Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday with a 55 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with 33 percent more funds passing through the market than on Tuesday with trading in 44 securities versus 47 on Tuesday and ended with 13 rising, 21 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 47.01 points to finish at 3,901.24.
A total of 10,975,198 shares were exchanged for $26,988,194 up from 7,078,901 units at $20,254,759 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 249,436 shares at $613,368 versus 150,615 units at $430,952 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 198,397 units at $519,153. December closed with an average of 333,420 units at $925,533.
iCreate led trading with 3.23 million shares for 29.5 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.56 million units for 14.2 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 1.03 million units for 9.4 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year that fall between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $2.50 in closing at $24.50 in trading a mere 58 shares, but supply seems to be declining and buying interest is low. AMG Packaging popped 16 cents to end at $2.82 with the swapping of 14,008 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 26 cents to $2.14 after a transfer of 16,900 stock units. Caribbean Cream rose 12 cents to close at $3.98 and closed with just 160 units trading, Caribbean Flavours lost 10 cents in ending at $1.72 after trading 50 shares, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 15 cents in closing at $1.85 with an exchange of 3,187 stock units. Dolphin Cove dropped 88 cents to end at $14 in switching ownership of 148,681 stocks, 
Express Catering declined 10 cents to $5.30 after an exchange of 500 units, Fosrich shed 24 cents to close at $3.99 after investors finished trading 511,652 units. iCreate dipped 43 cents to $1.50 in an exchange of 3,234,540 stocks, Indies Pharma fell 25 cents to $2.75, with 12,528 stock units passing through the market, Iron Rock Insurance declined 37 cents ending at $1.98 after 4,000 shares crossed the market. Jamaican Teas fell 10 cents to close at $2.50, with 437,300 shares crossing the market, Knutsford Express advanced 20 cents to end at $8.20 while exchanging 1,815 units, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 36 cents in closing at $4.30, with 14,263 stocks crossing the exchange. Limners and Bards dropped 33 cents to close at $2.43 as investors exchanged 30,090 stock units, Lumber Depot shed 39 cents in closing at $2.30, with 323,510 stock units changing hands, 
Main Event dipped $1.99 to end at $7 after an exchange of 216,945 units. Paramount Trading fell 10 cents to $1.80 with a transfer of 14,333 shares and tTech popped 33 cents to end at $2.53 with investors transferring 33,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market declines into 2023
Stocks slipped to open up the new year on a losing note when the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Tuesday, with investors displaying restraint in chasing or exchanging stocks as the volume of stocks traded declined 68 percent with 70 percent less value than on Friday after all, but one security traded amounting to 47 up from 43 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 26 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 7,078,901 shares were traded for $20,254,759 down from 22,282,537 units at $68,002,755 on Friday.
Trading averaged 150,615 shares at $430,952 compared to 518,199 units at $1,581,459 on Friday. December closed with an average of 333,420 units at $925,533.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 1.64 million shares for 23.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 824,214 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 682,021 units for 9.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 38.19 points to settle at 3,948.25.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending that fall between November this year and August 2023.
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, Access Financial dropped $4 to $22, with 661 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging fell 39 cents to close at $2.66, with 4,897 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 shed $1.73 in ending at $6.75 in an exchange of 8 units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 28 cents to $1.88 after a transfer of 228,886 stocks, Caribbean Cream lost 14 cents to end at $3.86 trading 1,023 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 10 cents to $1.70 with an exchange of 1,176 stock units. 
