Stocks were pushed higher on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday to close at a near three months high after prices of 19 stock rose, eight declined and 14 closed unchanged following trading in 41 securities, compared with 44 on Thursday. The volume of stocks traded fell 43 percent and the value of trades dropped 63 percent than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 5,447,885 shares for $6,185,164, after sliding from 9,607,200 units at $16,791,971 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 132,875 shares at $150,858, after decreasing from 218,345 stocks at $381,636 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 222,654 units at $374,366, compared to 227,568 stock units at $386,601 on the previous day and an average of 433,821 shares at $676,565 for August.
RA Williams ended trading as the market leader following an exchange of 2.27 million shares accounting for 41.7 percent of total volume, followed by Woodcats International with 1.14 million units for 21 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 536,154 stocks for 9.8 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 35.43 points to settle at 3,050.16, the highest point since the first week of July. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Trading closed on the Junior Market with an average PE of 11.5. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, which are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, Access Financial increased 30 cents to $19.30, with a transfer of a mere 26 units, Blue Power gained 43 cents and ended at $3.63, with investors trading 10,129 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped 10 cents to close at $14.40, in switching ownership of 12,990 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 5 cents to close at $1.75 with 3,902 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cream rose 24 cents and ended at a 52 weeks high of $2.99 in an exchange of 155,780 shares, Caribbean Flavours advanced 16 cents to finish at $1.34 with 3,162 stock units crossing the market. Consolidated Bakeries climbed 7 cents and ended at $1.45 with investors trading 8,072 units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 13 cents to $1.65 with an exchange of 100 stocks, Express Catering increased 5 cents to close at $1.95 with 13,170 units changing hands. 
Fontana popped 23 cents to close at $6.25 with investors trading 29,541 stock units, Image Plus advanced 10 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $1.90 after an exchange of 197,326 shares, Jamaican Teas rose 5 cents to finish at $2.15, with investors dealing in 10,000 stock units. Jetcon Corporation shed 23 cents and ended at $4.52 after trading of 122,727 shares, Knutsford Express rallied 65 cents to $8.65 with 387 stock units passing through the market, ONE on ONE Educational declined 7 cents in closing at 65 cents as investors exchanged 130,988 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 12 cents to finish at $1.54 with 1,002 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index increased 1,381.98 points to end at 376,605.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 360.22 points to end at 440,538.59, the JSE Main Index gained 1,179.39 points to close at 370,983.96, the Junior Market Index rallied by 35.43 points to finish at 3,050, the highest level since the first week of July and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 4.89 points to settle at 297.36.
Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings lost $16.90 to finish at $360.00, Caribbean Cement dipped $1.95 to $110.00, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell $1.40 to close at $8.33, NCB Financial dropped 98 cents to end at $67.82 and Scotia Group shed 50 cents in closing at $58.50.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading ended with an exchange of 125,024 shares for $875,803 after sliding from 181,985 stock units at $2,539,597 on Wednesday.
Scotiabank popped 37 cents to $48 with an exchange of 1,760 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 20 cents to end at $10.20 after an exchange of 1,300 stock units, Unilever Caribbean dipped 1 cent in closing at $15.19 with investors swapping 931 shares and West Indian Tobacco ended at $4.15 with investors trading 4,320 stocks and West Indian Traders closed at $2.13 with a transfer of just 5 shares.
The market closed with 16,948,175 shares trading worth $132,898,559 in falling from 32,642,342 shares at $342,167,799 on Wednesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.8. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios that are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
NCB Financial increased by $1.80 to close at $68.80 with an exchange of 4,748 stock units, Proven Investments climbed by 77 cents in closing at $9.79 with an exchange of 20,443 stock units, Quantas Advantage climbed by $1.44 and ended at $22.99 with investors exchanging 89,595 stock units. Seprod dipped $1 to close at $79, with an exchange of 115,358 units and Sygnus Credit Investments declined 48 cents to $10.52 after a transfer of 209,097 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transactions
The market closed with a 33 percent rise in volume to 9,607,200 shares up from 7,242,815 units, for a 29 percent higher at $16,791,971, up from $12,972,389 on Wednesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.3. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, that are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
Iron Rock Insurance advanced 38 cents to finish at $3.38 with 1,998,565 units crossing the market. JFP shed 5 cents and ended at 40 cents after an exchange of 126,188 shares, Knutsford Express declined 65 cents to at $8 with investors swapping 9,597 stock units, Lasco Financial gained 15 cents to close at $1.56 after a transfer of 67,845 stocks. ONE on ONE Educational rallied by 7 cents to 72 cents as investors exchanged 26,283 units and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 14 cents to finish at $1.42 with 13,813 stocks crossing the market.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed by a mere 113.68 points to 375,223.62, with the All Jamaican Composite Index skidding 42.17 points to finish at 440,178.37, the JSE Main Index lost 140.40 points to end at 369,804.57, the Junior Market Index put in a meaningful rally by increasing 34.54 points to finish at 3,014.73 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.55 points to settle at 302.25.
