The JSE Junior Market Index at an all-time high.
Following a long run with the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market failing to take out the record 2019 high, the market ended for a second consecutive day at a new record closing high on Friday, with the Market Index gaining 26.21 points to finish the day at 3,695.94 after trading during the day at a high of 3,717.45 and ended with the volume of stocks traded, declining 31 percent and the value slipping 22 percent lower than on Thursday.
A total of 42 securities traded on Friday compared to 43 on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, 18 declining and seven closing unchanged. Five stocks hit 52 weeks highs during trading with four ended with a 52 weeks closing highs. The four ending with 52 weeks’ closing highs are Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Paramount Trading and Spur Tree Spices while Elite Diagnostic traded at an intraday high of $4.40 but closed much lower at the end.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. 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 2022.
A total of 9,892,920 shares were traded for $34,889,559 compared to 14,330,907 units at $44,562,678 on Thursday, with Spur Tree Spices leading trading with 2.86 million shares for 28.9 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery, 1.29 million units with 13.1 percent of the day’s trade and Consolidated Bakeries with 835,948 units for 8.4 percent market share.
Trading averaged 235,546 shares at $830,704 in contrast to 333,277 shares at $1,036,341 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 319,265 units at $1,177,146, compared to 323,991 units at $1,196,703 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 409,209 units at $1,318,877.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $1 to end at $25 after trading 15,121 shares, AMG Packaging rallied 27 cents to $3.59 in an exchange of 69,316 stocks, Cargo Handlers declined 15 cents in closing at $6.85, with 7,457 stock units changing hands. Caribbean Flavours popped 14 cents to $2.10, with 69,312 units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove advanced $3.39 to close at $25.99 after 320,349 stocks changed hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 27 cents to $3.73 in switching ownership of 109,106 stock units. Everything Fresh climbed 11 cents in ending at $1.10, with 323,809 units clearing the market, Fontana rose 25 cents to close at $8.10 after trading 144,018 shares, Fosrich increased 12 cents in closing at $14.95 with 40,024 units crossing the exchange. 
Honey Bun gained 34 cents to end at $9.59 in exchanging 14,708 shares, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 20 cents in closing at $3.10, trading 16,484 stock units, ISP Finance climbed $1.51 to close at $37 with an exchange of 231 stocks. Lasco Financial fell 18 cents to end at $3.07 while exchanging 9,377 stock units, Medical Disposables shed 57 cents after ending at $6.72 with the swapping of 109,016 shares, Spur Tree Spices increased 33 cents to $2.76 in an exchange of 2,862,464 stocks. SSL Venture lost 17 cents to close at $1.73 after exchanging 156,015 units, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 10 cents to end at $5.90 exchanging 21,937 stock units and tTech dropped 20 cents after ending at $4 in trading 800 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Market activity led to all 43 Junior Market securities trading on Thursday compared to 42 on Wednesday and ended with 23 rising, 12 declining and eight, closing unchanged.
At the close, CAC 2000 rallied 72 cents to end at $8.25 in an exchange of 50 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped 30 cents to close at $7, with 3,570 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cream climbed 27 cents to end at $5.27 after exchanging 2,327 stocks. Dolphin Cove popped 10 cents to close at $22.60 after trading 130,213 units with the price hitting an intraday high of $24.40. Elite Diagnostic advanced 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $4 while exchanging 49,005 stock units, Fontana rose 16 cents to $7.85 with the swapping of 346,988 shares. Fosrich gained 26 cents in closing at $14.83 with 11,944 stocks crossing the exchange, Future Energy Source increased 12 cents to close at $3.41 in trading 617,019 units, Honey Bun declined 30 cents to end at $9.25 in switching ownership of 130,247 shares. Indies Pharma shed 7 cents after ending at $3.08, with 74,482 stock units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance increased 33 cents in closing at $3.30 after an exchange of 100 stocks, ISP Finance fell $2.51 to end at $35.49 and trading 336 units. Jamaican Teas rose 16 cents after ending at $4.26 in an exchange of 367,087 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 30 cents to $4.63 trading 3,776 stocks, Lumber Depot gained 14 cents to close at $3.18 after an exchange of 578,815 units.