Derrimon Trading fell 14 cents to $2.11 with the swapping of 254,671 units, Dolphin Cove popped $1.88 to close at $14.88 in trading 16,694 shares, Express Catering climbed 20 cents in closing at $5.40 after 22,124 stock units passed through the market. Future Energy Source dipped 30 cents to end at $5.20 with an exchange of458,046 shares, General Accident gained 66 cents to end at $5.07 as investors exchanged 110,279 stocks, Honey Bun declined 79 cents to close at $7.20 after exchanging 7,733 units. iCreate advanced 26 cents to $1.93 in switching ownership of 103,986 shares, Indies Pharma dropped 52 cents to $3, with 7,327 stock units crossing the market, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents in closing at $1.67 while exchanging 204,535 stocks. Knutsford Express shed 70 cents to close at $8, with 5,886 units clearing the market, Lasco Distributors rallied 10 cents in closing at $2.60 after exchanging 186,868 units, Medical Disposables rose 48 cents to end at $5.28 with investors transferring 385 shares. Spur Tree Spices shed 46 cents to $3.04 with an exchange of 57,994 stocks,
Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 65 cents to end at $16.50 after finishing trading of 129,446 stock units, Tropical Battery increased 15 cents to close at $2.45 with a transfer of 607,278 stocks and tTech declined 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.20 after exchanging 31,563 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another week of ICTOP10 changes
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market recorded two weeks of solid gains to close out a disappointing 2022, with the Main Market declining after a promising start, with the market adding 17,123 points in the last two weeks while the All Jamaica added 22,797 points and the Junior Market put on 93 points in the same period, resulting in movements in and out of the TOP10 in both markets.
Junior Market action resulted in Caribbean Cream popping 19 percent to $4, followed by Caribbean Assurance with a 9 percent rise to $2.16, Tropical Battery chipped in with a 7 percent increase to $2.30 and Paramount Trading rose 5 percent to $1.99. General Accident was the biggest loser with a fall of 12 percent to $4.41, Lasco Distributors slipped 8 percent to $2.50 and Lasco Manufacturing declined 6 percent to $3.95.
In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica rose 24 percent to $2.60, followed by JMMB Group up 6 percent to $34 and Jamaica Broilers up 5 percent to $31. The only losing stock in the Main Market is Guardian Holdings dropping 12 percent to $570.
In the Main Market, with the rise in the price of Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group reclaimed its TOP10 spot once more as RJR slipped out after reentering the TOP10 in the previous week, The Junior Market’s Tropical Battery dropped out of the TOP10 and replaced by Knutsford Express.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 15.3, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.2 versus the market at 12.9, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 228 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average now of 269 percent, to May 2023.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 32 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 35, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18 and shows the extent of potential gains that lie ahead for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 20 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 33.5 and 24 excluding the highest valued ones and 22 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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, resulting 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.
Junior Market gains 16% for 2022
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed out the year on Friday, with the market Index jumping 74.89 points to 3,986.44 a gain of 16.3 percent for the year, well off the high of for the year at 4,582 points on May 9 and down on the 29.7 percent gain in 2021.
The volume of stocks traded rose 190 percent and the value 242 percent more than on Thursday, with 43 securities trading similar to trading on Thursday and ended with 24 rising, 12 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 22,282,537 shares were traded for $68,002,755 compared with 7,682,786 units at $19,874,370 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 518,199 shares at $1,581,459, up from 178,669 units at $462,195 on Thursday, with the month to date averaging 333,420 units at $925,572 compared to 323,550 stock units at $890,537 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 259,893 units at $711,335.
Future Energy Source led trading with 3.28 million shares for 14.7 percent of total volume, followed by recently listed Regency Petroleum with 2.95 million units for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade. 
JFP Ltd ended with 2.74 million units for 12.3 percent of the days’ trade, Spur Tree Spices chipped in with 2.18 million units for 9.8 percent of stocks traded, ONE on ONE Educational ended with 1.94 million units for 8.7 percent market share and Indies Pharma traded 1.66 million units for 7.5 percent of the market.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
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 rallied $1 to $26 with investors transferring 83,505 shares, AMG Packaging advanced 55 cents in closing at $3.05, with 10,145 stocks crossing the market, Cargo Handlers gained 14 cents to close at $12.60 after an exchange of 16,268 units. 
Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to $1.80 as investors traded 78,110 stocks, Derrimon Trading popped 14 cents in ending at $2.25, with 164,074 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove dropped $1.98 to $13, with 30,797 units crossing the exchange. Express Catering increased 15 cents to close at $5.20 after 194,582 stocks changed hands, Fontana declined 10 cents to $9 after transferring 145,394 stock units, Fosrich climbed 20 cents to end at $4.20 with the swapping of 1,600,481 stocks. Future Energy Source rose 27 cents in closing at $5.50 with an exchange of 3,284,910 stock units, iCreate fell 27 cents to close at $1.67 in trading 1,155,460 shares, Indies Pharma advanced 39 cents to $3.52 in switching ownership of 1,660,483 units. JFP Ltd increased 14 cents to $1.77 with 2,744,750 shares crossing the market, Lasco Distributors shed 10 cents in closing at $2.50 after 68,844 stock units were exchanged, Limners and Bards gained 12 cents to end at $2.79 trading 677,370 units. 
Medical Disposables climbed 24 cents in closing at $4.80 with a transfer of 4,450 stocks, MFS Capital Partners popped 24 cents to close at $2.84 in an exchange of 487,333 shares, Paramount Trading rallied 14 cents in ending at $1.99 100,000 stock units passed through the market. Regency Petroleum popped 21 cents to $1.69 in exchanging 2,951,679 units, Spur Tree Spices advanced 31 cents to end at $3.50 with 2,183,725 stocks clearing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies climbed $1.16 to $17.15 while exchanging 113,854 shares and tTech dropped 40 cents to end at $2.50 after an exchange of 12,802 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market year end bounce
In trading on Thursday, the Junior Market Index climbed 30.17 points to 3,911.55, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 14 declining and six closing unchanged, resulting from trading in 43 securities compared to 44 on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume of stocks traded declining 18 percent with a 13 percent lower value than on Wednesday.
A total of 7,682,786 shares were traded for $19,874,370 compared with 9,386,191 units at $22,930,537 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 178,669 shares at $462,195 versus 213,323 units at $521,149 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averaged 323,550 stocks at $890,537 compared with 331,726 stock units at $914,708 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 259,893 units at $711,335.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.57 million shares for 20.4 percent of total volume followed by Regency Petroleum with 1.57 million units for 20.4 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 1.13 million units for 14.6 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
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, Blue Power gained 38 cents to close at $3.12 after an exchange of 135,069 shares, after the stock traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.45, Caribbean Cream climbed 60 cents in closing at $4 with an exchange of 6,450 stock units, Caribbean Flavours rose 17 cents to $1.86, with 15,429 stocks crossing the market.Consolidated Bakeries dropped 14 cents after ending at $1.70 with a transfer of 1,667 units, 
Dolphin Cove dipped 18 cents to end at $14.98 as 35,129 stock units passed through the market, Honey Bun rallied 58 cents to close at $8 after a transfer of 102,937 stocks. Indies Pharma increased 28 cents to $3.13 in trading 147,409 units, JFP Ltd advanced 15 cents to end at $1.63 with the swapping of 232,505 shares, Knutsford Express shed 14 cents in closing at $8.75 trading 23,000 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing lost 25 cents in ending at $3.95, with 25,720 stocks clearing the market, Lumber Depot popped 19 cents to $2.64 with 85,500 shares changing hands, Main Event declined 31 cents to $8.99 trading 8,962 units. Medical Disposables fell 39 cents to end at $4.56 in switching ownership of 7,807 stock units, MFS Capital Partners dipped 39 cents in closing at $2.60 with investors transferring 1,125,444 shares, ONE on ONE Educational gained 16 cents to close at $1.27, with 1,569,187 stocks crossing the exchange. Spur Tree Spices popped 17 cents in ending at $3.19 in an exchange of 564,547 units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies increased 24 cents to close at $15.99 after exchanging 8,232 stocks, Tropical Battery rose 18 cents to $2.35, with 150,734 units changing hands and tTech rallied 25 cents in closing at $2.90 after an exchange of 10,411 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors dip first day trading after Christmas
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with rising stocks edging out those declining but the market Index dipped 26.97 points to 3,881.38, with a 74 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 77 percent lower value than last Friday after 44 securities changed hands versus 46 on Friday and ended with prices of 20 rising, 18 declining and six closing unchanged.
