The Junior Market Index plunged 99.56 points to close at 4,464.82 and ended with prices of 13 stocks rising, 23 declining and eight unchanged after 44 securities traded similar to Wednesday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Thursday, with the volume and value of stocks traded rose by 10 and 9 percent respectively, above Wednesday trades.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.5. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with fiscal years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 23,316,932 shares were traded for $92,287,477 compared to 21,140,775 units at $84,601,284 on the Wednesday. JFP Limited led trading with 5.08 million shares for 21.8 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 3.91 million units for 16.8 percent of the day’s trade, Tropical Battery chipped in with 3.36 million units for 14.4 percent market share, Jamaican Teas ended with 2.59 million units for 11.1 percent market share, Lumber Depot, 1.36 million units for 5.8 percent of the volume traded and Derrimon Trading, 1.15 million units for 5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 529,930 shares at $2,097,443 in contrast to 480,472 shares at $1,922,756 on Wednesday with month to date, averaging 500,041 units at $2,267,045 compared to 496,240 units at $2,288,613 on the previous day. strong>April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
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 fell $2.49 in closing at $20.91 in switching ownership of 7,917 shares, AMG Packaging shed 15 cents to $3.50, with 318,240 stocks crossing the market, Blue Power declined 55 cents to $4 while exchanging 39,488 units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 10 cents to close at $2.44 after 151,267 stock units crossed the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 15 cents to end at $5.20, trading 11,731 shares, Derrimon Trading shed 17 cents in closing at $3.29 after an exchange of 1,154,330 units. Dolphin Cove advanced 64 cents in ending at $21.20 with the swapping of 31,141 stock units, Elite Diagnostic lost 33 cents to close at $3.97 in exchanging 90,256 stocks, Express Catering fell 17 cents to end at $6, with 24,650 shares crossing the exchange. Fontana declined $1 to $10.10 after an exchange of 168,277 stock units, Fosrich dropped $1.91 to $31.98 after exchanging 251,557 units, General Accident climbed 13 cents ending at $6.10 in an exchange of 5,082 stocks. Honey Bun gained 14 cents to end at $9.35 after trading 5,151 units, Iron Rock Insurance rose 25 cents to close at $3.45 after trading 1,010 stock units, ISP Finance dropped $7.20 in closing at $22.30, with 98,368 shares clearing the market. KLE Group lost 22 cents to end at $2.17 in trading 156,299 stocks, Knutsford Express shed 20 cents in closing at $7.79 with an exchange of 23,210 stocks, Lasco Distributors rallied 10 cents to $3.40 after trading 201,935 shares. 
Mailpac Group fell 31 cents to close at a 52 week’s low of $2.74 in trading 878,720 units after the price dipped to a low of $2.27 during the morning session as investors reacted negatively to the fall in profits for the March quarter. Medical Disposables popped 26 cents ending at $7.26 while exchanging 40,793 stock units, Spur Tree Spices declined 10 cents to $4 with the swapping of 1,137,489 units, Stationery and Office Supplies fell $1.60 to close at $7.60, with 20,000 stocks clearing the market, before the release of the March first quarter results, showing record profits and revenues were reported. The stock is set to open much higher on Friday, with several bids posted to buy at $10 and over after trading closed. Tropical Battery declined 16 cents to end at $2.92, with 3,358,233 stock units changing hands and tTech increased 25 cents in closing at $3.75 after 1,904 shares crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All but one of the 45 listed stocks traded on Wednesday, numbering 44, similar to Tuesday, ending with 13 rising, 19 declining and 12 closing unchanged and the Junior Market Index rose just 3.59 points to 4,564.38. Blue Power ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $.455, iCreate traded at an intraday high of $4.45 and Derrimon Trading ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.46.
At the close, Access Financial declined $1.08 to end at $23.40 in an exchange of 4,470 shares, AMG Packaging lost 10 cents to close at $3.65 in trading 61,147 units, Caribbean Cream popped 15 cents to $5.35 in switching ownership of 38,465 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 10 cents in closing at $2.08 after trading 12,502 stock units, Derrimon Trading gained 11 cents in ending at $3.46 and exchanging 2,190,743 units, Dolphin Cove fell $1.78 to $20.56, with 43,509 stocks crossing the exchange. EduFocal shed 74 cents to close at $3.35, with 1,743,479 shares crossing the market,Elite Diagnostic rallied 55 cents to $4.30 while exchanging 84,392 stock units, Fontana rose 20 cents to $11.10, trading 178,349 shares. Fosrich dropped 61 cents in closing at $33.89 after trading 307,960 stock units, Future Energy Source shed 13 cents to close at $6.87, with 2,622,002 stocks changing hands, Honey Bun lost 16 cents in closing at $9.21 after exchanging 38,855 units. iCreate fell 24 cents to $4.02, with 662,269 stock units changing hands, ISP Finance jumped $6.52 to $29.50, with 635 units crossing the market, Jetcon Corporation fell 12 cents to $1.63 with the swapping of 324,421 stocks. JFP Limited advanced 18 cents to close at $1.68 with an exchange of 4,380,376 shares, 
KLE Group climbed 24 cents in closing at $2.39 with 12,280 stock units clearing the market, Lumber Depot dipped 12 cents to $3.27 trading 413,408 shares. Medical Disposables advanced 30 cents to $7 after 23,478 stocks crossed the market, Spur Tree Spices shed 10 cents to end at $4.10 while exchanging 1,359,511 units, Tropical Battery fell 12 cents to end at $3.08 after trading 1,499,721 units and tTech fell 30 cents to $3.50, with 134,649 stocks changing hands.
