Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 43 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 63 percent lower value than Thursday, 
with trading in 39 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged on a day mostly small price changes and a few of note.
The market closed on Friday with 4,230,099 shares trading at $8,122,644 from 7,401,497 units at $21,829,864 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 108,464 shares at $208,273, compared with 180,524 units for $532,436 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 161,282 stocks at $335,386 down from 165,048 shares at $344,449 on the previous day compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 2.31 points to end the day at 3,729.58.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 20 cents to end at $1.90 with investors transferring 1,274 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to close at $19.50 in an exchange of 4,349 shares, Elite Diagnostic popped 8 cents to $1.68 with investors dealing in 2,379 units. Express Catering shed 14 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.61, with 53,300 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Honey Bun rallied 13 cents and ended at $6.30 in trading 1,871 shares, Indies Pharma increased 26 cents to $2.94 after a transfer of 62,259 stocks. KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85 in trading 217,136 units, Knutsford Express rose $1 $12, with 1,112 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors lost 15 cents to close at $3.85 after an exchange of 42,502 shares. Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 cents and ended at $4.52 after an exchange of 11,540 stocks, Main Event advanced $1 to close trading at $16 with traders dealing in 60,755 units and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents to end at $1.59 after 437,366 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rose on reduced trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 26 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 10 percent lower value than Tuesday following trading in 42 securities compared with 39 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The market ended with 8,696,982 shares being traded for $19,603,907 compared with 11,812,842 units at $21,832,768 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 207,071 shares at $466,760, compared with 302,893 units at $559,815 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 163,794 units at $329,217 compared to 159,877 stock units at $316,767 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Express Catering led trading with 2.12 million shares for 24.4 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 2.04 million units for 23.5 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 971,348 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 17.68 points to finish trading at 3,741.40.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 76 cents and ended at $3.18 after investors ended trading 27,607 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 33 cents to $3.72, with 2,635 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 19 cents to end at $1.60 with investors dealing in 442 shares. Dolphin Cove skidded 30 cents in closing at $18.20 with 1,195 stock units clearing the market, Elite Diagnostic sank 18 cents to close at $1.51 with an exchange of 9,870 shares, Express Catering dropped 20 cents to $3.80 with 2,117,976 units changing hands. 
Fosrich fell 16 cents in closing at $2.22 with investors swapping 100,442 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance gained 44 cents to close at $2.51 in switching ownership of just one stock unit, ISP Finance rose $1.19 and ended at $22.64 while exchanging 1,435 shares. Knutsford Express declined $1.38 to end at $11 with traders dealing in 1,825 units, Lasco Distributors climbed 25 cents in closing at $4.10 in an exchange of 27,528 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing increased 9 cents to $4.61, with 32,190 stock units crossing the market. Main Event advanced 20 cents to end at $15 in an exchange of 30,918 shares, Spur Tree Spices rallied 10 cents to close at $2.46 and ended with an exchange of 82,607 stock units and Tropical Battery popped 17 cents and ended at $2.30 as investors exchanged 28,150 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops to start week
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 119 percent with 77 percent more value than Friday with trading in 43 securities compared with 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged but shares of Limners and Bards traded at a 52 weeks’ low.
The market closed with trading of 8,711,353 shares valued at $16,041,925 up from 3,979,718 units at $9,087,458 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,590 shares at $373,068, compared with 97,066 units at $221,645 on Friday, Trading for the month to date, averaged 146,753 units at $294,464 compared to 140,468 stock units at $285,616 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
One Great Studio led trading with 2.19 million shares for 25.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.25 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 904,279 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 54.46 points to settle at 3,712.49.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging skidded 12 cents to end at $3.05 with an exchange of 4,000 units, after the company posted a 64 percent rise in profit $to 40 million for the first quarter to November, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 23 cents to end at $2.02, with 7,382 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 40 cents and ended at $4.05 as investors exchanged 2,223 shares. Fontana shed 7 cents in closing at $10.63 after 73,121 stock units crossed the market, Future Energy rallied 9 cents to close at $3.80 with investors trading 155,057 shares, Indies Pharma declined 24 cents to $2.71 in an exchange of 64,959 units. Iron Rock Insurance lost 43 cents to close at $2.07 with investors swapping 176 stocks, ISP Finance dropped $3.41 to $21.45 with a transfer of 2,380 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 19 cents and ended at $2.40 while exchanging 182,250 shares. Jetcon Corporation rose 7 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 33 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 40 cents to $12 in an exchange of 2,223 units, Lasco Distributors fell 20 cents and ended at $3.90 with traders dealing in 56,178 stock units.
