The Junior Market Index fell 25.49 points to close at 3,734.49 after it traded in positive territory in the morning session with the market opening at 3,810.31 points. Trading ended, with a 43 percent 
decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 38 percent drop in value compared to Tuesday following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 2,100,844 shares for $5,391,292 down from 3,694,150 units at $8,717,041 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 46,685 shares at $119,806, compared with 83,958 units at $198,115 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 134,017 units at $307,315 compared to 149,309 stock units at $340,147 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
On a day of mediocre trading, Stationery and Office Supplies led with just 251,673 shares for 12 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 228,475 units for 10.9 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 224,947 stock units for 10.7 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
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, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 15 cents to $2.20 as investors exchanged 4,237 shares, Everything Fresh shed 20 cents to end at $1.54 in switching ownership of 52,476 stocks, GWest Corporation advanced 9 cents in closing at 99 cents with an exchange of 25 shares. 
Honey Bun popped 21 cents to finish at $7.29 in an exchange of 27,774 stock units, ISP Finance dropped $4.29 and ended at $26.71 with investors dealing in just 288 shares, Jamaican Teas sank 10 cents to close at $2.44 in an exchange of 22,768 stocks. Knutsford Express skidded 68 cents to $11.20 with traders dealing in 3,237 units, Mailpac Group lost 10 cents in closing at $2, 101,306 stock units crossing the market, Main Event increased 43 cents and ended at $14 in trading 19,931 shares and Paramount Trading dipped 20 cents to close at $1.26 after 46,980 units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market recovers some recent losses
Rising stocks outnumbered falling ones at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with activity in 44 securities compared to 45 on Monday and ending with prices of 18 rising, 13 declining and 13 closed unchanged following a with 60 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 63 percent lower value than on Monday
Trading ended with an exchange of 3,694,150 shares for $8,717,041 down from 9,154,038 units at $23,562,473 on Monday.
Trading averaged 83,958 shares at $198,115, compared with 203,423 units at $523,611 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 149,309 units at $340,147 compared to 162,808 stock units at $369,487 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 887,601 shares for 24 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 450,473 units for 12.2 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 311,439 units for 8.4 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rallied 14.99 points to close at 3,759.98.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $2.06 and ended at $19.80 crossing the exchange 50,337 shares, Cargo Handlers increased $1.40 to $13.90 with traders dealing in 23 units, Caribbean Cream popped 32 cents to end at $3.90 in an exchange of 139 shares. 
Caribbean Flavours fell 14 cents in closing at $1.56 with 32,003 stock units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained 29 cents to close at $19.70 with an exchange of 3,178 shares, Express Catering rose 24 cents to finish at $3.94 after 12,001 units passed through the market. Fontana skidded 33 cents to $8.66 as investors exchanged 71,814 stocks, Future Energy climbed 8 cents to end at $3.48 with a transfer of 92,469 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 8 cents in closing at $7.08 after an exchange of 17,379 shares. JFP Ltd rallied 7 cents and ended at $1.28 with investors transferring 63,260 stock units, Main Event sank 23 cents to close at $13.57, with 4,176 stocks changing hands and tTech increased 21 cents to finish at $2.22 with investors trading 9,035 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Third day of decline for Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 145 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, valued 233 percent more than Friday with trading in 45 
securities compared with 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 19 rising, 18 declining and eight stocks closing unchanged and Medical Disposables ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.28 with the market Index falling for a third consecutive day.
The market closed with trading of 9,154,038 shares for $23,562,473 up from 3,732,698 units at $7,075,691 on Friday.
Trading averaged 203,423 shares at $523,611 compared with 93,317 units at $176,892 on Friday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 162,808 units at $369,487 compared to 151,929 stock units at $328,204 on the previous trading day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Express Catering led trading with 3.61 million shares for 39.5 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.63 million units for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 1.02 million units for 11.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 21.57 points to close at 3,744.99.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, 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 one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $2 to finish at $21.86 with traders dealing in 46 shares, AMG Packaging rose 30 cents to $3.42, with 13,950 stocks crossing the market, CAC 2000 gained 63 cents to close at $4.45 with a transfer of just one share.
