Dolphin Cove dominated trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, accounting for the largest block of shares changing hands that helped to push the volume of stocks traded up by 14 percent, with a 198 percent rise in value over Monday, with trading in 43 securities compared with 44 on Monday and ended with 22 rising, 14 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,425,798 shares for $34,684,589, up from 4,765,501 units at $11,620,310 on Monday.
Trading averaged 126,181 shares at $806,618, compared to 108,307 units at $264,098 on Monday with a month to date, average of 186,095 units at $464,932 compared with 189,437 stock units at $445,875 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Dolphin Cove led trading with 1.52 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume, after one trade accounted for 1.5 million shares at $16.05, followed by Jamaican Teas with 760,932 units for 14 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 382,074 units for 7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 34.97 points to 3,797.20.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.99 to close at $25 with traders dealing in 58 shares, Caribbean Cream lost 67 cents to end at $3.47 after 5,246 units were traded, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to end at $2.35 with investors transferring 16,955 stock units. Derrimon Trading dipped 7 cents and ended at $1.85 as 382,074 stocks passed through the market, Dolphin Cove skidded 45 cents to $16 with investors trading 1,523,001 shares, EduFocal added 14 cents to close at $1.44 after 199,769 stock units crossed the exchange. Elite Diagnostic fell 29 cents to $1.56 with shareholders swapping 33,695 stocks, Future Energy Source popped 9 cents in closing at $3.45, with 94,384 units crossing the market, General Accident gained 46 cents and ended at $4.89 after exchanging just 10 stock units. GWest Corporation rallied 14 cents to 98 cents in switching ownership of 2,817 shares, Indies Pharma rose 11 cents to $3.12, with 2,982 stocks changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 20 cents and ended at $2.30, with just 10 units crossing the market. 
ISP Finance rose $3 to $32.95 in trading 11 stock units, JFP Ltd rallied 9 cents to close at $1.65 with an exchange of 232,300 stocks, Knutsford Express declined 89 cents to end at $10.10 with a transfer of 1,983 units. Lasco Distributors dropped 15 cents to close at $4.20 after trading 36,603 shares, Limners and Bards increased 30 cents to $2 as investors exchanged 11,086 units, Lumber Depot shed 11 cents to close at $2.05, with 11,529 shares clearing the market. Main Event declined 48 cents to $16 while exchanging 68,579 stocks, Paramount Trading gained 25 cents and ended at $1.80 with investors dealing in 3,500 stock units, 
Spur Tree Spices climbed 8 cents to $2.20 after an exchange of 206,751 stocks and Tropical Battery skidded 10 cents and ended at $1.94 in an exchange of 27,480 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market consolidation continues
Trading slipped moderately on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, as the market continued to trade in consolidation mode since the latter part of last week and ended the day with the volume of stocks traded declining 14 percent and the value 5 percent lower than Friday, after trading in 44 securities compared with 41 on Friday and ended with 12 rising, 22 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,765,501 shares for $11,620,310 compared with 5,520,175 units at $12,285,763 on Friday.
