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.
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.
At the close, Access Financial rose 11 cents to $22 with the swapping of 135,553 shares, AMG Packaging gained 15 cents in ending at $3.70 after exchanging 444,178 units, Blue Power rallied 49 cents to $4.09 trading 16,610 stocks. CAC 2000 shed 50 cents to end at $7 as 3,801 stock units were traded, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 10 cents to close at $2.60 while exchanging 89,226 stocks, Caribbean Cream dropped 19 cents to $4.80 in switching ownership of 7,655 stock units. Dolphin Cove climbed $1.07 to end at $22.87 in an exchange of 9,428 shares, Elite Diagnostic fell 12 cents to $3.67 after 1,344,708 units crossed the market, Express Catering popped 28 cents in closing at $6.43 after finishing trading of 12,500 shares. Fontana popped 90 cents to close at $10.90 in trading 84,769 units, Fosrich lost $1.69 to end at $22.11, with 68,399 stock units changing hands, Honey Bun dropped 35 cents to close at $9.60 after exchanging 4,026,875 stocks. iCreate advanced 16 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.36 after trading 773,133 shares, Indies Pharma advanced 15 cents to $3, with 83,580 units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas increased 10 cents ending at $3.54 after 34,000,140 stock units crossed the exchange but only after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of 43.01.
Jetcon Corporation rose 12 cents to end at $1.30, clearing the market with 468,547 stocks, KLE Group popped 10 cents in closing at $2.68 with an exchange of 24 shares, Main Event shed 29 cents to close at $7.85, with 119,562 units crossing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 68 cents in ending at $7.95 with the swapping of 218,236 stocks and tTech lost 13 cents to $4, trading 75 stock units.
As was the case on Tuesday, trading was broad-based with 44 securities changing hands and ended with prices of 22 rising, declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 39 cents to $21.89 in switching ownership of 57 shares, AMG Packaging declined 10 cents to end at $3.55, with 278,333 stocks changing hands, CAC 2000 rose 45 cents to close at $7.50 in trading 3,487 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 33 cents in ending at $2.70 with 88,049 units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove shed 55 cents in closing at $21.80, with 23,389 stocks clearing the market, Elite Diagnostic rallied 19 cents to end at $3.79 with an exchange of 777,460 shares. Express Catering fell 35 cents to $6.15 after exchanging 1,046,233 stock units, Fosrich popped 90 cents in closing at $23.80 in an exchange of 62,225 units, Honey Bun increased 25 cents to close at $9.95 with the swapping of 22,944 units. Indies Pharma dropped 30 cents in ending at $2.85 after exchanging 2,666,673 shares, KLE Group climbed 26 cents to end at $2.58 after trading 340 stocks, Knutsford Express advanced 20 cents to close at $7.90, with 17,876 stock units changing hands.
Limners and Bards increased 14 cents to $3.29 after just 950 stock units crossed the market, Lumber Depot lost 12 cents in ending at $3.55 after trading 1,278,664 shares, Main Event gained 14 cents in closing at $8.14 after 12,106 units crossed the exchange. Paramount Trading rose 10 cents in closing at $1.76 in an exchange of 62,462 stocks, SSL Venture popped 17 cents to end at $1.84 while exchanging 11,262 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 62 cents to $7.27 while trading 10,977 shares and tTech climbed 13 cents to close at $4.13 in switching ownership of 204 units.
Market activity led to 44 securities trading compared to 45 on Monday and ended with 21 rising, 16 declining and seven ended unchanged.
Trading on Tuesday averaged 488,626 shares at $1,802,933, up from 408,514 shares at $1,496,044 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 435,852 units at $1,595,999 versus 428,060 units at $1,565,445 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Knutsford Express shed 30 cents in ending at $7.70, with 15,711 shares crossing the market, Lasco Financial gained 19 cents to $3.59 while exchanging 77,266 stocks, Lumber Depot increased 12 cents to close at $3.67 with 1,375,828 units changing hands. Mailpac Group lost 10 cents in closing at $3.15 after switching ownership of 414,861 shares, Spur Tree Spices popped 18 cents to end at $3.65 in exchanging 654,725 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 39 cents in closing at $7.89, after just 70 shares crossed the market and Tropical Battery fell 13 cents in ending at $2.35 trading 911,468 stocks.
At the close, Access Financial lost 59 cents to close at $21.36 with the swapping of 25 shares, AMG Packaging climbed 40 cents to $3.60, with 324,507 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 advanced 20 cents to $7.25 after an exchange of 2,435 units. Cargo Handlers dropped $2.40 in closing at $9.50, with 21,030 stocks crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cream increased 9 cents to $4.85 in an exchange of 25,354 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 7 cents to end at $1.35, with 41,009 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading popped 13 cents to $2.83 as 284,977 shares were traded, Dolphin Cove shed 47 cents in ending at $21.93 with an exchange of 95,811 stock units, EduFocal fell 9 cents to $3.80 after exchanging 412,002 stock units. Elite Diagnostic rose 63 cents to close at $3.20, with 2,117,544 shares clearing the market, Express Catering gained 38 cents to $6.40 in exchanging 568,615 stocks, Fosrich rallied $2.93 to end at a record high of $22.93, with 259,550 units crossing the market. Future Energy Source declined 15 cents in closing at $6 after trading 647,264 stocks, Honey Bun shed 15 cents in ending at $10, after an exchange of 91,534 stock units, iCreate popped 14 cents to close at $1.04 while exchanging 1,563,814 shares. 