Among the top losers, Jamaica Broilers slipped $1.74 to end at $13.26, Margaritaville fell $1.23 to $6.97, GraceKennedy skidded by $1.02 and ended at $79.98, Seprod lost $1 to end trading at $79.00 and General Accident shed 74 cents in closing at $8.00.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
The market closed with 32,642,342 shares trading for $342,167,799 in soaring from 16,506,315 stock units at $117,276,115 on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 2,026.86 points to finish at 440,220.54, the JSE Main Index popped by 1,115.01 points to end at 369,944.97 and the JSE Financial Index rose by 0.07 points to end at 70.62. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Jamaica Producers rose 62 cents to $19.12 after a transfer of 1,552,131 stocks, JMMB Group advanced $1.70 to close at $20.94 with investors dealing in 24,739 stock units, Kingston Wharves climbed 85 cents to close at $34, with a transfer of 11,948 shares. NCB Financial slipped $1.90 to end at $67 after an exchange of 148,740 stocks, Pan Jamaica increased by 48 cents and ended at $42.63 with investors trading 57,095 units, Scotia Group gained 40 cents and ended at $59.00 with investors dealing in 7,117 shares and Seprod advanced $8.50 to $80 with investors swapping 622,078 shares.
Prices of securities trading are thoseof the last transaction.
At the close of the market , the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,049.95 points to end at 375,109.94, while the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,026.86 points to finish at 440,220.54, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,115.01 points to close trading at 369,944.97, the Junior Market Index fell 2.25 points to end at 2,980.19 as the JSE USD Market Index slipped 2.44 points to settle at 303.80.
Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings declined $2.93 to close at $375.00, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $1.99 to end at $40.01, NCB Financial dropped $1.90 in closing at $67.00, AS Bryden shed $1.20 and ended at $21.00 and Carreras fell 27 cents to end at $29.20.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
The market closed with trading of 7,242,815 shares for $12,972,389, compared with 18,292,127 units at $52,757,367 on Tuesday.
Cargo Handlers declined by $1.70 to close at $14.09 after trading of 16,320 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined by 7 cents to close at $1.70 with 760,297 units crossing the exchange. Caribbean Cream fell 32 cents to close at $2.31 after trading of 52,056 stocks, Caribbean Flavours shed 11 cents to end at $1.16 with an exchange of 8,546 shares, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 19 cents in closing at $1.38 with 415 units passing through the market. Derrimon Trading dropped 8 cents to a 52 weeks low of 76 cents in switching ownership of 218,089 stocks, Dolphin Cove popped 45 cents to finish at $9.85 with 12,120 stock units crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic dipped 21 cents and ended at $1.51 in an exchange of 20,428 shares. Fontana skidded 19 cents in closing at $6.15 with 32,489 stocks clearing the market, GWest Corporation climbed 9 cents to close at 71 cents with investors trading 970 units, Honey Bun fell 10 cents to end at $5.99 after an exchange of 6,077 stock units. 
Image Plus rose 15 cents to a 52 weeks high of $1.55 with investors trading 1,106,885 shares, Indies Pharma gained 5 cents and ended at $2.56 after an exchange of 1,046 units, ISP Finance dipped 77 cents in closing at $7.60 with investors trading 99 stocks. Jamaican Teas lost 9 cents to finish at $2.06 with a transfer of 72,688 stock units, Jetcon Corporation increased 19 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $4.79 with investors dealing in 180,565 shares, Limners and Bards rallied 12 cents to close at $1.05 with 148,227 stocks changing hands. Mailpac Group increased 5 cents to $2.37 in trading 10,248 units and Regency Petroleum slipped 6 cents and ended at $4.09 with 8,519 shares changing hands.
The market closed with trading of 181,985 shares worth $2,539,597 after sinking from 11,884,684 stock units at $46,210,950 on Tuesday.
CIBC Caribbean Bank lost 15 cents to finish at $8 as investors exchanged 3,805 stocks, CinemaOne settled at $2.87 following an exchange of 9 shares, Endeavour Holdings ends at $13.50 after trading of 10 stocks. First Citizens Group fell 50 cents in closing at $40.25 with 1,356 units crossing the market, GraceKennedy declined 25 cents to $4.15 in an exchange of 75,466 stocks, gaGuardian Holdings ined 25 cents to finish at $16.60 with investors swapping 584 shares. JMMB Group remained at 88 cents with a transfer of 2 stock units, Massy Holdings ended at $3.42 with 11,646 stocks passing through the market, National Enterprises popped 10 cents to close at $4.50 in trading 85 units. National Flour Mills shed 3 cents to $1.61 after a transfer of 2,619 shares, NCB Financial dropped 23 cents in closing at $3 with investors trading 38,976 stocks, One Caribbean Media gained 18 cents and finished at $1.68 with an exchange of a mere one unit. 
Republic Financial ended at $112 with a transfer of 7,859 stock units, Scotiabank slipped 36 cents and settled at $47.63 with 14,736 shares changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL skidded 45 cents to close at $10 with 16,218 stock units crossing the exchange. Trinidad Cement remained at $1.91 after trading of 145 units, Unilever Caribbean rose 1 cent to close at $15.20 with 5,000 stocks crossing the market and West Indian Tobacco remained at $4.15 after an exchange of 439 units.