Cargo Handlers dropped $1.45 to end at $12.50 as investors exchanged 4,230 units, Fontana popped 16 cents in closing at $8.99 after investors ended trading 34,403 shares, Future Energy sank 9 cents and ended at $3.40 with investors trading 177,701 units. Honey Bun dipped 8 cents to $7 in an exchange of 3,406 stock units, Jamaican Teas climbed 13 cents to end at $2.53 after 5,000 stock units passed through the market, Knutsford Express increased 88 cents in closing at $11.88 with an exchange of 6,176 shares. Lumber Depot advanced 36 cents to close at $2.70, with 990 units changing hands, Mailpac Group rose 10 cents to finish at $2.10 after a transfer of 482,420 stocks, Main Event advanced 19 cents and ended at $13.80 with investors dealing in 18,295 stock units and tTech lost 29 cents to $2.01 in an exchange of 83 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
CPJ enters ICTOP10 Broilers out
With what has become the norm, the markets pulled back to start April from the pump-up end of month prices in March, resulting in varied outcomes for the ICTOP10 and ending with Jamaica Broilers falling from the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Producers entering at the number 9 spot.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Junior Market TOP10 this past week.
Caribbean Producers is the primary supplier of foods and beverages to the growing tourist industry on the north coast of Jamaica and St Lucia, the company is also expanding its meat processing arm as well as retail areas in both countries. ICInsider.com’s projected EPS is $1.35 for the fiscal year to June 2024. With plans for long term growth in the local tourism sector, the company has a B base for growth for many years to come.
Jamaica Broilers although out of the TOP10, is undervalued and possesses good long term growth prospects as they constantly spend resources to expand or modernise the operation.
In Main Market activity this past week, General Accident jumped 16 percent to $6.15, a 52 weeks’ high, with buying interest in recent weeks, being very high and active supply in the market low, a recipe for higher prices ahead and Key Insurance lost 14 percent to end at $2.22.
The Junior Market closed the week with a 17 percent jump for Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51 while Consolidated Bakeries gained 8 percent to $2.19 but Jamaican Teas dropped 13 percent to $2.40 and Caribbean Cream lost 8 percent to land at $3.58 while Express Catering and Access Financial fell by 7 percent to $3.70 and $19.86 respectively.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 274 percent by May 2025, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 183 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 30 and 27 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Lasco companies out of ICTOP10
Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.
There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Big drop for Junior Market on Friday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with a big drop in the market index following a 10 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 28 percent drop in value compared to market activity on Thursday with trading in 40 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of nine rising, 20 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dived 51.06 points to end at 3,766.56, down 2.1 percent for the year to date.
The market closed on Friday with trading of 3,732,698 shares valued at $7,075,691 compared with 4,130,132 stock units at $9,762,303 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 93,317 shares at $176,892, compared with 93,867 units at $221,871 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 151,929 stock units at $328,204 compared with 170,245 stocks at $375,489 on the previous day and compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.23 million shares for 32.8 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 432,820 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade as the price hit a 52 weeks’ low in trading and Fosrich with 222,006 stock for 5.9 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on the 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 none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined $2.09 to $19.86 after an exchange of 121 shares, AMG Packaging fell 34 cents and ended at $3.12, with 500 units changing hands, Blue Power rose 23 cents in closing at $3.23 after an exchange of 69,564 shares. CAC 2000 dropped 67 cents to finish at $3.82 with investors transferring 569 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 15 cents to end at $2.35 in an exchange of 84,264 shares, Caribbean Cream shed 30 cents to close at $3.58 with investors swapping 2,030 units. Derrimon Trading sank 10 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 207,716 stocks, 
Elite Diagnostic popped 25 cents in closing at $1.66 with traders dealing in 1,471 stock units, Image Plus skidded 7 cents to finish at $1.88 as investors exchanged 12,718 shares. Jetcon Corporation lost 7 cents and ended at 88 cents in trading 2,056 stock units, Knutsford Express slipped 80 cents to end at $11 with investors exchanging 2,293 stocks, Limners and Bards dipped 41 cents to close at $1.34 with a transfer of 11,395 units. Lumber Depot sank 36 cents to close at $2.34 following the trading of 181,052 shares, Main Event lost 66 cents to end at $13.61 in an exchange of 39,401 stock units, ONE on ONE Educational slipped 7 cents in closing at 92 cents with investors trading 1,225,460 stocks and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.18 after a transfer of 26,549 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 60 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent lower value than Wednesday flowing from
trading in 44 securities up from 39 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 4,130,132 shares for $9,762,303 compared with 10,446,628 units at $22,291,796 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 93,867 shares at $221,871, compared with 267,862 units at $571,585 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 170,245 units at $375,489 compared to 210,253 stock units at $455,956 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Express Catering led trading with 805,692 shares for 19.5 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 793,618 units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 461,757 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 17.46 points to end the day at 3,817.62.