Indies Pharma advanced 20 cents in ending at $3.05 after swapping 3,261,845 units, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 50 cents to $3.20 in exchanging 112,371 units, Lasco Financial fell 10 cents to $3.40 after exchanging 63,566 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 24 cents to end at $5.09 in trading 35,937 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 10 cents in closing at $3.20, with 334,155 shares crossing the market, Lumber Depot lost 13 cents to end at $3.55 after trading 629,422 stocks. Mailpac Group climbed 10 cents in closing at $3.25 in switching ownership of 3,564,473 stock units, SSL Venture declined 19 cents to close at $1.66 with an exchange of 26,007 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 38 cents to $7.50 in trading 11,296 units. Tropical Battery gained 15 cents to end at $2.48, with 827,488 stocks crossing the market and tTech rose 36 cents to close at $4.09 after 23,328 shares changed hands.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for fiscal years ending August 2022 to August 2023.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.75 to $21.95, trading 960 shares, Blue Power popped 19 cents to $4.14, with 100 stock units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers rose $1.55 to close at $11.90 after exchanging 20 units. Dolphin Cove shed 25 cents in closing at $22.40, with 68,223 stocks changing hands. Elite Diagnostic dropped 42 cents ending at $2.57 with an exchange of 35,844,199 stock units, leaving 85 million units on offer to sell at $2.57 and 30 million on the bid at $2.50 to buy, with excel Investments that owned the largest block of 130 million seems the likely sellers. Fontana climbed 7 cents to close at $9.98 in an exchange of 59,545 stocks. Future Energy Source gained 13 cents to end at $6.15 in trading 873,959 units, Honey Bun advanced 65 cents to $10.15 after 25,781 shares crossed the market, Jamaican Teas increased 7 cents to $3.50 in an exchange of 251,535 units. 
Knutsford Express rose 54 cents in closing at $8 with the swapping of 740 shares, Lasco Financial increased 7 cents to close at $3.50, with 31,500 stock units clearing the market, Main Event declined 16 cents to $7.97 after exchanging 14,438 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 8 cents in closing at $7.88 in trading 52,397 stocks, Tropical Battery fell 7 cents to $2.33 with the trading of 1,623,504 units and tTech lost 47 cents in ending at $3.73 in switching ownership of 147,314 shares.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading similar to Wednesday, with 14 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $2.80 to end at $20.20 while trading 16,120 shares, Blue Power dipped 20 cents to $3.95 while exchanging 2,968 units, CAC 2000 slipped 30 cents to $7.05 after an exchange of 150 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 9 cents to $2.30 after trading 82,900 stock units, Caribbean Flavours rose 7 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 2,457 stocks, Derrimon Trading climbed 20 cents to end at $2.72, with 473,732 units crossing the market. Dolphin Cove shed 35 cents to end at $22.65, with 102,790 stock units crossing the exchange, Fontana lost 7 cents in closing at $9.91, with 217,301 shares changing hands, Future Energy Source fell 8 cents to $6.02 trading 408,778 stocks. General Accident increased 11 cents to close at $6, with 2,943 units crossing the market, Honey Bun rallied 48 cents to $9.50 with the swapping of 20,001 shares, Indies Pharma declined 15 cents to $2.90 with an exchange of 441,935 stock units. 
Jamaican Teas dropped 11 cents in closing at $3.43 in exchanging 1,018,229 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 15 cents to close at $5.35 in trading 16,404 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 8 cents to end at $3.70 after 2,516,247 stocks changed hands. Mailpac Group shed 13 cents to close at $3.21 in an exchange of 492,517 units, Main Event gained 13 cents in ending at $8.13 after exchanging 7,738 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 8 cents to end at $7.80 while 301 shares changed hands.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading down from 45 on Tuesday and ended with 19 rising, 15 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Trading averaged 289,418 shares at $991,095 versus 241,810 shares at $911,971 on Tuesday with month to date, averaging 307,567 units at $1,333,381 compared to 313,476 units at $1,444,823 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Indies Pharma shed 10 cents to close at $3.05 in exchanging 73,207 stocks, Jetcon Corporation climbed 6 cents to $1.03 in an exchange of 1,032,759 shares, Knutsford Express dropped 31 cents to end at $7.46 after exchanging 6,973 units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 25 cents to $5.20 while trading 11,105 shares, SSL Venture rose 6 cents in closing at $1.85 with an exchange of 37,579 units, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 72 cents to close at $7.72 after exchanging 1,169 stocks and Tropical Battery fell 19 cents to close at $2.41, with 1,648,475 stock units crossing the market.
At the close, Access Financial lost $1.40 in ending at $19.50 with the swapping of 9,672 shares, Blue Power rose 16 cents to $3.90 after trading 6,233 stock units, CAC 2000 popped 30 cents in closing at $7.35, with 1,394 units changing hands. Cargo Handlers fell $1.10 to close at $11 after exchanging 1,269 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries shed 10 cents to end at $1.31 with an exchange of 188,959 units, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to $22.80 while exchanging 97,097 stock units. Fosrich climbed $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high at $20 in trading 152,078 stocks, Honey Bun dropped 17 cents in closing at $9.89, with 56,244 shares changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 14 cents to $3.74, with 150 stock units clearing the market. KLE Group dropped 43 cents to close at $2.32 in switching ownership of 10,545 stocks, Knutsford Express declined 23 cents to end at $7.77 with 4,893 units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing fell 24 cents to $5.45 as 44,626 shares were traded. 
Paramount Trading increased 15 cents in ending at $1.65, with 63,802 stocks crossing the market, Spur Tree Spices lost 16 cents to close at $3.52 in an exchange of 549,279 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 87 cents in closing at $7 in trading 900 units. Tropical Battery dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.60 after 997,759 shares crossed the exchange and tTech gained 49 cents to close at $4.25 after exchanging 9,241 stocks.