 201 percent and the value jumping 301 percent higher than on Friday. The market Index to rise 33.71 points to settle at a record close of 4,485.33 after the market hit a record intraday high of 4,523.62 points at the commencement of trading.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading compared to 44 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 21 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 31,884,375 shares traded for $188,460,185, up from 10,594,910 units at $46,967,519 on the Friday. Future Energy Source led trading with 20.95 million shares accounting for 65.7 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 2.11 million units for 6.6 percent of the day’s trade. Tropical Battery ended with 1.79 million units for 5.6 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices traded 1.21 million units changing hands for 3.8 percent market share.
Trading averaged 741,497 shares at $4,382,795, up from 240,793 shares at $1,067,444 on Friday with month to date. April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rose 47 cents to end at $21.50 with the swapping of 3,718 shares, AMG Packaging lost 25 cents to $3.55 after finishing trading of 216,517 stock units, CAC 2000 declined 90 cents in closing at $6.10 with an exchange of 63,741 stocks. Fosrich surged $5.60 to a record close of $33.60, trading 876,728 units, Future Energy Source gained 50 cents to close at $6.50 after ab exchange of 20,948,044 stocks, iCreate popped 43 cents in closing at a record high of $3.48 in trading 935,802 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance increased 39 cents after ending at $3.60, with 131 shares changing hands, Jamaican Teas climbed 15 cents to $3.75 in switching ownership of 350,251 units, Jetcon Corporation advanced 21 cents to close at $1.84 in an exchange of 444,411 shares. 
Lasco Manufacturing rallied 33 cents to end at $5.58 after exchanging 20,611 units, Spur Tree Spices fell 18 cents in closing at $4.07 after an exchange of 1,206,504 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 20 cents to end at $9.50, with 14,980 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market 29.8% gains beat 2021
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market hit a new closing high on Friday after ending at record highs for eight of the past nine trading days. At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 42.27 points to settle at a record close of 4,451.62, up 29.85 percent for the year to date, thus surpassing the 29.7 percent rise for the entire 2021.
Trading ended on Friday with an exchange of 44 securities down from 45 on Thursday and finished with 20 rising, 18 declining and six were unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.2. The Junior Market PE ratios incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Volume of stocks traded fell 77 percent and the value dropped 79 percent from Thursday levels, with 10,594,910 shares traded for $46,967,519 compared to 46,371,367 units at $228,300,279 on Thursday. Lasco Manufacturing led trading with 2 million shares for 18.9 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 1.08 million units for 10.2 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 1.01 million units for 9.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 240,793 shares at $1,067,444 in contrast to 1,030,475 shares at $5,073,340 on Thursday with month to date, averaging 449,923 units at $1,781,786 compared to 461,796 units at $1,822,342 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
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 rose 83 cents to $21.03, with 4,393 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging popped 24 cents to $3.80, trading 52,828 units, CAC 2000 rallied 40 cents to end at $7 after exchanging 6,371 stocks. Cargo Handlers advanced $2.09 to close at $12.25 after 11,280 stock units changed hands, Dolphin Cove dropped 48 cents to $22 in trading 14,442 stocks, Express Catering climbed 16 cents to close at $6.16, with 18,272 units crossing the market. Fontana gained 34 cents in closing at $11.29 with the swapping of 352,809 stock units, General Accident increased 41 cents to end at $6.40 while exchanging 12,585 shares, Indies Pharma declined 14 cents to $3.15, with 110,478 stock units changing hands. Jetcon Corporation shed 12 cents in ending at $1.63, with 339,723 shares crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing fell 45 cents to close at $5.25 after switching ownership of 2,001,922 stocks, Medical Disposables rallied 39 cents in closing at $6.89 with 15,015 units changing hands. 
Paramount Trading climbed 28 cents to end at $2.04 with an exchange of 151,045 shares, Spur Tree Spices lost 20 cents after finishing at $4.25 in exchanging 941,724 stock units, SSL Venture rose 15 cents to $1.75 after trading 50,512 units. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 35 cents to end at $9.30 in an exchange of 89,056 stocks, Tropical Battery shed 14 cents in ending at $2.85, with 647,853 stocks crossing the exchange and tTech fell 33 cents to close at $3.76 after exchanging 103,068 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
4,409 new record close for Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange traded at a record high on Thursday, with the Market Index rising 9.79 points to close at over the 4,400 for the first time to settle at 4,409.35 after moving as high as 4,457.02 points in the early trading session. Trading closed with the volume of stocks trading rising 192 percent over Wednesday as the funds chasing stocks rose 280 percent.