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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 rallied 24 cents to close at $4.49 with traders dealing in 29 stock units, Dolla Financial dropped 10 cents to $2.70 as investors exchanged 235,216 shares, Dolphin Cove popped 41 cents to finish at $19.39 after trading 320 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 26 cents and ended at $1.41 with a transfer of 64,794 stocks, Fontana skidded 10 cents to end at $8.80 with investors swapping 129,128 units, 
Iron Rock Insurance gained 16 cents in closing at $2.51, with 76 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas lost 28 cents to $2.40 with investors trading 35,389 shares, Knutsford Express slipped 9 cents in closing at $11.80, with 1,965 stock units changing hands, Lasco Financial rose 11 cents and ended at $1.91 in trading 5,980 shares. Limners and Bards climbed 28 cents to finish at $1.75 with 1,449 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents to end at $1.53 with an exchange of 461,757 stocks, Tropical Battery shed 15 cents to close at $2.05 after 99,901 stock units passed through the market and tTech increased 29 cents to $2.30 in switching ownership of just one share.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market’s big drop on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gave up all of last week’s Thursday gains but still retained a fair bit of the 84 points rally in the holiday-shortened trading week, following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of 12 rising, including GWest Corporation that traded at a 52 weeks’ high with 24 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed with an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded of 7,214,648 shares for $16,008,489, 84 percent lower than on Thursday’s 37,301,154 units at $98,792,252.
Trading averaged 160,326 shares at $355,744 compared to 847,754 units at $2,245,278 on Thursday compared to March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.58 million shares for 21.9 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.31 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 800,308 stocks for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 62.20 points to close at 3,813.83, to be back in the red for the year.
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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased 69 cents to end at $21.95 with investors trading 403 shares, Blue Power shed 25 cents to $2.80, with 26,771 stock units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.82 with investors dealing in 1,200 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 11 cents and ended at $1.70 in swapping 22,162 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 15 cents in closing at $2.18, with 102 shares crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained 65 cents to end at $19.40 in an exchange of 3,115 units. Elite Diagnostic dropped 9 cents to $1.59 with traders dealing in 28,332 stocks, Everything Fresh fell 10 cents in closing at $1.70 as investors exchanged 97,487 stock units, Express Catering skidded 18 cents and ended at $3.80 in trading 6,841 shares. Fontana sank 10 cents to close at $8.88 after 27,994 stock units passed through the market, Fosrich dipped 27 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 279,618 units, Future Energy declined 15 cents to close at $3.50 with 362,773 stocks clearing the market. Honey Bun lost 23 cents to end at $6.77 in an exchange of 6,393 shares, Iron Rock Insurance rose 21 cents to $2.35 with investors swapping just one stock, ISP Finance dropped $6.41 and ended at $24.50, with 934 units crossing the exchange. Jamaican Teas declined 25 cents to $2.50 after a transfer of 673,503 stock units, Knutsford Express sank 10 cents to close at $11.80 after 24,757 shares passed through the market, Limners and Bards skidded 32 cents and ended at $1.47 after an exchange of 1,282 stocks. Main Event advanced 71 cents to end at $14.29 with investors trading 51,903 units, Medical Disposables shed 20 cents in closing at $2.30 after an exchange of 3,500 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 11 cents to $1.49 in trading 21,516 shares. Regency Petroleum dropped 11 cents in closing at $2.18, with 228,879 stocks crossing the market and Spur Tree Spices dipped 33 cents to end at $2.91 while exchanging 1,579,159 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 38 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 43 percent decline in value compared with Tuesday with trading in 44 securities compared with 41 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 
17 declining and 13 closing unchanged following the migration from the Junior Market of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing to the Main Market, resulting in 46 listings now on the Junior Market.