Blue Power, Lasco Distributors and Lasco Financial Services traded at 52 weeks’ intraday low.
A total of 9,386,191 shares were traded for $22,930,537 compared to 36,083,718 units at $101,351,606 on Friday.
Trading averaged 213,323 shares at $521,149 compared with 784,429 units at $2,203,361 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 331,726 units at $914,708 compared with 338,982 stock units at $938,826 on the previous trading day. Trading in November averaged 259,893 units at $711,335.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 2.54 million shares for 27 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.32 million units for 24.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 632,583 units for 6.7 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.5. The PE ratios of 
Junior Market stocks are based on ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 46 cents to close at $2.50 as investors transferred 24,922 shares, Blue Power dropped 24 cents to end at $2.74 as 1,588 units passed through the market after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.53, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 20 cents in closing at $2.18 after 6,140 stock units crossed the market. Caribbean Flavours lost 11 cents in ending at $1.69 after 1,002 stocks changed hands, 
Consolidated Bakeries popped 14 cents to $1.84 in exchanging just one share, Dolla Financial shed 13 cents to close at $2.82 with the swapping of 540,840 stock units. Dolphin Cove increased 38 cents to $15.16 after trading 210,424 units, Elite Diagnostic gained 14 cents to end at $3.20 after a transfer of 10,005 stocks, Express Catering rallied 15 cents in closing at $5.05 after an exchange of 5,910 shares. General Accident declined 55 cents to $4.45, with 473 stocks crossing the market, Honey Bun advanced 21 cents to end at $7.42 in an exchange of 18,747 stock units, Indies Pharma climbed 25 cents to $2.85 with a transfer of 3,140 units. Knutsford Express fell 11 cents to $8.89 in switching ownership of 60 stock units, Limners and Bards rallied 13 cents in closing at $2.64 as investors exchanged 2,000 shares, Main Event shed 65 cents to close at $9.30, with 21,767 units changing hands. MFS Capital Partners declined 11 cents to end at $2.99 in exchanging 88,987 stock units, 
Regency Petroleum climbed 10 cents to $1.50 in trading 2,536,498 units and Stationery and Office Supplies increased 78 cents to $15.75 after an exchange of 28,914 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Four changes to ICTOP10
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed the past week some 6,000 points higher than the previous week while the Junior Market ended slightly higher, resulting in four Junior Market TOP10 stocks declining between one and 5 percent as five gained between one and 31 percent while the Main Market TOP10 had six rising and three declining.
The Junior Market Iron Rock Insurance popped 31 percent to $2.35, General Accident gained 13 percent to $5, followed by Dolphin Cove with an 11 percent rise to $14.78 and a 5 percent increase for Caribbean Cream to $3.35. Medical Disposables fell 5 percent to $4.90 and Lasco Distributors slipped 4 percent to $2.71.
In the Main Market, Guardian Holdings jumped 12 percent to $645, Scotia Group rose 9 percent to $34.90, followed by Berger Paints with a 6 percent rise to $10.61 and JMMB Group up 4 percent to $32.10. Stocks declining are 138 Student Living, that fell 12 percent to $5 and Jamaica Broilers, down 8 percent to $29.50.
After reentering the TOP10 in the previous week, the Main Market’s Scotia Group swapped places with Radio Jamaica returning to the TOP flight of stocks. The Junior Market’s CAC2000, Dolphin Cove and Medical Disposables dropped out, following lower earnings projections and were replaced by Caribbean Brokers with its price down to $1.98, Lasco Manufacturing and Tropical Battery.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.4, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 versus the market at 12.6, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 232 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 265 percent to May 2023.