All 45 listed securities traded, up from 44 on Friday, with 20 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial shed 20 cents to close at $25.50, with 3,890 shares clearing the market, Cargo Handlers rallied $1.50 to a 52 weeks’ high of $14 in exchanging 44,307 stock units, Derrimon Trading popped 10 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.21 after 13,469,757 units crossed the market. Dolphin Cove advanced 51 cents in closing at $22.50 after exchanging 333,111 stocks, EduFocal gained 32 cents to end at $3.80 after an exchange of 1,307,069 shares, Elite Diagnostic declined 10 cents to $3.80, with 400,199 stock units crossing the market. Express Catering fell 10 cents to $6.08 while exchanging 144,623 units, Fontana rose 20 cents in closing at $11.15 with an exchange of 350,945 stocks, Fosrich surged $2.42 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $35.41, with 508,542 units changing hands after the price hit an all-time high of $38. iCreate dropped 22 cents to end at $3.23 after exchanging 535,733 shares, Iron Rock Insurance climbed 28 cents in ending at $3.50 with the swapping of 2,122 stocks, ISP Finance lost $5 to close at $22 in an exchange of 214 stock units. JFP Limited gained 13 cents to $1.46 in trading 3,542,705 shares, Knutsford Express climbed 35 cents to $8 after trading 8,250 stock units, Lasco Financial dropped 17 cents to end at $3.29 in switching ownership of 209,362 units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 25 cents to $5.10, with 5,444 stocks crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot shed 20 cents in closing at $3.25, trading 1,460,226 stock units, Main Event fell 55 cents to close at $9.40, with 12,026 shares changing hands. 
Medical Disposables lost 10 cents to end at $6.90 after exchanging 12,118 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 27 cents to $4.26, crossing the exchange of 10,348,476 stocks, SSL Venture popped 12 cents ending at $1.80, with 32,701 shares clearing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 20 cents in closing at $9.30, with 6,075 stocks crossing the market, Tropical Battery rallied 21 cents to close at $2.95 in exchanging 2,335,013 units and tTech fell 10 cents to end at $3.80, trading 675 stock units.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
The Junior Market Index advanced 5.78 points to settle at a record close of 4,537.15.
Trading averaged 420,671 shares at $1,765,794 in contrast to 315,695 shares at $1,324,308 on Thursday with month to date, averaging 420,345 units at $2,125,294 versus 420,260 units at $2,218,892 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
iCreate fell 24 cents to end at $3.45 while exchanging 467,069 stocks, ISP Finance popped $5 to end at $27 in exchanging 441 units, Jamaican Teas declined 25 cents to $3.51 in switching ownership of 946,429 shares. Lasco Manufacturing rose 25 cents to end at $5.35 after 61,867 stock units changed hands, Mailpac Group shed 11 cents to $3.06, with 1,318,018 units crossing the market, Medical Disposables gained 15 cents in ending at $7 after an exchange of 42,054 shares. Stationery and Office Supplies increased 50 cents in closing at $9.50, trading 5,094 stock units, Tropical Battery rallied 12 cents to close at $2.74, with 512,723 stocks crossing the market and tTech climbed 17 cents ending at $3.90, with 607,636 stocks changing hands.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading against 41 on Wednesday and ended with 21 rising, 18 declining and three closed unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Lasco Manufacturing dropped 25 cents to $5.10, with 133,284 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables lost 15 cents to end at $6.85 in an exchange of 156,514 units, Spur Tree Spices rallied 15 cents to close at $3.95 while exchanging 447,724 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 75 cents to close at $9 after 6,154 stock units changed hands and Tropical Battery declined 13 cents to end at $2.62 with an exchange of 1,515,720 shares.
