Trading activity jumped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a 1,282 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded. A big jump in the shares of ONE on ONE Educational passed through the market as investors exchanged 40.07 million of the company’s shares, accounting for 65.5 percent of total volume and Lasco Financial ended with 8.07 million stocks for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade.
The value of stocks traded on the market climbed by 763 percent over Monday, with 46 securities traded, the same amount as Monday and ended with prices of 20 rising, 14 declining, and 12 closing firm.
Jamaican Teas closed with 3.39 million stocks for 5.5 percent of the volume traded followed by Lumber Depot with 2.58 million units for 4.2 percent of the day’s trade, Omni Industries ended with 1.37 million units for 2.2 percent of the market share and Derrimon Trading with 1.28 million units for 2.1 percent of market share.
Trading amassed 61,169,519 shares for $88,035,908 up from only 4,427,056 units at $10,204,392 on Monday. Trading for the day averaged 1,329,772 shares at $1,913,824 well above the 96,240 stocks that were exchanged at $221,835 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 332,851 units at $590,709 compared to 275,168 stock units at $514,151 on the previous day and December with an average of 326,483 shares at $898,324.At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index slipped 10.70 points to wrap up trading at 3,681.61. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings that are projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years that end around August 2025.
At the close of a heavy day of trading, AMG Packaging advanced 26 cents to close at $3.26 in an exchange of 1,697 stocks, Blue Power rose 11 cents to $5.45 with 7,677 units clearing the market, CAC 2000 sank 18 cents to finish at $2.12 after an exchange of a mere five shares. Cargo Handlers shed 49 cents and ended at $12 in trading 1,353 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries sank 29 cents in closing at $1.63 with 13,430 shares crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic slipped 6 cents to end at $1.70 with investors swapping 6,840 stock units. Express Catering lost 15 cents in closing at $3.20 after 16,000 stock units passed through the market, Future Energy rallied 7 cents to $3.45 as investors exchanged 22,720 stock units, Image Plus fell 7 cents to $1.37 with 29,916 shares crossing the market. KLE Group increased 7 cents and ended at $1.29 with investors trading 56,802 stocks, Knutsford Express declined $1.86 to close at $11.13 with 502,509 units crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot climbed 11 cents to finish at $2.79 with investors dealing in 2,582,135 stock units. Medical Disposables popped 17 cents to $1.86 in trading 26,008 shares and Spur Tree Spices dipped 9 cents to end at $1.80 in switching ownership of 107,191 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The average PE ratio of the market, closed at 8 based on 2023 earnings compared to 5.44 based on the estimate of the 2024 earnings, with the difference showing the extent of the market’s current level of undervaluation and the upside potential for gains ahead.