The Junior Market has 14 stocks around 30 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 33, averaging 20 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17 and shows the extent of potential gains that lie ahead for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 17 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 105, with an average of 32 and 24 excluding the highest valued ones and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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, resulting 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.
Bumper trade for Junior Market
It was a bumper day on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded surging 397 percent and the value jumped 356 percent more than on Thursday with 46 securities up from 42 on Thursday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 22 declining and eight closing unchanged.
A total of 36,083,718 shares were traded for $101,351,606 versus 7,255,920 units at $22,249,838 on Thursday.
Trading average of 784,429 shares at $2,203,296 compared to 172,760 units at $529,758 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 338,982 stocks at $938,780 compared to 308,490 stock units at $852,221 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 259,893 units at $711,335.
Fosrich led trading with 18.46 million shares for 51.2 percent of total volume, followed by JFP Ltd with 11.44 million units for 31.7 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum with 1.79 million units for 5 percent of trading and Lumber Depot with 1.23 million units for 3.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 9.81 points to settle at 3,908.35.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
The 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, AMG Packaging dipped 53 cents in closing at $2.96, with 117 shares crossing the market, Blue Power dipped 18 cents to $2.98, with 11,942 units changing hands, 
Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 20 cents to $1.98 after 2,460 stock units were traded. Caribbean Cream popped 15 cents in ending at $3.35 while exchanging 383 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries fell 14 cents to end at $1.70, with 15,090 stocks clearing the market, Derrimon Trading shed 14 cents to close at $2.11 trading 106,868 shares. Dolphin Cove gained 68 cents to $14.78 in exchanging 3,056 units, Fontana rose 10 cents to end at $9.09 with investors transferring 8,975 stock units, Fosrich lost 10 cents in closing at $3.90 with 18,458,647 stock units changing hands. Future Energy Source dipped 17 cents to $5.07 after a transfer of 177,671 units, General Accident increased 30 cents to $5 in switching ownership of 21,331 stocks, GWest Corporation dropped 13 cents in closing at $1.02 with the swapping of 1,824 shares. Indies Pharma lost 20 cents at $2.60 with a transfer of 1,761 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 46 cents to end at $2.35 with an exchange of one unit, JFP Ltd rallied 10 cents to close at $1.55 after an exchange of 11,438,854 stock units. 
Lumber Depot climbed 15 cents in ending at $2.45 after trading 1,231,390 shares, Paramount Trading rallied 36 cents in closing at $1.89 after exchanging 4,000 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies jumped $1.77 to $14.97, with 603 shares crossing the market and Tropical Battery fell 23 cents to end at $2.15 after 296,469 stock passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rises on lower volume – Thursday
Trading activity was vastly different from that on Wednesday, with the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closing on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 87 percent and the value plunging 88 percent lower than on Wednesday after trading 42 securities versus 41 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 24 rising, 10 declining and eight closing unchanged.
A total of 7,255,920 shares were traded for $22,249,838, down from 57,486,327 units at $181,774,492 on Wednesday.
