Prices of 17 stocks rose at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday and helped in pushing the market index above the 2,600 points mark for the first time in December and is at the highest point since mid-August.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands, with nine declining and 11 remaining unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 25.62 points to 2,614.15 and the average PE Ratio ended at 14 based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 76 percent more shares and 85 percent higher value than on Wednesday after 5,946,650 shares changed hands for a consideration of $15,620,193, well up from 3,383,825 units at $8,437,647 on Wednesday. Lumber Depot led trading with 27.2 percent of total volume after an exchange of 1.61 million shares followed by Fosrich with 23 percent for 1.37 million units and Derrimon Trading with 20.1 percent and the trading of 1.19 million stock units.
Trading averaged 160,720 units at $422,167 in contrast to 91,455 at $228,045 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averaged 272,104 units at $631,633 compared to 282,156 units at $650,536 on Wednesday. November closed with an average of 193,331 units at $566,885 trading.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gained 9 cents to close at $1.64, after clearing the market with 1,000 units, Cargo Handlers rose 30 cents to settle at $6.80 trading 5,276 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers closed at $1.80 with gains of 5 cents after 63,271 shares crossed the exchange. Caribbean Cream carved out a gain of 9 cents to end at $4.19, with 64,594 shares changing hands, Caribbean Flavours closed 7 cents higher at $1.67, in trading 113,834 shares, Caribbean Producers lost 5 cents to settle at $2.70, after exchanging 174,898 shares. Consolidated Bakeries slipped 1 cent to $1.39 in trading 1,000 units, Derrimon Trading shed 29 cents to settle at $2.20, with 1,194,540 shares changing hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 3 cents trading 25,329 stock units to end at $2.99. Everything Fresh picked up 3 cents to close at 74 cents, after an exchange of 1,000 units, Express Catering gained 28 cents to end at $3.78, with investors swapping 500 units, Fontana closed 24 cents higher at $5.49, with 96,452 shares crossing the exchange. General Accident gained 15 cents in closing at $6.05 trading 655 units, GWest Corporation ended 73 cents, with gains of 7 cents after transferring 1,100 units, Honey Bun rose 4 cents to close at $6.09, with an exchange of 7,951 units. Indies Pharma lost 2 cents to settle at $2.70, after clearing the market with 94,052 shares, Iron Rock Insurance declined by 5 cents to $3.05, with an exchange of 30,000 stock units, Jamaican Teas gained 19 cents to close at $2.04 after transferring 414,656 shares. Lasco Manufacturing lost 1 cent to end at $3.88, with 80 units changing hands, Limners and Bards gained 5 cents to settle at $3.05, after trading 116,719 shares, Lumber Depot fell by 6 cents to $1.50, with 1,614,599 shares crossing the market. Mailpac Group lost 1 cent in closing at $2.84 after 298,911 shares changed hands, Main Event gained 5 cents to end at $3.05, with an exchange of 2,903 units, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 79 cents to settle at $4.54, with 213 units crossing the market and Tropical Battery picked up 4 cents to end at $1.20 trading 86,840 shares.
In the preference segment, Derrimon Trading gained 1 cent to settle at $2.10, trading 96 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.