Lasco Manufacturing lost 7 cents to close at $4.48 after an exchange of 58,705 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to end at $2.50 in trading 360,630 stock units, Main Event sank 60 cents in closing at $14.20, with 20,634 stocks changing hands, before the company released 2023 full year results with earnings of 69 cents per share. MFS Capital Partners shed 9 cents to $2.35 after trading in 456,811 units, Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $1.45, with 15,826 shares crossing the exchange and Tropical Battery popped 7 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 528,007 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market ends steady trading day slightly down
Declining stocks whipped those rising on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but price movements were mostly moderate with a few exceptions, following 41 securities being traded compared with 42 on Thursday, 
with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged after a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 37 percent lower in the value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 3,979,718 shares for $9,087,458 down from 7,215,549 units at $14,447,149 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 97,066 shares at $221,645, compared with 171,799 units at $343,980 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 140,468 units at $285,616 compared to 145,686 stock units at $293,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 530,862 units for 13.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to close at 3,766.95.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $2.50 to close at $20.50 in an exchange of 5,053 stocks, AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to close at $3.17, with 568,839 units crossing the market,
Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25 with an exchange of a mere 500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries lost 32 cents in closing at $1.88 after 210 stock units passed through the market, Fontana advanced 10 cents and ended at $10.70 after an exchange of 73,847 shares, Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 88 stock units. ISP Finance declined by 14 cents to close at $24.86, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 78 cents with investors trading 25 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 112,900 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 13 cents to end at $1.68 while exchanging a mere 1,553 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 9 cents in closing at $2.03 with a transfer of 4,385 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rises
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent higher value than on Wednesday following trading in 42 securities the same as Wednesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday, with 7,215,549 shares changing hands for $14,447,149 up from 4,153,063 units at $9,236,370 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 171,799 shares for $343,980 compared with 98,882 units at $219,914 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 145,686 units at $293,307 up from 142,018 stock units at $286,189 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.19 million shares for 30.4 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.30 million units for 18 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 851,349 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 26.75 points to settle at 3,768.57.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $3 in closing at $23 after an exchange of 2,386 stock units, AMG Packaging popped 40 cents to closed at $2.76 after an exchange of 23 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 24 cents to close at $2.01 with an exchange of 8,602 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 29 cents and ended at $2.20 after 1,584 units were traded, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to end at $18.50 with investors trading 3,891 shares, EduFocal fell 9 cents in closing at $1.50 with an exchange of 184,967 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 22 cents to $2.78 while trading 96 units, Jamaican Teas rose 27 cents to end at $2.59 as investors exchanged 550,059 stock units, Knutsford Express skidded 20 cents and ended at $12.40 in trading 525 shares.
Lasco Distributors climbed 12 cents to close at $4.10, with 183,822 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 10 cents to $4.60 in switching ownership of 110,247 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.40 after 51,017 units passed through the market. Main Event dropped 12 cents to close at $14.85 with an exchange of 3,517 shares, MFS Capital Partners advanced 34 cents in closing at $2.49 with traders dealing in 1,298,213 stocks, following an announcement of a directors’ meeting to consider recapitalization of the company, Spur Tree Spices dipped 12 cents to end at $2.35, with 37,003 units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies sank 14 cents in closing at $1.55 with investors dealing in 25,501 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on the Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded, rising 82 percent and the value 40 percent more than on Monday and resulting in trading in 43 securities compared with 45 on Monday and ended with prices of 17 rising, 20 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,032,533 shares for $15,706,426 up from 4,952,177 units at $11,190,849 on Monday.