A new record high for the JSE Junior Market.
The market closed with all 45 securities trading, up from 43 on Wednesday and rising and declining stocks numbering 19 each, with seven unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure in computing appropriate stock values, averages 14. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 46,371,367 shares traded for $228,300,279 up from 15,885,401 units at $60,086,622 on the Wednesday. Express Catering led trading with 34.22 million shares for 73.8 percent of total volume, followed by Derrimon Trading with 2 million units for 4.3 percent of the day’s trade. Future Energy Source ended with 1.75 million units for 3.8 percent market share, Tropical Battery, 1.51 million units for 3.2 percent market share and iCreate with 1.08 million units for 2.3 percent market share.
Trading averaged 1,030,475 shares at $5,073,340, up from 369,428 units costing $1,397,363 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 461,796 units at $1,822,342 versus 426,741 units at $1,621,938 on the previous trading day. Trading in March averaged 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.30 to close at $20.20, with 24,058 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging fell 34 cents in closing at $3.56 with the swapping of 29,136 stock units, CAC 2000 rose 60 cents to end at $6.60, 1,668 units crossing the market. Cargo Handlers declined $2.32 to $10.16 in an exchange of 53,171 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 14 cents in ending at $2.60 after 7,236 shares crossed the exchange, Dolphin Cove lost 47 cents to end at $22.48, trading 57,281 units. Everything Fresh increased 12 cents to close at $1.75 in switching ownership of 439,408 stock units, Fosrich declined $1.15 to $28.05 in exchanging 133,446 stocks, Honey Bun fell 37 cents in closing at $9.50, with 4,661 shares changing hands. iCreate gained 46 cents to end at $3.10 after exchanging 1,077,376 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 29 cents to $3.21 after trading 40,280 units, Jetcon Corporation fell 20 cents to $1.75 trading 186,314 stock units.
Lasco Manufacturing popped 60 cents ending at $5.70 with an exchange of 40,838 units, Medical Disposables lost 50 cents to close at $6.50 after 135,187 stocks changed hands, Paramount Trading shed 22 cents to end at $1.76 while exchanging 552,705 shares. Spur Tree Spices climbed 23 cents to close at a record high of $4.45 after an exchange of 679,715 stock units, SSL Venture dropped 15 cents in ending at $1.60, with 109,215 stocks crossing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 65 cents to end at $9.65 after 29,964 units crossed the exchange and tTech rallied 19 cents in closing at $4.09 with 10,000 shares traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another record close for Junior Market stocks
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 9 percent and the value 12.00 percent higher than on Tuesday, leading to rising stocks clobbering that declining and ending with a moderate rise in the market index.
Some 43 securities traded, up from 42 on Tuesday and ended with 25 rising, seven declining and 11 closing unchanged. Five stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and one at a 52 weeks’ low.
The Junior Market Index climbed 15.34 points to settle at a record close of 4,399.56 after hitting an all-time intraday high of 4,411.48 in the early trading session.
The PE Ratio, a measure for computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.9. The PE ratios of the Junior Market incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 15,885,401 shares traded for $60,086,622 compared to 14,524,296 units at $53,604,474 on Tuesday. iCreate led trading with 2.42 million shares for 15.2 percent of total volume, followed by Tropical Battery with 1.81 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices ended with 1.75 million units for 11 percent market share, EduFocal chipped in with 1.40 million units for 8.8 percent market share and Medical Disposables, 1.13 million units for 7.1 percent market share.