Trading averaged 108,307 shares at $264,098 down from 134,638 shares at $299,653 on Friday, with the month to date, averaging 189,437 units at $445,875 compared to 194,347 stocks at $456,877 on the previous trading day. Trading in July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
EduFocal led trading with 570,949 shares for 12 percent of total volume, followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 501,609 units for 10.5 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 456,078 units for 9.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 4.08 points with 3,832.17.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging skidded 32 cents to close at $2.27 in trading 82,359 shares, Blue Power advanced 7 cents to $2.08 after investors ended trading 279,750 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries declined 35 cents in closing at $2.25, with 65,955 stocks crossing the market. EduFocal dipped 15 cents to end at $1.30 with a transfer of 570,949 units, Express Catering rallied 10 cents and ended at $5.09 with investors dealing in 100,482 units, Fontana shed 25 cents and ended at $11, with 24,791 stocks crossing the exchange. Future Energy Source lost 9 cents to close at $3.36 after 146,911 shares passed through the market, GWest Corporation fell 15 cents to 84 cents with stakeholders exchanging 170,475 stock units, 
Image Plus Consultants dipped 10 cents to end at $2.05 after 39,803 units were traded. Indies Pharma lost 11 cents in closing at $3.01 after an exchange of 5,298 stocks, ISP Finance climbed $3.95 in closing at $29.95 as investors traded 100 shares, Lasco Distributors dipped 11 cents to $4.35 in switching ownership of 121,037 stock units. Limners and Bards fell 20 cents and ended at $1.70 after an exchange of 200,212 shares, Lumber Depot increased 7 cents to close at $2.16 after 26,516 stock units changed hands, Main Event rose $1.98 to end at $16.48 with an exchange of 107,706 stocks. MFS Capital Partners shed 27 cents to close at $2.15 while exchanging 5,015 units, 
Paramount Trading skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.55 in an exchange of 25,904 units and Spur Tree Spices dropped 8 cents and ended at $2.12 with investors transferring 39,557 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market in consolidating mood
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 22 percent and the value marginally less than Thursday, after trading in 41 securities compared with 42 on Thursday and ended with 15 rising, 16 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,520,175 shares for $12,285,763 versus 4,522,157 units at $12,393,874 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 134,638 shares at $299,653 compared with 107,670 units at $295,092 on Thursday, with the month to date, averaging 194,347 units at $456,877 compared to 197,915 stock units at $466,274 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 2.44 million shares for 44.2 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 543,288 units for 9.8 percent of trading and ONE on ONE Educational with 386,208 units for 7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 0.28 points to 3,836.25.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rose 30 cents to close at $2.59 after an exchange of 151 shares, Blue Power dropped 51 cents and ended at $2.01, with 252,544 units changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 9 cents in closing at $2.87 after 2,000 stock units were swapped. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 33 cents to $2.60 with a transfer of 7,042 stocks, Dolla Financial dipped 7 cents to end at $2.63 as investors exchanged 29,027 stock units, 
Dolphin Cove fell 49 cents in closing at $16.51 with an exchange of 5,233 stocks. Express Catering rallied 49 cents and ended at $4.99 with investors trading 700 shares, Fontana popped 25 cents to end at $11.25, with 35,057 units crossing the exchange, Fosrich shed 11 cents to close at $1.95 with traders dealing in 41,048 units. Indies Pharma advanced 11 cents to $3.12 in an exchange of 10,015 shares, ISP Finance skidded $5 to $26 with investors dealing in 1,430 stocks, Lasco Distributors declined 24 cents to $4.46 after 84,480 stock units passed through the market. Lasco Financial gained 12 cents in closing at $1.95, with 13,366 stock units changing hands, Limners and Bards skidded 10 cents to end at $1.90 after exchanging 7,290 units, MFS Capital Partners rose 12 cents and ended at $2.42 with investors transferring 14 stocks. 
Spur Tree Spices climbed 7 cents to close at $2.20, with 137,150 shares clearing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies declined 14 cents in closing at $1.81 trading 117,757 stock units and tTech popped 15 cents to $2.35, with 12,606 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More Junior Market stocks rose than fall
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 32 percent, with 36 percent lower value than Wednesday, following trading in 42 securities similar to trading on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 11 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,522,157 shares for $12,393,874 from 6,681,293 units at $19,409,351 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 107,670 shares at $295,092, compared with 159,078 shares at $462,127 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 197,915 units at $466,274 compared to 203,801 stock units at $477,438 on the previous day. Trading in July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 1.32 million shares for 29.2 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 409,080 units for 9 percent of trading and Future Energy Source with 396,488 units for 8.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 4.93 points to 3,835.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rallied 25 cents to close at $2.52 after an exchange of 2,068 shares, CAC 2000 dropped $1.04 to end at $5.86 with traders dealing in 6,927 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 25 cents to $2.78 in an exchange of 2,176 units, Caribbean Cream climbed 33 cents in closing at $4.15 after a transfer of 16,688 stock units. EduFocal advanced 13 cents and ended at $1.45 with shareholders swapping 372,002 units, but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.22. 