A total of 41 securities trading compared to 43 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 18 declining and five closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial lost 50 cents to close at $21 in trading 1,356 shares, Derrimon Trading advanced 12 cents after ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.05 in exchanging 747,293 stock units, Dolphin Cove declined $1.40 to $20, with 160,113 units crossing the market. EduFocal rallied 21 cents to end at $3.29 with an exchange of 1,152,223 stocks, Elite Diagnostic rallied 10 cents in closing at $4 with the swapping of 17,586 shares, Fontana gained 50 cents to close at $11 in switching ownership of 146,566 units. Fosrich shed $2.05 to end at $32.92 after exchanging 101,170 stock units, Future Energy Source increased 22 cents to $7 trading 2,351,607 stocks, General Accident fell 26 cents in closing at $6.14 after an exchange of 8,286 units. iCreate climbed 95 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.19, with 1,696,163 stocks crossing the exchange, Jamaican Teas dropped 27 cents to $3.53 in an exchange of 1,850,548 stock units, Knutsford Express shed 10 cents in closing at $7.80, with 107,922 shares crossing the market. 
Lasco Distributors dropped 18 cents to end at $3.30, with 1,551 stock units changing hands, Lasco Financial rose 10 cents to $3.40 after exchanging 92,884 shares, Lasco Manufacturing advanced 25 cents to close at $5.35 with 11,010 stocks clearing the market. Main Event climbed 98 cents to $9.98 while exchanging 28,655 units, Medical Disposables popped $1 to end at $7, trading 212,382 stock units and tTech declined 17 cents to $3.78 after exchanging 34,471 units.
The Junior Market Index dropped 33.11 points to 4,452.22 after reaching a record intraday high of 4,543.70 within an hour of opening.
At the close, Blue Power advanced 26 cents in closing at $3.85, with 6,369 shares clearing the market, CAC 2000 increased 65 cents to close at $6.75 after exchanging 65 stock units, Dolphin Cove fell 60 cents to $21.40 in trading 48,298 units. Elite Diagnostic climbed 30 cents in ending at $3.90 after trading 1,902,202 stocks, Fontana fell 75 cents to end at $10.50 with 127,121 stocks changing hands, Fosrich rose $1.37 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $34.97 after an exchange of 575,546 units. Future Energy Source gained 28 cents to end at $6.78, with 2,333,516 shares changing hands, Honey Bun lost 20 cents to close at $9.27 in switching ownership of 15,379 stock units, iCreate shed 24 cents after ending at $3.24 trading 319,360 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance dropped 30 cents to $3.30 in exchanging 140 stocks, ISP Finance fell $7.49 to close at $22 with the swapping of 941 units, KLE Group lost 65 cents to end at $1.95 after trading 5,054 shares. Knutsford Express declined 10 cents to $7.90 in an exchange of 59,645 shares, Lasco Manufacturing shed 48 cents in ending at $5.10, with 57,949 stock units crossing the market, Mailpac Group rallied 13 cents in closing at $3.17 with an exchange of 137,725 units.
Main Event dropped 87 cents in closing at $9 while exchanging 61,254 stocks, Medical Disposables declined 79 cents to close at $6 after 574,571 shares crossed the exchange, Spur Tree Spices fell 27 cents to end at $3.80 in exchanging 2,417,836 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies lost $1.25 to close at $8.25, with 16,626 stock units changing hands and tTech popped 16 cents ending at $3.95 in trading 34,234 units.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading compared to 44 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 21 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Trading averaged 741,497 shares at $4,382,795, up from 240,793 shares at $1,067,444 on Friday with month to date. April closed with an average of 449,923 units at $1,781,786.
Lasco Manufacturing rallied 33 cents to end at $5.58 after exchanging 20,611 units, Spur Tree Spices fell 18 cents in closing at $4.07 after an exchange of 1,206,504 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 20 cents to end at $9.50, with 14,980 stock units crossing the market.
The Main Market that ICInsider.com forecast to deliver a 14 percent rise for the year struggles to break from consolidation so far, with a rise of just 4.8 for the four months to April and is consistent with a 14 percent increase for the year. It is quite likely that the market PE could climb closer to a PE of 18, which will push the annual gains to around 30 percent if the financial stocks show good increases in profit for the year. That is a very likely situation as the hike in interest rates is driving net interest income sharply upwards.
In addition to the Top15 selection for each market at the start of the year, we added a few stocks. There were nine winning stocks with good gains. The list includes AMG Packaging 73 percent, Dolphin Cove 47 percent, Elite up 26 percent, Everything Fresh 83 percent, iCreate 263 percent, Jetcon 75 percent, Spur Tree Spices 215 percent, Stationery and Office Supplies 46 percent and Tropical Batteries up 124 percent for the year to date and up 64 percent since ICInsider.com added it was added to the TOP10 on February 25. Caribbean Cream, down 7 percent, is the only Junior Market stock selection to fall.
The big TOP15 winners for the Main Market are Caribbean Producers, up 42 percent, Jamaica Stock Exchange at 22 percent, JMMB Group at 16 percent and Proven at 14 percent. Berger Paints, down 7 percent, Jamaica Broilers, with a fall of 3 percent and Scotia Group, down one percent, are the only losers in this segment.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