Trading averaged 369,428 shares at $1,397,363 up from 345,817 shares at $1,276,297 on Tuesday with month to date, averaging 426,741 units at $1,621,938 versus 430,328 units at $1,635,995 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.12 to close at $21.50 while exchanging 24,946 shares, AMG Packaging rose 10 cents to $3.90, with 66,261 stocks crossing the market, CAC 2000 shed $1.40 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $6 after exchanging 2,401 stock units. Cargo Handlers climbed 48 cents, ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $12.48 after trading 32,521 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 18 cents to end at $2.74 after an exchange of 29,655 units, EduFocal fell 12 cents to $3.10, with 1,396,003 stocks clearing the market. Elite Diagnostic dropped 12 cents to $3.58 in exchanging 108,262 shares, Everything Fresh popped 13 cents to close at $1.63 with the swapping of 281,192 stock units, Express Cateringlost 59 cents in closing at $5.90, with 355,162 units crossing the market. Fosrich advanced 85 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $29.20 in trading 57,814 stock units, Honey Bun increased 57 cents to end at $9.87 in an exchange of 308,708 shares, iCreate rallied 31 cents to $2.64 with an exchange of 2,418,108 stocks. Jetcon Corporation rose 15 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.95, with 398,430 shares changing hands, Mailpac Group advanced 10 cents in closing at $3.20 in switching ownership of 860,243 stocks, Main Event gained 41 cents to $9.99 in an exchange of 55,877 stock units. 
Medical Disposables climbed 95 cents to close at $7 after exchanging 1,128,190 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 31 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.22 after 1,754,659 stocks changed hands, SSL Venture popped 17 cents in closing at $1.75, with 175,106 shares clearing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 75 cents to end at $9 trading 15,960 units and tTech rose 11 cents to $3.90 after 11,782 stock units passed through the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another record close for Junior Market
Tuesday was another record breaking day on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the market Index popping 35.96 points to a new record close of 4,384.22 after the market opened just over 4,202 points but drifted lower after and closed, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 56 percent and the value 23 percent higher than on Monday.
Some 42 securities traded against 43 on Monday, with 18 rising, 17 declining and seven unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.7. Junior Market PE ratios incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
A total of 14,524,296 shares traded for $53,604,474 compared to 9,311,516 units at $43,681,007 on the Monday. Tropical Battery led trading with 2.82 million shares for 19.4 percent of total volume, followed by iCreate, 1.44 million units for 9.9 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices chipped in with 1.34 million units for 9.2 percent market share. JFP Limited ended with 1.29 million units for 8.9 percent market share, Medical Disposables exchanged 1.15 million units for 7.9 percent market share and Lumber Depot closed with 1.12 million units for 7.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 345,817 shares at $1,276,297 in contrast to 216,547 shares at $1,015,837 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 430,328 units at $1,635,995 compared to 435,831 units at $1,659,417 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined 69 cents in closing at $20.38 in switching ownership of 3,206 shares, CAC 2000 gained 20 cents to close at $7.40 in trading 65 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 34 cents, to end at $2.56, with the swapping of 37,066 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 10 cents to $1.30 in an exchange of 513,167 stocks, Dolphin Cove dropped 40 cents to $23 after exchanging 5,524 stocks, EduFocal lost 17 cents to end at $3.22 with an exchange of 859,952 stock units. Express Catering increased 32 cents in ending at $6.49 while exchanging 11,127 units, Fontana fell 29 cents in closing at $11 after finishing trading 207,790 shares, Fosrich rose 35 cents to $28.35 after trading 151,846 stock units. Honey Bun climbed 27 cents to close at $9.30, with 21,470 shares clearing the market, iCreate dropped 73 cents to $2.33, with 1,442,863 stocks crossing the market, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents to end at $3.29, with 55,131 units crossing the market. Jetcon Corporation advanced 30 cents to close at $1.80 after 823,775 shares crossed the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 10 cents in closing at $5.10 after trading 26,510 stocks, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to $3.56 in exchanging 1,124,459 units. 
Main Event increased 58 cents to close at $9.58, with an exchange of 98,341 stock units, Spur Tree Spices popped 21 cents to $3.91, with 1,339,807 shares changing hands, SSL Venture lost 10 cents in closing at $1.58, with 21,001 stock units clearing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 85 cents ending at $8.25, trading 27,093 units, Tropical Battery rose 11 cents to end at $2.85, with 2,822,833 stocks crossing the market and tTech fell 26 cents and ended at $3.79 after an exchange of 1,556 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops on Monday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with the volume of stocks trading declining 25 percent and the value 3 percent lower than the outturn on Friday.