Elite Diagnostic increased 19 cents in closing at $1.87, with 1,230 stock units crossing the market, Express Catering popped 23 cents to $4.50 and closed with 47,400 stocks changing hands, Image Plus Consultants gained 8 cents to end at $2.20, with 12,480 shares crossing the market. ISP Finance dipped 12 cents to close at $31 with investors dealing in 4,790 units, Lasco Distributors fell 24 cents and ended at $4.70 in switching ownership of 268,731 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 49 cents to end at $5.20 with stakeholders exchanging 216,718 stocks. Limners and Bards rallied 19 cents in closing at $2 as investors exchanged 147,091 shares, Lumber Depot rose 8 cents to close at $2.04 with 18,654 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners gained 10 cents and ended at $2.30 trading 44,020 stocks.
Stationery and Office Supplies increased 15 cents to $1.95 with a transfer of 146,374 stock units and Tropical Battery shed 7 cents in closing at $1.98, with investors trading 20,003 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market plunges
The Junior Market Index plunged 52.88 points to close at 3,840.90 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a 53 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 62 percent more value than on Tuesday with 42 securities trading compared with 41 on Tuesday and ended with 15 rising, 20 declining and seven closing unchanged, after three stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high and one at a 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 6,681,293 shares for $19,409,351 versus 4,369,373 units at $12,002,310 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 159,078 shares at $462,127 compared with 106,570 units for $292,739 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 203,801 units at $477,438 compared with 206,921 stock units at $478,506 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units for $843,878.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.02 million shares for 15.3 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 920,263 units for 13.8 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices ended trading with 732,924 units for 11 percent of market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 slipped 9 cents to $6.90, with just 11 shares crossing the market, Cargo Handlers lost $1.04 and ended at $16.41 after investors traded 639 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 36 cents to close at $2.53, with 110 stocks changing hands. Caribbean Cream popped 35 cents to $3.82, with 15 units crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 42 cents to $2.27 after 3,499 shares were traded, EduFocal dipped 17 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.32 in switching owners of 219,708 units. Elite Diagnostic fell 21 cents to end at $1.68 as 80,060 stock units passed through the market, Express Catering lost 77 cents and ended at $4.27 with investors exchanging 19,071 shares, Fontana rose 40 cents to close at $11 after a transfer of 300,250 stocks. Fosrich climbed 16 cents to close at $2.06 after an exchange of 157,437 shares, Future Energy Source dipped 20 cents to close at $3.50 after an exchange of 920,263 stock units, General Accident fell 51 cents and ended at $4.43 while exchanging 30,502 units. Honey Bun rallied 25 cents to end at $6.45 with shareholders swapping 6,247 shares, ISP Finance rose $2.57 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $31.12 in an exchange of 2,737 units,
Knutsford Express shed 19 cents in closing at $11.01 with investors dealing in 8,440 stocks. Lasco Distributors gained 24 cents and ended at 52 weeks’ high of $4.94 with investors exchanging 384,973 stock units, Lasco Financial declined 32 cents to close at $1.80 with 20,000 shares clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 19 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $5.69 with an exchange of 234,576 stocks. Limners and Bards dropped 17 cents in closing at $1.81 after 19,256 units changed hands, Lumber Depot declined 8 cents to end at $1.96 with a transfer of 6,002 stock units, Main Event increased 32 cents and ended at $14.50 with investors dealing in 8,559 shares. Medical Disposables fell 59 cents in closing at $4.26 in an exchange of 1,014 units, 
MFS Capital Partners dipped 20 cents to $2.20 with 213,878 stock units crossing the exchange, Regency Petroleum climbed 8 cents to end at $2.28 in trading 304,736 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 20 cents to close at $1.80 in trading 1,021,750 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for Junior Market trading
After spending most of the day with gains in the Junior Market index on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, the market slipped moderately towards the close with 41 securities trading compared with 44 on Monday and ended with prices of just 11 rising, 20 declining and 10 closing unchanged with a 21 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and a 5 percent more value than on Monday.
Investors traded 4,369,373 shares for $12,002,310 versus 5,508,204 units at $11,474,088 on Monday.