Medical Disposables gained 57 cents to $7.29 trading 189 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 16 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ of $2.03 with an exchange of 236,189 stocks, SSL Venture fell 30 cents to end at $1.90 in trading 225,157 stock units and tTech popped 20 cents to close at $4.20 after 36,447 shares changed hands.
A total of 42 securities traded similar to Tuesday and ended with 15 rising, 16 declining and 11, closing unchanged. The Junior Market Index climbed 23.96 points to settle at 3,642.76, just 20 points away from the August 2019 record close.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1 in closing at $24 after an exchange of 5,226 shares, AMG Packaging advanced 15 cents to close at $3.30 in trading 149,663 stock units, Blue Power lost 9 cents in ending at $3.16 after 4,655 stocks were traded. CAC 2000 dropped 77 cents to $7.53 in switching ownership of 2,921 units, Cargo Handlers fell 21 cents to $7.30 in an exchange of 1,001 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to finish at $2.99 with the swapping of 144,260 shares. Caribbean Cream shed 20 cents in ending at $5, with 301,934 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries declined 9 cents to close at $1 in trading 160,517 stock units, Elite Diagnostic popped 21 cents to end at $3.70, with 78,665 units clearing the market. Fosrich dropped 23 cents in closing at $14.57 while exchanging 49,509 stock units, Future Energy Source fell 11 cents to $3.29 with an exchange of 1,936,712 shares, iCreate declined 7 cents to close at 78 cents after 338,244 stocks crossed the market. Iron Rock Insurance lost 13 cents to end at $2.97 with 15,424 units changing hands, ISP Finance spiked $8.50 to $38 after exchanging one stock unit, Jamaican Teas rallied 7 cents to $4.10 trading 39,341 stocks. 
Knutsford Express rose 10 cents to $8 with 12,150 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 37 cents in closing at $4.93 after 642,854 shares passed through the exchange, Lumber Depot rose 7 cents to $3.04 in trading 885,926 stocks. Mailpac Group gained 13 cents to end at $3.34 after trading 595,822 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 16 cents to close at $2.46 with 2,218,267 stock units changing hands, SSL Venture shed 9 cents to $2.20 after 479,032 stock units crossed the market and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 24 cents to close at $5.99 after trading 54,587 units.
At the close of the market, all but one security traded, resulting from 42 active securities compared to 39 on Monday and ended with 14 rising, 17 declining and 11, closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial shed $2 in closing at $23, with trading of 35,148 shares, Blue Power popped 10 cents to end at $3.25 while trading 100,829 stock units, Cargo Handlers climbed 31 cents to close at $7.51 after exchanging 255,892 stocks. Caribbean Cream fell 20 cents to $5.20 in trading 65,225 units, Caribbean Flavours gained 7 cents after ending at $1.97, with 1,128 stocks crossing the market, Dolphin Cove rallied 19 cents to $22.50 trading 119,669 shares. Fosrich fell 15 cents in closing at $14.80 after exchanging 85,510 units, Future Energy Source lost 9 cents in ending at $3.40 with the swapping of 1,866,716 stock units, Honey Bun rose 9 cents to close at $9.59, with 62,258 units changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance advanced 7 cents to end at $3.10 in trading 90 stock units, ISP Finance dropped $6.80 to end at $29.50 in an exchange of 1,217 shares, Jamaican Teas shed 16 cents to $4.03, with 259,746 stocks crossing the exchange. Knutsford Express dropped 9 cents to close at $7.90 in exchanging 10,000 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 40 cents to finish at $4.56, with 145,699 stocks clearing the market, Mailpac Group declined 9 cents in closing at $3.21 with an exchange of 765,392 stock units. 
Medical Disposables fell 77 cents to $6.72 trading 34,036 units, Paramount Trading increased 24 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.87 in switching ownership of 325,700 stocks, Spur Tree Spices gained 9 cents to close at $2.30 trading 2,987,477 units. SSL Venture advanced 56 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.29 while exchanging 460,347 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 15 cents to end at $5.75 with the swapping of 21,345 shares.