A total of 43 securities traded versus 44 on Friday and ended with 18 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged. The Junior Market Index shed 21.68 points to settle at 4,348.26 at the close.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.8. The Junior Market PE ratios incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 9,311,516 shares traded for $43,681,007 versus 12,348,074 units at $45,037,672 on the Friday. Elite Diagnostic led trading with 1.2 million shares for 12.9 percent of total volume followed by iCreate with 1.16 million units for 12.4 percent of the day’s trading and Jetcon Corporation with 857,533 units for 9.2 percent market share.
Trading averaged 216,547 shares at $1,015,837 in contrast to 280,638 shares at $1,023,583 on Friday with month to date, averaging 435,831 units at $1,659,417 compared to 451,494 units at $1,705,387 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 30 cents to $3.80 with an exchange of 68,423 shares, Blue Power lost 50 cents to end at $3.50, with 300 stocks changing hands, CAC 2000 fell 20 cents to end at $7.20 in trading 3,548 units. Cargo Handlers advanced $1.05 to close at $12, with 35,218 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cream gained 19 cents in closing at $5.19 after exchanging 61,480 units, Dolphin Cove popped $1.40 to $23.40 with the swapping of 95,344 stocks. Everything Fresh rose 16 cents to end at $1.46 in exchanging 8,452 stock units, Fontana climbed 29 cents to $11.29 after trading 137,061 shares, Fosrich shed 13 cents to close at $28 and closed with the trading of 397,141 stocks after the price hit an intraday record high of $29.25. General Accident dropped 19 cents in closing at $5.98, with 11,000 shares crossing the market, Honey Bun declined 94 cents to $9.03, after 34,453 stock units crossed the market, Indies Pharma shed 10 cents to end at $3.15 while exchanging 400,386 units. 
Jamaican Teas lost 23 cents to close at $3.56 after finishing trading of 572,462 stock units, Jetcon Corporation rallied 10 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 857,533 stocks, Lasco Financial advanced 12 cents to $3.40 after exchanging 62,597 units. Lasco Manufacturing fell 33 cents in closing at $5 in an exchange of 26,238 shares, Lumber Depot declined 13 cents to close at $3.45 with 279,132 shares changing hands and Main Event gained 82 cents to $9 in exchanging 37,940 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
4 consecutive record Junior Market close
Trading closed on Friday with the Junior Market Index climbing 44.79 points to settle at a closing record high of 4,369.94, with four consecutive record closings and ended with a rise of 27.5 percent for the year to date, just two percentage points from the entire year gains in 2021.
As was the case on Thursday, 44 securities traded on Friday and ended with 22 rising, eight declining and 14 unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to determine stock values, averages 13.8. The Junior Market PE ratios incorporate projected earnings computed by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
The volume of stocks traded rose 16 percent more, with a value of 5 percent less than on Thursday. Overall, 12,348,074 shares traded for $45,037,672 compared to 10,631,744 units at $47,631,025 on Thursday. Indies Pharma led trading with 2.39 million shares for 19.4 percent of total volume, followed by iCreate with 1.79 million units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Limited with 1.35 million units for 10.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 280,638 shares at $1,023,583 in contrast to 241,631 shares at $1,082,523 on Thursday with month to date, averaging 451,494 units at $1,705,387 compared to 464,966 units at $1,759,149 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose $1 to $21, after 19,254 shares crossed the market, Blue Power popped 20 cents to close at $4, with 29,889 stock units clearing the market, Cargo Handlers climbed 80 cents in closing at $10.95 after exchanging 500 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 35 cents ending at $2.85 with the swapping of 135,650 units, Dolphin Cove gained 40 cents to end at $22, with 65,079 stock units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic rallied 19 cents to $3.79 in an exchange of 209,048 shares. Fontana advanced 11 cents in closing at $11 after trading 134,843 units, Fosrich dropped $1.07 after ending at $28.13 in switching ownership of 105,699 stocks, iCreate rallied 59 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.10 after exchanging 1,789,801 stock units. Indies Pharma gained 15 cents to close at $3.25 while trading 2,391,948 shares, Iron Rock Insurance lost 25 cents in closing at $3.50, with 3,587 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation increased 11 cents to end at $1.40, with 515,419 stocks crossing the market.