Trading averaged 210,059 shares at $365,266, compared with 110,048 units at $248,686 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 149,068 units at $297,020 compared with 136,812 stock units at $283,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 3.59 million shares for 39.8 percent of total volume followed by iCreate with 1.71 million units for 19 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery with 1.06 million units for 11.7 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 1.83 points to 3,747.53.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $5 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $20, with 25,685 stocks crossing the market, AMG Packaging rallied 39 cents to $3 after an exchange of 51,733 units, Cargo Handlers popped $2.18 to $13.75 after 30 shares were traded. Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 12 cents to close at $2.03 with investors dealing in 1,750 stock units, Caribbean Flavours advanced 20 cents to close at $1.87 after 320 shares passed through the market, Derrimon Trading dipped 10 cents to $1.85 with investors trading 264,085 stocks. Dolla Financial rose 11 cents in closing at $2.63 with an exchange of 80,720 units, Dolphin Cove sank $1.10 and ended at $18.60 after it closed with an exchange of 6,045 stock units, EduFocal skidded 20 cents to close at $1.48 in trading 3,592,888 shares. Fontana gained 59 cents to end at $10.60, with 164,113 units clearing the market, Fosrich fell 12 cents in closing at $2.18 with investors swapping 80,805 stocks, Honey Bun climbed 25 cents to $6.30 in switching ownership of 2,349 stock units. iCreate declined 8 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of 47 cents, with investors exchanging 1,711,832 shares, with the stock trading at an intraday low of 39 cents. ISP Finance shed $6.62 to close at $24.87 after 99 stocks crossed the market, 
Jamaican Teas rallied 9 cents to $2.49 in an exchange of 7,374 units. Jetcon Corporation declined 15 cents to close at 85 cents, with 402,971 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd shed 9 cents to end at $1.40, with 5,649 shares changing hands, KLE Group sank 50 cents to close at $1.50 while exchanging 30,450 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing skidded 18 cents and ended at $4.50 with a transfer of 17,348 units, Lumber Depot rose 11 cents to close at $2.50 after an exchange of 2 stocks, Mailpac Group lost 12 cents to close at $2.05 with investors trading 112,114 shares. MFS Capital Partners gained 21 cents to end at $2.19 after an exchange of 274,821 stocks, ONE on ONE Educational popped 7 cents in closing at $1.04 with 1,855 units crossing the exchange, Stationery and Office Supplies fell 7 cents to close at $1.61 with traders dealing in 216,489 stock units and Tropical Battery climbed 9 cents to $2.09, with 1,060,399 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops on Monday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed down on Monday, with trading in 45 securities up from 42 on Friday and ended with the prices of 14 rising, 22 declining and nine closing unchanged following a 3 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with the value rising 6 percent more than Friday.
Investors traded 4,952,177 shares for $11,190,849 compared with 5,101,314 units at $10,562,036 on Friday.
Trading averaged 110,048 shares at $248,686 compared to 121,460 units at $251,477 on Friday. Trading for the month to date, averages 136,812 units at $283,307 compared with 143,939 stock units at $292,526 on the previous trading day, well down on December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 1.26 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by Express Catering ended with 570,734 units or 11.5 percent of Monday’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 419,388 units for 8.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 30.78 points to culminate at 3,749.36.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 50 cents to end at $25, with 3,682 units clearing the market, AMG Packaging sank 59 cents to $2.61 in switching ownership of 60,976 stocks, Cargo Handlers dipped $2.43 to close at $11.57, with 4,827 shares changing hands. Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 10 cents in closing at $2.15 after an exchange of 15,100 stock units, Dolla Financial declined 7 cents and ended at $2.52 with investors trading 152,283 shares, Dolphin Cove shed 25 cents to close at $19.70 after investors exchanged 2,047 stock units. Fontana dropped 49 cents to close at $10.01 with a transfer of 87,627 units, Fosrich climbed 9 cents to end at $2.30 as investors exchanged 49,248 stocks, Future Energy popped 25 cents in closing at $3.75 after a transfer of 197,936 shares. Honey Bun skidded 25 cents and ended at $6.05 in trading 4,178 stock units, 
Indies Pharma rallied 39 cents to $3.04 after 168,483 units passed through the market, Jamaican Teas rallied 9 cents in closing at $2.40 in an exchange of 276,738 stocks. Lasco Financial lost 19 cents and ended at $1.91 with investors trading 5,000 units, Limners and Bards sank 16 cents to close at $1.51 with an exchange of 76,391 shares, Main Event rose 30 cents to end at $14.30, with 50 stock units crossing the market. MFS Capital Partners fell 11 cents in closing at $1.98 with traders dealing in 103,000 stocks, Spur Tree Spices skidded 23 cents to $2.31 and closed after 145,457 units were traded and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to end at $2 with investors dealing in 194,912 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market bounces as year-end prices adjust
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 38 percent and the value 40 percent lower than Wednesday with trading taking place in 41 securities compared with 39 on Wednesday and ended with 13 rising, 15 declining and 13 closing unchanged as some prices that enjoyed a year end bounce continue to normalise.