A total of 39 securities traded versus 40 on Friday and ended with 20 rising, 10 declining and nine ending unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial fell $1.28 to $25, with 3,328 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging gained 15 cents in closing at $3.20, with 183,960 stock units clearing the market, Blue Power declined 36 cents to $3.15 after 3,435 units changed hands. Caribbean Flavours dropped 7 cents to end at $1.90 with the swapping of 475,469 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 10 cents to close at $1.09 in switching ownership of 365,585 shares, Dolphin Cove rallied 6 cents to close at $22.31, after 85,458 units crossed the exchange. Everything Fresh increased 5 cents to 99 cents, with 324 stocks crossing the market, Fosrich rose 46 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $14.95 with an exchange of 119,385 stock units, Honey Bun shed 10 cents in closing at $9.50 after exchanging 28,435 shares. Indies Pharma advanced 5 cents to $3.15 after swapping 123,906 stock units, Jamaican Teas popped 20 cents to $4.19 in an exchange of 773,560 stocks, Jetcon Corporation fell 5 cents in closing at 88 cents trading 140,581 units. KLE Group increased 16 cents in ending at $2.96 after trading 200 stock units, Lasco Financial advanced 19 cents to close at $3.22 after 153,623 shares changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing popped 40 cents to end at $4.96, with 55,467 units crossing the market. 
Lumber Depot rallied 7 cents to close at $2.97 while exchanging 322,756 stocks, Paramount Trading gained 26 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.63 after exchanging 159,238 units, Spur Tree Spices rose 6 cents to $2.21 after exchanging 4,733,067 shares. SSL Venture climbed 43 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $1.73 while exchanging 417,575 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies rose 16 cents to $5.90, with 54,635 stocks crossing the market.
Trading calmed, with Spur Tree slipping under 10 million units, but still played a big part in the 16,579,452 shares that traded for $57,855,045, down from 26,022,456 units at $87,517,746 on Thursday. Spur Tree Spices led trading with 8.57 million shares for 51.7 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 2.3 million units for 13.9 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas traded 765,118 units for 4.6 percent market share.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.27 to end at $26.28 after exchanging 3,509 shares, CAC 2000 rose 77 cents to close at $8.27 after trading 100 units, Cargo Handlers shed 28 cents to $7.20 with the swapping of 47,124 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 13 cents in closing at $2.90 in switching ownership of 471,657 stocks, Caribbean Cream advanced 25 cents to $5.40 while exchanging 100 shares, Consolidated Bakeries fell 11 cents to close at 99 cents 313,892 units crossing the exchange. Dolphin Cove gained $2.25 to end at $22.25 in trading 698,461 stocks, Express Catering lost 25 cents in closing at $5.10, with 478,008 stock units clearing the market, Fosrich popped $2.44 to a record $14.49 after 5,368 units changed hands. Future Energy Source increased 25 cents ending at $3.45 after trading 2,299,167 stock units, General Accident declined 30 cents to close at $6 in an exchange of 28,495 shares, Honey Bun climbed 15 cents to end at $9.60, with 1,539 stocks crossing the market. iCreate shed 9 cents after ending at 79 cents in exchanging 378,448 units, Iron Rock Insurance gained 10 cents to $3, with 2,287 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance rallied $3.30 in closing at $36.30 trading 34 shares. Jamaican Teas increased 10 cents to $3.99 with an exchange of 765,118 stock units, KLE Group fell 15 cents in ending at $2.80 after exchanging 17,063 stock units, Lasco Financial popped 7 cents in closing at $3.03 with 59,980 shares changing hands. 
Limners and Bards lost 7 cents to close at $3.42 with an exchange of 40,153 units, Lumber Depot declined 9 cents to end at $2.90 after an exchange of 435,151 stocks, Main Event dropped 40 cents in closing at $3.98, with 32,127 units clearing the market. Spur Tree Spices fell 13 cents to $2.15 in trading 8,566,940 shares, SSL Venture popped 40 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.30 after exchanging 187,244 stock units and tTech declined 20 cents to close at $4 with 6,760 stocks changing hands.
All 43 securities listed on the Junior Market traded on Thursday, up from 41 on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 17 declining and eight ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16. 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 2022.
Lasco Financial dropped 32 cents to $2.96 after 34,587 stock units changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing fell 10 cents to $4.55 with the swapping of 123,866 stock units, Main Event rose 40 cents to close at $4.38 with an exchange of 6,491 shares. Spur Tree Spices lost 37 cents in closing at $2.28 after exchanging 15,232,910 stock units, SSL Venture lost 8 cents to end at 90 cents, with 206 units crossing the exchange and tTech rallied 15 cents in closing at $4.20 trading 5,699 units.