KLE Group rose 31 cents to $2.67 in exchanging 305 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 33 cents to close at $5.33 with 42,274 stock units changing hands, Mailpac Group rose 14 cents to $3.27 with an exchange of 180,175 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 31 cents in ending at $9.11 after trading 40,070 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another record high for Junior Market
Trading closed at another record high on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Thursday, after hitting an intraday high at the opening, with the volume of stocks traded falling by 38 percent and the value down 36 percent compared to Wednesday.
Market activity led to 44 securities trading compared to 42 on Wednesday and ending with 17 rising, 17 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 35.62 points to a record of 4,325.15 after opening at a record 4,371.90. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.4. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Overall, 10,631,744 shares traded for $47,631,025 from 17,123,040 units at $73,979,105 on Wednesday. iCreate led trading with 1.68 million shares for 15.8 percent of total volume followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 937,462 units for 8.8 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery with 885,188 units for 8.3 percent market share.
Trading averaged 241,631 shares at $1,082,523 compared to 407,691 shares at $1,761,407 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 464,966 units at $1,759,149 compared to 484,085 units at $1,817,071 on Wednesday the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial shed $1 to end at $20, with 35,750 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging dropped 45 cents in closing at $3.50 with the swapping of 149,520 stock units, CAC 2000 fell 10 cents to close at $7.40 with an exchange of 1,055 stocks. Dolphin Cove climbed 10 cents to $21.60, with 896 units changing hands, EduFocal declined 19 cents in ending at $3.48 while exchanging 546,443 stock units, Elite Diagnostic lost 57 cents in closing at $3.60 after trading 773,735 units. Fontana advanced 44 cents to close at $10.89, with 100,573 stocks crossing the market, Fosrich rose $2.30 to a record $29.20 after exchanging 198,511 shares, Honey Bun gained 30 cents after ending at $9.90, with 32,555 units crossing the market. iCreate rallied 57 cents to end at record $2.51 trading 1,676,041 stock units, Lasco Financial fell 12 cents to $3.28 after trading 735,706 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 19 cents to $5 in an exchange of 138,845 shares. Mailpac Group declined 15 cents to close at $3.13 units 385,703 crossing the exchange, 
Main Event popped 20 cents to $8.10 in exchanging 113,177 shares, Paramount Trading shed 23 cents in closing at $1.91 in switching ownership of 54,862 stocks. SSL Venture increased 35 cents to end at $1.75 trading 570 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 30 cents to close at $8.80 after exchanging 937,462 shares and tTech rallied 30 cents to $4.05 in switching ownership of 3,800 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Record high for Junior Market again
Investors pushed up stocks to record highs during trading on Wednesday, leading to the suspension of five stocks for breaching the circuit breaker limit on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market in the morning session. The market hit new record highs, aided by Fosrich that jumped to a record $27 before closing at $26.90 after announcing a proposal for the board to consider the recommendation of a stock split and rights issue later this year.
New record high for the JSE Junior Market.
Trading ended with 60 percent more shares with 96 percent increased value than Tuesday. Market activity led to 42 securities trading, compared to 43 on Tuesday, ending with 15 rising, 23 declining and four closing unchanged. The Junior Market Index rose 20.80 points to settle at a record close of 4,289.53 after hitting a record intraday high of 4,316.66. Three stocks ended trading at 52 weeks’ closing highs, with Paramount traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $2.85, while Tropical Battery traded at a record high of $2.85 before pulling back to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.69.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.6. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Overall, 17,123,040 shares traded valued $73,979,105, up from 10,723,885 units at $37,772,473 on the Tuesday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 4.29 million shares for 25 percent of total volume, followed by iCreate, 1.57 million units for 9.2 percent of the day’s trade, 
Elite Diagnostic traded 1.53 million units for 8.9 percent of market share. Tropical Battery had an exchange of 1.33 million units for 7.7 percent market share and Derrimon Trading ended with 1.03 million units for 6 percent market share.