Trading averaged 106,570 shares at $292,739 compared to 125,186 units at $260,775 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 206,921 stocks at $478,506 compared with 214,255 stock units at $492,082 on the previous day. Trading in July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
EduFocal led trading with 969,126 shares for 22.2 percent of total volume, followed by Regency Petroleum with 915,554 units for 21 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 553,510 units for 12.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 0.28 points to 3,893.78.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of 
Junior Market are computed using the last traded price along with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.62 in closing at $23 after trading 1,081 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 9 cents to end at $2.89 after a transfer of 1,469 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 43 cents to $2.69 after trading 2,734 units. Dolphin Cove rose 50 cents to $17 with stakeholders exchanging 1,518 stock units, Elite Diagnostic dipped 11 cents and ended at $1.89, 41,663 units crossing the exchange, Fontana lost 15 cents to close at $10.60 after exchanging 179,716 shares. 
Fosrich declined 18 cents in closing at $1.90 after an exchange of 212,022 stocks, General Accident rallied 51 cents to end at $4.94 with investors transferring 200 stock units, Honey Bun fell 32 cents to $6.20 while traders exchanged 5,194 stocks. Image Plus Consultants dropped 12 cents and ended at $2.13, with 47,381 units clearing the market, Knutsford Express shed 10 cents to close at $11.20 in an exchange of 3,863 shares, Lasco Distributors traded 172,334 shares at $4.70, after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $4.95. Lasco Manufacturing popped 15 cents and ended at 52 weeks’ high of $5.50, with 238,206 stock units crossing the market, Limners and Bards climbed 17 cents to end at $1.98 with an exchange of 302 units, Lumber Depot increased 7 cents to $2.04 as investors traded 120,839 shares. 
Main Event fell $1.01 in closing at $14.18 as 13,347 stock units passed through the market and Regency Petroleum declined 7 cents in closing at $2.20 after 915,554 stocks were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops for Junior Market on Monday
Trading slipped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with a 35 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded as the value dropped 29 percent below Friday with trading ending with trading in 44 stocks, the same as Friday and ended with 16 rising, 15 declining and 13 unchanged.
Investors traded 5,508,204 shares at $11,474,088 compared to 8,514,607 units at $16,106,240 on Friday.
Trading averaged 125,186 shares at $260,775 compared to 193,514 units at $366,051 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 214,255 stocks at $492,082 compared to 221,835 stocks at $511,768 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.73 million shares accounting for 31.4 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus Consultants with 465,288 units for 8.4 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 412,652 units for 7.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 6.64 points to 3,894.06, but the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator flashed negative reading at the close.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined 52 cents and ended at $24.62 after exchanging a mere 16 shares, Caribbean Cream dropped 30 cents to close at $3.46 with just 5 units clearing the market, Caribbean Flavours fell 7 cents in closing at $1.24 with an exchange of 6,879 stocks. Dolla Financial shed 12 cents to close at $2.66 with investors exchanging 218,431 stock units, Dolphin Cove lost 55 cents to end at $16.50, with 1,107 stocks changing hands, EduFocal climbed 10 cents to end at $1.50 while exchanging 268,139 stock units after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.36. Fontana gained 20 cents to close at $10.75 with traders swapping 38,852 shares, Fosrich increased 8 cents to $2.08, with 232,281 units crossing the market, 
Future Energy Source rallied 14 cents and ended at $3.75 in an exchange of 285,114 units. General Accident dipped 47 cents in closing at $4.43 after 5,433 stocks passed through the market, Honey Bun rose 45 cents to $6.52, with 18,119 stock units changing hands, Image Plus Consultants advanced 17 cents to close at $2.25 after an exchange of 465,288 shares. Iron Rock Insurance lost 29 cents in closing at $2.10 in switching ownership of 2,305 units, ISP Finance popped $2.07 and ended at $28.55 after 1,016 stock units changed hands, Knutsford Express shed 59 cents to end at $11.30 with a transfer of 359 stocks. Lasco Distributors climbed 21 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.70 after 229,107 shares crossed the market, Lasco Manufacturing traded 188,112 shares to close at $5.35 after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $5.49, Limners and Bards fell 17 cents to $1.81 in trading 65,042 units. 