A total of 41 securities traded on Wednesday similar to Tuesday and ended with 18 rising, 13 declining and 10 closing unchanged. At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 15.44 points to settle at 3,502.75.
Trading averaged 1,329,645 shares at $4,805,596 up from 471,623 shares at $1,411,805 on Tuesday with month to date, averaging 302,573 units at $1,199,046, compared to 209,819 units at $873,344 previously. December closed with an average of 409,209 units at $1,318,877.
Limners and Bards gained 10 cents to close at $3.49 after trading 17,843 stock units, Medical Disposables fell 45 cents in closing at $7.50 with the swapping of 2,112 shares, Spur Tree Spices advanced 33 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $2.65 and closed with 25,673,548 stocks changing hands and tTech declined 25 cents in closing at $4.05 after exchanging 2,059 units.
Market activity led to 41 securities trading compared to 39 on Monday and ended with 17 rising, 16 declining and eight, closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial rose $2.75 ending at $23.50, the highest price since January 2021, with the swapping of 20,246 shares, AMG Packaging shed 5 cents to end at $3.60, with 535,137 stock units crossing the exchange, Blue Power declined 25 cents in closing at $3.10 after 23,354 units changed hands. CAC 2000 fell 30 cents to close at $8 while exchanging 2,401 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 8 cents to $2.95 after trading 183,124 units, Caribbean Cream lost 30 cents to close at $5, with an exchange of 177,936 stocks. Fontana gained 10 cents in closing at $7.70 trading 86,777 stock units, Future Energy Source lost 6 cents after ending at $2.93 in exchanging 1,568,726 shares, General Accident popped 31 cents to $6.30, with 301 stocks clearing the market. Honey Bun climbed 28 cents to end at $9.48 in exchanging 39,155 shares, Indies Pharma rallied 15 cents to end at $3.15, with 60,470 units crossing the market, Iron Rock Insurance shed 16 cents at $3.25 with an exchange of 1,630 stock units. Jamaican Teas dropped 6 cents in closing at $3.79, with 430,951 stock units changing hands, Lasco Distributors advanced 5 cents to close at $3.30 in exchanging 35,410 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 cents to end at $4.70 in switching ownership of 2,355,566 shares. 
Mailpac Group advanced 6 cents to $3.36 in an exchange of 403,848 stocks, Main Event fell 40 cents to $3.90 trading 26,432 stocks, Medical Disposables increased $1.84 to a 52 weeks’ high of $7.95, with 29,190 stock units crossing the exchange. Spur Tree Spices rallied 57 cents to end at $2.32 in trading 10,690,992 units and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 10 cents to close at $5.75 finishing at 5,105 shares.
Market activity ended with 39 securities trading compared to 40 on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 49 percent and the value down by 74 percent from Friday activities. At the close 16 stocks gained, 15 declined and eight traded unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial rose 75 cents ending at $20.75 with the swapping of 199,203 shares, as some of the long overhanging of selling seem to be easing, AMG Packaging advanced 25 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.65, with 410,066 stocks changing hands after posting an increase of 146 percent in profits for the first quarter to November after trading on Friday. Caribbean Cream lost 59 cents to $5.30 while exchanging 207,038 units as investors reacted negatively to a loss in the company’s November quarterly results. Consolidated Bakeries declined 23 cents to close at $1.10 after 281,574 stock units crossed the market, Dolphin Cove gained 95 cents to end at $20 in trading 130,426 shares, Express Catering climbed 31 cents to $5.51 trading 23,600 stocks. Fontana increased 20 cents to end at $7.60 in exchanging 182,312 stock units, Fosrich dropped 10 cents in closing at $11.89 after 13,625 units changed hands, General Accident shed 30 cents to close at $5.99 in an exchange of 3,300 stocks. Honey Bun popped 20 cents to $9.20, with 30,034 units crossing the exchange, Lasco Distributors rallied 15 cents to close at $3.25 after exchanging 57,411 stock units, Mailpac Group rose 20 cents to $3.30 with an exchange of 274,246 shares. 
Medical Disposables fell $1.29 to end at $6.11 with 31,057 shares changing hands, Spur Tree Spices rallied 43 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.75 as 1,369,946 units traded and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 20 cents in closing at $5.65, with 6,830 stock units clearing the market.