Investors traded 3,646,469 shares for $7,879,162 compared with 5,922,564 units at $13,058,153 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 88,938 shares at $192,175, compared to 151,861 units at $334,824 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 151,373 stock units at $306,101 compared with 181,138 stock units at $360,415 on the previous day well off from December that closed with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
iCreate led trading with 612,599 shares for 16.8 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 573,561 units for 15.7 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 415,210 units for 11.4 percent market share.
At the close, 
the Junior Market Index climbed 29.96 points to finish at 3,792.26.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of trading on Thursday, CAC 2000 dipped 35 cents to end at $4.50 after an exchange of 200 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 10 cents to end at $2.25, with 548 shares changing hands, Caribbean Flavours advanced 25 cents in closing at $1.92 after 4,199 stocks passed through the market. Dolphin Cove rose 70 cents to close at $20 with a transfer of 33,909 units, EduFocal rallied 14 cents to end at $1.74 with 262,714 shares clearing the market, Fontana increased 52 cents in closing at $10.60 in an exchange of 83,421 stock units. 
Fosrich fell 7 cents to $2.23, with traders dealing in 68,200 units, GWest Corporation skidded 8 cents and ended at 89 cents in an exchange of 10,000 stocks, Honey Bun climbed 19 cents to close at $6.30 with investors trading 2,936 shares. Lumber Depot sank 26 cents to end at $2.39 closed after an exchange of 53,494 stocks, Mailpac Group shed 20 cents in closing at $2.04 with investors swapping 29,280 units, MFS Capital Partners dropped 21 cents to $2 after a transfer of 144,632 stock units. Paramount Trading gained 7 cents and ended at $1.39, with 27,581 shares crossing the exchange and Spur Tree Spices lost 33 cents to close at $2.24 in switching ownership of 113,129 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips into 2024
Trading started the new year with the market slipping moderately as market activity ended on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with an 83 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with an 87 percent lower the value than Friday and resulted from trading in 47 securities compared with 46 on Friday and ended with 15 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,655,336 shares for $17,937,572, down from 58,141,717 units at $143,291,459 on Friday.
Trading averaged 205,433 shares at $381,650, compared with 1,263,950 units at $3,115,032 on Friday compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 2.46 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 1.59 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 665,397 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 6.58 points to finish at 3,841.75.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $2.49 in closing at $27.49 after 5 units passed through the market, AMG Packaging skidded 62 cents to $2.40 after trading 23,184 stocks, Blue Power increased 41 cents to close at $3.07, with 973 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Flavours fell 25 cents to end at $1.67 with investors swapping 16,000 stock units, Derrimon Trading climbed 8 cents and ended at $1.93, with 56,341 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose $1.27 to $19.37 in an exchange of 1,635 units. Fontana dipped 19 cents in closing at $10.01, with 26,660 stocks crossing the market, 
Fosrich sank 19 cents and ended at $2.41 with investors trading 566,382 stock units, Future Energy shed 25 cents to close at $3.69 after exchanging 665,397 shares. GWest Corporation advanced 9 cents to end at 97 cents with 5,360 stock units crossing the market, Honey Bun lost 29 cents in closing at $6.11 with traders dealing in 9,717 units, following the release of full year results showing a 15 percent rise in profits to $232 million or 49 cents per share, Image Plus declined 13 cents to $1.92 while exchanging 24,853 stocks. Indies Pharma dropped 34 cents to end at $2.75 in trading 247,531 units, ISP Finance jumped $2.49 and ended at $31.49 after an exchange of 11 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 21 cents to close at $2.59 with investors dealing in 338,041 shares. Jetcon Corporation shed 9 cents to $1 in an exchange of 38,592 stock units, 