Trading averaged 407,691 shares at $1,761,407 up from 249,393 shares at $878,430 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 484,085 units at $1,817,071 compared to 490,882 units at $1,822,024 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
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 lost 50 cents to close at $21, with 2,228 shares crossing the exchange, Blue Power rallied 20 cents to $3.80 in trading 100 stock units, Dolphin Cove dropped 25 cents in closing at $21.50, with 146,987 units crossing the market. EduFocal declined 10 cents to $3.67 after exchanging 662,463 stocks, Elite Diagnostic fell 43 cents to end at $4.17, with 1,532,056 stock units crossing the market, Fontana shed 45 cents to close at $10.45 with an exchange of 129,040 shares. Fosrich surged $4.90 in ending at a record high of $26.90 after exchanging 693,741 stocks, General Accident advanced 17 cents to close at $6.17 in an exchange of 11,236 units, Honey Bun fell 25 cents in closing at $9.60, with 33,389 stocks changing hands. iCreate popped 32 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.94 in exchanging 1,570,186 stock units, Jamaican Teas rallied 54 cents to $3.95 with the swapping of 4,288,461 units, KLE Group declined 33 cents in closing at $2.35 while exchanging 4,396 shares. 
Lasco Financial dropped 10 cents to close at $3.40 in switching ownership of 2,103 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 19 cents to end at $5.19 after trading 98,218 units, Mailpac Group gained 14 cents ending at $3.28 after trading 382,107 stock units. Main Event shed 10 cents to close at $7.90, with 110,989 shares clearing the market, Spur Tree Spices rose 10 cents to end at $3.70 as 559,615 shares changed hands, SSL Venture lost 42 cents in closing at $1.40 in switching ownership of 524,914 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied $1.18 to $9.10 while exchanging 55,375 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New record close for Junior Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market continues to hit new highs as the market index crossed over the 4,300 points mark in early trading on Tuesday but ended lower as to end at a record closing high of 4,268.73 after recording a gain of 15.47 points at the close.
A new record closing high for the JSE Junior Market.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading similar to trading on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, 20 declining and six closing unchanged. AMG Packaging, Elite Diagnostic and iCreate all ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Trading closed on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 82 percent and the value dropping by 84 percent versus Thursday and ended with 10,723,885 shares traded for $37,772,473, down from 59 575,175 units at $234,063,113 on Thursday. Elite Diagnostic led trading with 1.67 million shares for 15.6 percent of total volume, followed by Derrimon Trading with 1.41 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate, 1.17 million units for 10.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 249,393 shares at $878,430 versus strong>1,385,469 shares at $5,443,328 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 490,882 units at $1,822,024 compared to 515,088 units at $1,916,603 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
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 dropped 50 cents to $21.50 in switching ownership of 858 shares, AMG Packaging rose 30 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $4 after trading 572,834 stocks after trading at an intraday record high of $4.50, following the release of a continued surge in profit for the current fiscal year. Blue Power lost 49 cents in closing at $3.60 in exchanging 246 units. CAC 2000 advanced 50 cents to close at $7.50, with 71 stock units clearing the market, Cargo Handlers fell 85 cents to $10.15 with 332 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cream increased 20 cents to end at $5, with 91,196 stocks changing hands. Dolphin Cove declined $1.12 to $21.75 in trading 171,740 stock units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 93 cents in closing at 52 weeks’ high of $4.60 with the swapping of 1,669,094 units, Express Catering shed 21 cents to close at $6.22 after exchanging 36,254 stocks. Fosrich dropped 11 cents to $22 after finishing trading 10,434 units, Honey Bun popped 25 cents in closing at $9.85after exchanging 11,638 stock units, iCreate gained 26 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.62 after trading 1,167,102 shares. Indies Pharma climbed 15 cents in ending at $3.15 with an exchange of 51,451 shares, ISP Finance shed 45 cents to close at $29.50, with 20 stocks crossing the market, Jamaican Teas fell 13 cents to end at $3.41 while exchanging 489,230 stock units. 
Lasco Manufacturing declined 20 cents to $5, with 158,121 units crossing the market, Main Event popped 15 cents to $8 in an exchange of 18,153 units, Paramount Trading increased 42 cents in closing at $2.18 in exchanging 800,157 stocks after the company posted nine months results showing continued improvement in earnings. Tropical Battery gained 17 cents to close at $2.68 in switching ownership of 503,264 stock units and tTech lost 20 cents in ending at $3.80 after 2,218 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