Trading on Thursday averaged 172,760 shares at $529,758, down from 1,402,106 units at $4,433,524 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 308,490 units at $852,221 compared with 317,538 stock units at $873,718 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 259,893 units at $711,335.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 1.74 million shares for 24 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.37 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 1.06 million units for 14.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 32.42 points to settle at 3,918.16.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $4.32 to $24.99 after an exchange of 4,526 shares, Blue Power rose 42 cents to close at $3.16 with the swapping of 1,242 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 22 cents to $1.84 after a transfer of 18,409 stocks. Derrimon Trading lost 15 cents to end at $2.25 trading 145,574 units, Dolphin Cove increased 45 cents in closing at $14.10, with 56,034 stocks crossing the market, EduFocal rallied 5 cents in closing at $2.35 after trading of 139,892 units. Elite Diagnostic shed 29 cents to end at $3.04 as investors exchanged 1,787 stock units, 
Express Catering fell 15 cents to $4.90 after an exchange of 4,274 shares, Fontana popped 9 cents to close at $8.99 in trading 20,871 stocks. Fosrich gained 15 cents in ending at $4, with 631,593 units changing hands, Future Energy Source rallied 40 cents to $5.24 after investors traded 1,057,241 shares, General Accident popped 30 cents to end at $4.70 in switching ownership of 15,630 stock units. iCreate gained 8 cents to $1.95 as 83,680 stocks passed through the market, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 50 cents in closing at $1.89 with 100 units changing hands, JFP Ltd dipped 10 cents to close at $1.45 with 210,869 shares clearing the market. Knutsford Express advanced $1 in closing at $9 after trading of 208 stock units, Lasco Financial increased 8 cents to end at $2.88 after trading 5,169 units, Limners and Bards declined 8 cents to end at $2.43 with a transfer of 16,688 stock units. Main Event rose 39 cents to close at $9.99 after an exchange of 4,600 shares, Medical Disposables climbed 47 cents to $4.99 after exchanging 14,246 stocks, MFS Capital Partners gained 19 cents to end at $3.19 while 139,444 stock units passed through the market. 
Spur Tree Spices rose 5 cents to $3.01 with an exchange of 131,576 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 80 cents in closing at $13.20 after a transfer of 500 units and Tropical Battery climbed 5 cents to close at $2.38 as 235,024 shares were traded.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share increased 8 cents in ending at $1.17 as 20 stocks crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps for Junior Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Index jumped 67.01 points to 3,885.74 at the close of trading on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 160 percent more than on Tuesday with the value up 148 percent following the trading of 41 securities versus 43 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 15 rising, 14 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
The volume of stocks traded jumped from 22,074,785 shares to 57,486,327 units on Wednesday at a value of $181,774,492 up from $73,296,318 on Tuesday.
Trading on Wednesday averaged 1,402,106 shares at $4,433,524 compared to 513,367 units at $1,704,566 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 317,538 units at $873,718 versus 242,042 stock units at $625,922 on the previous day. Trading in November averaged 259,89 units at $711,335.
Fosrich led trading with 33.71 million shares with a value of $133 million for 58.6 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 12.63 million units for 22 percent of the day’s trade, Derrimon Trading with 4.05 million units for 7 percent market share, 
Regency Petroleum with 2.73 million units for 4.8 percent of the market trades and Future Energy Source with 1.08 million units for 1.9 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year endings that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial lost 43 cents to $20.67, with 1,414 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging climbed 44 cents to end at $3.49 as investors exchanged a mere 28 units, 
Derrimon Trading gained 28 cents in closing at $2.40 after 4,052,243 stocks crossed the market. EduFocal dropped 7 cents to $2.30 after a transfer of 25,568 stock units, Fontana shed 10 cents to end at $8.90 and traded 52,822 stock units, Fosrich rallied 5 cents in ending at $3.85 with a transfer of 33,707,094 shares, Future Energy Source rose 13 cents to close at $4.84 after an exchange of 1,079,496 stock units, Honey Bun rallied 22 cents to $7.22 after a transfer of 16,793 stocks. iCreate dropped 24 cents in closing at $1.87 and exchanging 42,550 units, Lasco Distributors lost 5 cents to close at $2.80 with 365,272 units changing hands, Lasco Financial declined 9 cents in closing at $2.80 as investors exchanged 34,650 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing advanced 25 cents to end at $4.20, with 10,295 shares crossing the market, Limners and Bards gained 11 cents in ending at $2.51 with an exchange of 40,773 stock units. 
MFS Capital Partners popped 64 cents to close at $3 in trading 110,688 units, Spur Tree Spices fell 14 cents to $2.96 after 282,184 shares crossed the exchange and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied $1 to end at $14 with the swapping of 22,328 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.