JFP Ltd declined 16 cents and ended at $1.38 after it closed with an exchange of 504,995 shares, Lasco Distributors rallied 25 cents to end at $4 as investors exchanged 172,225 stocks. Lasco Financial increased 16 cents in closing at $2.10 in switching ownership of 157,155 units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 33 cents to close at $4.64, with 437 stock units crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot sank 28 cents to $2.39 with investors transferring 82,830 shares. Main Event dropped 76 cents to end at $13.14 after a transfer of 2,176 units, ONE on ONE Educational lost 10 cents in closing at $1 with a transfer of 551,012 stocks, Regency Petroleum skidded 28 cents to close at $2.20 with an exchange of 340,150 stock units. Spur Tree Spices dipped 40 cents and ended at $2.36 after investors traded 388,474 shares and Tropical Battery popped 10 cents to $2 after an exchange of 155,094 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surges on Junior Market to end 2023
Trading surged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, as the market closed out 2023 with a small decline for the second time since 2020, with a huge jump in the volume of stocks traded rising by 460 percent and the value jumping 479 percent more than Thursday with trading concluding with 46 securities changing hands compared with 45 on Thursday and ended with prices of 24 rising, 12 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 58,141,717 stock units for $143,291,459 versus 10,388,698 units at $24,745,282 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 1,263,950 shares for $3,115,032 compared with 230,860 units at $549,895 on Thursday. Trading ended with the month to date averaging 466,866 units at $1,111,272 compared to 416,223 stocks at $983,962 on the previous day, well up on November that closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Tropical Battery led trading with 21.15 million shares for 36.4 percent of the volume followed by Future Energy with 10.21 million stock units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum closed with 4.69 million units for 8.1 percent market share, EduFocal with 2.96 million units for 5.1 percent market share, Image Plus ended with 2.89 million units changing hands for 5 percent of stocks traded and Fosrich closed with 2.25 million units for 3.9 percent of the overall volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 65.03 points to lock up trading for 2023 at 3,848.33 with a loss of 3.5 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power dipped 28 cents to end at $2.66, with 20,016 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cream increased 39 cents to $4.59 as investors exchanged 5,166 units, Caribbean Flavours climbed 34 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.92 as 124,565 shares passed through the market. Derrimon Trading sank 16 cents to close at $1.85 in an exchange of 1,540,620 stock units, Dolphin Cove popped $1 in closing at $18.10 with traders dealing in 48,385 shares, EduFocal fell 8 cents to $1.62 while exchanging 2,955,104 stocks. Fontana advanced 20 cents in closing at $10.20 with a transfer of 151,667 units, Fosrich rose 15 cents and ended at $2.60 with investors swapping 2,248,711 stock units, Future Energy gained 39 cents to end at $3.94 in an exchange of 10,214,342 shares. 
Image Plus rallied 11 cents to close at $2.05 with investors transferring 2,892,365 units, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents to close at $3.09 after an exchange of 853,375 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 21 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $2.80, with 1,789,229 stock units crossing the market. Jetcon Corporation rose 19 cents in closing at $1.09 with an exchange of 603,626 shares, Lasco Distributors declined 10 cents to close at $3.75 with 396,396 stock units clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing shed 19 cents and ended at $4.31 with investors dealing in 9,827 units. Mailpac Group gained 16 cents to $2.29 after an exchange of 617,768 stocks, MFS Capital Partners rallied 24 cents to end at $2.24 with investors trading 409,204 units, ONE on ONE Educational increased 8 cents in closing at $1.10, with 908,832 shares changing hands. 
Paramount Trading climbed 17 cents and ended at $1.60 in trading 5,000 stock units, Regency Petroleum increased 22 cents to close at $2.48 after 4,687,683 stocks changed hands and Spur Tree Spices dropped 57 cents to close out the year at $2.76 after investors traded trading 1,707,764 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