Main Event rallied $1.01 to close at $15.19 after investors traded 4,415 shares and Tropical Battery rose 10 cents in closing at $1.99 after a transfer of 153,938 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks to Watch
There is currently low interest in buying Main Market stocks, even when the companies perform well and deliver positive results. One exception is Transjamaican Highway which has gained 86 percent for the year to date with more gains on the cards.
Dolphin Cove gained 31% for 2023 to date but should go higher.
The action is in the Junior Market, but even there, the interest is glacier-like, with a few stocks moving higher as buying demand is now overwhelming sellers.
A look behind the stock order book shows that a few merit watching over the next few weeks.
The list includes Carreras, Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Lasco Distributers, Lasco Manufacturing, ISP Finance, Mayberry Investments as well as Transjamaican Highway.
Carreras is enjoying consolidation of demand around the $8 level following a jump in earnings in the June quarter from rising sales. However, that is unlikely to change it from primarily one for high dividend yield rather than capital appreciation.
Dolphin Cove’s stock is up 31 percent for the year to date, but profit for the six months to June is up 48 percent over the year to June 2022. Investors may want to note the latest report on the court judgement on the sale of Mystic Mountain. There were indications that Dolphin Cove was an interested buyer and they may well be amongst the preferred bidders. If they succeed, expect the stock with limited offers posted on the JSE platform to jump.
Lasco Distributors‘ trend line shows an upward slopping momentum for the stock supported by earnings that increased 38 percent in the first quarter to June, following a 33 percent rise in full year profits to March this year. Buying interest is solid in the $4 and over region that is overwhelming supply on offer between $4.49 and $5 after that; there are currently less than 70,000 units on offer.
Lasco
Lasco Manufacturing‘s profit for the 2023 fiscal year jumped 37 percent after tax, followed by 27 percent for the June quarter. Still, the market was slow in responding positively to both sets of results, even as the price was less than ten times 2023 earnings of 50 cents per share. The stock in the past week jumped into the $5 region for the for time in months and closed the week at $5.35, with solid buying at that level and just below but with very limited selling with few stocks on offer from just nine offers for 180,000 shares.
Investors may not be ready to pounce on Fontana just yet. Still, there is limited selling in the stock ahead of the release of full year results that could come in around 80 cents per share, but with increased earnings in the current fiscal year, that will benefit from the opening of the Portmore store in a few months.
ISP Finance is an odd candidate, but there has been above average interest in this stock in recent months, with few offers in the stock currently. There are two critical factors to consider. One is that the majority shareholder must be close to retirement as such new owners cannot be far off. The recent addition of two new directors who operate in the financial market and have collaborated closely with them has increased speculation that a takeover of the majority shares will be forthcoming sooner than later. The other factor is the sharp jump in the loan portfolio to almost $1 billion after the credit loss provision. The near $200 million increase in loans over December last year and March this year is expected to swell revenues and profits in the future. The shares have to be high on the list for a split at the current price.
Fontana Waterloo Square Branch just after it was opened in October 2019.
Mayberry Investments may not have a lot of buying currently, but selling seems to be at a low level that could ignite a jump in price at any time that buying interest jumps.
Transjamaican Highway stock has almost doubled this year, encouraged by profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the six months to June. Supply has diminished on the sell side and could be overwhelmed by buyers. Investors have not bought into the sharp change in fortune for this stock and where it could head to. In addition, they should declare a considerable dividend payment in a few months.
