Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 57 percent and the value 72 percent lower than on Thursday, leading to 40 securities trading versus 41 on Thursday, with 16 rising, 15 declining and nine closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 1.52 points to 4,093.86.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The Junior Market PE ratios incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
A total of 6,905,892 shares traded for $24,772,346 compared to 16,085,002 units at $88,518,673 on the Thursday. Trading averaged 172,647 shares at $619,309 in contrast to 392,317 shares at $2,158,992 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 246,694 units at $1,033,707 compared to 257,160 units at $1,092,280 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 376,907 units at $1,638,631.
JFP Limited led trading with 1.03 million shares for 15 percent of total volume, followed by Jamaican Teas with 909,489 units for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade and Lumber Depot with 846,346 units for 12.3 percent market share.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained 90 cents to end at $20.45 after trading 645 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped $1.52 to end at $11 in switching ownership of 77,669 units, Elite Diagnostic fell 37 cents in closing at $3.40 with 198,827 stocks changing hands. Everything Fresh increased 8 cents to $1.25 with an exchange of 58,263 stock units, Fontana fell 22 cents to close at $9.62 in exchanging 193,395 shares, Fosrich advanced 30 cents to close at $27.30 after trading 20,105 units. Honey Bun declined 47 cents and ended at $8.50, with 36,486 stocks crossing the exchange, iCreate popped 38 cents to $2.89 with 430,232 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma rallied 10 cents to end at $3.10, with 6,294 shares clearing the market. Jamaican Teas shed 10 cents to $2.87 with the swapping of 909,489 stocks, Jetcon Corporation climbed 16 cents in closing at $1.26 after exchanging 343,454 stock units, Knutsford Express declined 40 cents to $8 after 15,047 units crossed the market. Lasco Distributors shed 14 cents to $3.30 in trading 37,117 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 24 cents to end at $4.76 with an exchange of 2,656 shares, Main Event rose 69 cents to close at $8.89 with 1,000 stocks changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 98 cents to end at $11 after an exchange of 10,159 units.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share fell 15 cents to close at $1.01, trading 2,510 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.