Junior Market rise
Stocks made more gains at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, following the slight slippage on Thursday after the near 100 points recovery on Wednesday and ended on Friday,
with a 105 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded accompanied by a 61 percent climb in value compared to Thursday, with trading taking place in 44 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ended with 16 rising, 16 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 8,514,607 shares for $16,106,240 versus 4,143,867 units at $10,013,554 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 193,514 shares at $366,051 compared to 101,070 stocks at $244,233 on Thursday and trading for the month to date averaged 221,835 shares at $511,768 compared to 224,470 stock units at $525,323 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 2.82 million shares for 33.1 percent of total volume, followed by Jetcon Corporation with 1.95 million units for 22.9 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 914,844 units for 10.7 percent of market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 24.48 points to end trading at 3,887.42.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of the Junior Market are calculated using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose $2.26 to $25.14 with stakeholders exchanging 149 shares, Dolphin Cove advanced 55 cents in closing at $17.05 with a transfer of 18,887 units, EduFocal fell 19 cents and ended at $1.40 after a transfer of 237,710 stocks. Fontana shed 55 cents to end at $10.55 with 64,894 stocks clearing the market, General Accident rallied 7 cents to close at $4.90 after investors ended trading 26,481 stock units,
Image Plus Consultants dipped 10 cents to $2.08, with 67,783 units crossing the market. ISP Finance gained $5.08 in closing at $26.48 and closed after 5,600 shares were traded, KLE Group gained 15 cents to close at $1.64 in trading 42 stocks, Lasco Distributors climbed 30 cents to $4.49 in exchanging 497,954 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing popped 14 cents to $5.35 as 286,854 shares passed through the market, Main Event declined 82 cents to $14.18 in switching ownership of 33,789 stock units, Medical Disposables gained 20 cents to close at $4.85 in an exchange of 5,000 units. Paramount Trading lost 18 cents to end at $1.80 while exchanging 42,800 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 14 cents to $2 with
an exchange of 914,844 shares and Tropical Battery declined 15 cents and ended at $1.89 with investors transferring 77,300 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading slips on the Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped modestly on Thursday after trading took place in 41 securities compared with 42 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 falling and eight closing unchanged with the volume of stocks traded drooped 73 percent and the value 77 percent lower than Wednesday.
Investors traded a mere 4,143,867 shares for $10,013,554 compared to 15,211,591 units at $44,456,814 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 101,070 shares at $244,233 compared with 362,181 shares at $1,058,496 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 224,470 units at $525,323 compared with 236,182 stock units at $552,001 on the previous day. Trading in July averaged 326,541 units at $843,878.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.15 million shares for 27.8 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 1.01 million units for 24.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 329,995 units for 8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 10.43 points in closing at 3,862.94.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market are calculated using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell $2.26 in closing at $22.88 with investors transferring a mere 57 shares, AMG Packaging dropped 24 cents to end at $2.29 after exchanging 1,340 stocks, Blue Power rallied 27 cents and ended at $2.27 in trading 1,515 stock units. Cargo Handlers climbed $1.10 to $17.50 as investors exchanged 693 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 24 cents to close at $3.76 after an exchange of 13,145 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries lost 41 cents and ended at $2.31 after a transfer of 115 units. Dolla Financial declined 12 cents in closing at $2.81 in switching ownership of 65,279 shares, Dolphin Cove rose 49 cents to $16.50 with shareholders swapping 16,144 stocks, 
Fontana gained 10 cents and ended at $11.10 after trading 23,036 shares. Fosrich shed 8 cents to close at $2 in an exchange of 320,641 units. Future Energy Source dipped 16 cents to end at $3.59, with 1,013,620 stocks crossing the market, General Accident advanced 33 cents to end at $4.83 and closed with an exchange of 5,101 stock units, Honey Bun declined 16 cents to close at $6.06 with a transfer of 8,916 stocks. Iron Rock Insurance popped 29 cents to $2.39 with stakeholders trading one unit, JFP Ltd climbed 11 cents in closing at $1.63 while trading 44,242 stock units, Lasco Distributors rose 9 cents to end at $4.19, with 56,828 shares clearing the market. Lasco Financial rallied 13 cents to $2.13 in an exchange of 125,016 stock units, Limners and Bards gained 17 cents and ended at $1.98, with 240 stocks crossing the exchange, Main Event climbed 61 cents in closing at $15 in traversing the market with 754 shares. 
MFS Capital Partners increased 11 cents to close at $2.50, with 253 units changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 30 cents in closing at $2.14 with an exchange of 329,995 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