The market closed with trading of 7,170,788 shares for $14,644,800 compared with 11,49,682 units at $25,742,485 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 162,972 shares at $332,836, compared with 280,382 units at $627,865 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 190,689 units at $404,736 compared to 192,229 stock units at $408,731 on the previous day and February with an average of 243,917 units at $566,909.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.51 million shares for 21 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.06 million units for 14.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 995,605 stock units for 13.9 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 13.03 points to end at 3,829.89.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5, 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 two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 10 cents to end at $2.15 after exchanging just 3,502 stock units, Dolphin Cove rose 90 cents in closing at $19.40 in switching ownership of 3,252 shares, Express Catering popped 10 cents to $4, with 23,013 units crossing the market. Fosrich popped 9 cents and ended at $2.44 with a transfer of 995,605 stocks, 
Iron Rock Insurance sank 38 cents to close at $2.14 after 45 shares passed through the market, JFP Ltd increased 12 cents to $1.45 with investors transferring 399,930 stocks. KLE Group declined 36 cents to end at $2.03 after trading a mere one stock unit, Knutsford Express advanced $1.14 in closing at $11.94 with an exchange of 355 stock units, Paramount Trading shed 25 cents to close at $1.24 after an exchange of 3,283 shares. Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents and ended at $2.54 in an exchange of 1,060,608 stocks and tTech dropped 29 cents to $2.01, with 250 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market ekes out gains on Monday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 78 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, following a 64 percent drop in the value of stocks traded compared with Friday, following trading in 46 securities up from 44 on Friday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 21 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market ended trading of 5,931,329 shares for $11,322,870 compared with 26,794,881 units at $31,045,200 on Friday.
Trading averaged 128,942 shares at $246,149 compared to 608,975 units at $705,573 on Friday with a month to date, average of 187,416 units at $396,767 compared to 191,231 stock units at $406,595 on the previous day and February with an average of 253,246 units at $637,481.
Fosrich led trading with 999,041 shares for 16.8 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 614,908 stocks for 10.4 percent of the day’s trade and Everything Fresh with 526,860 units for 8.9 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index increased 1.10 points to cease trading at 3,793.15.
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 three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging declined 33 cents to end at $3.11 as investors exchanged 1,516 stocks, Cargo Handlers popped $1.28 in closing at $14.11 with just three units passing through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 15 cents in closing at $2.20, after an exchange of 120,394 shares. Caribbean Cream fell 19 cents to close at $3.69 with 489 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Flavours skidded 11 cents and ended at $1.59 with traders dealing in 50,101 shares, Derrimon Trading popped 10 cents to close at $2 in an exchange of 614,908 stock units. Dolla Financial sank 10 cents to end at $2.64 after investors traded 124,086 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 39 cents in closing at $19.31 with 321 units crossing the exchange, Everything Fresh climbed 10 cents to close at $1.70 after a transfer of 526,860 stocks. Express Catering dropped 6 cents and ended at $3.94 with investors dealing in 783 shares, Fontana dipped 10 cents to $9 crossing the market 32,314 stock units, Fosrich rose 15 cents in closing at $2.30 while exchanging 999,041 units. Future Energy fell 12 cents to $3.48 with a transfer of 113,618 shares, Honey Bun dropped 56 cents to close at $6.50, with 10,501 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd lost 6 cents and ended at $1.33 after an exchange of 13,070 stocks. 
KLE Group rallied 24 cents to $2.39 with investors trading 139 units, Knutsford Express declined 44 cents and ended at $11.50 after exchanging 10,251 shares, Lasco Financial shed 29 cents in closing at $1.62 in trading 77,041 stock units. Limners and Bards dropped 30 cents to end at $1.47, with 27,676 stocks crossing the market, Lumber Depot advanced 15 cents to close at $2.70 with investors swapping 143,201 units, Main Event sank 94 cents to $13.58 after 4,227 stock units changed hands. MFS Capital Partners skidded 10 cents to close at $1.60 with investors trading 109,702 units, ONE on ONE Educational gained 12 cents in closing at $1 in switching ownership of 458,111 shares, Paramount Trading lost 35 cents and ended at $1.20 but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.10 with an exchange of 250,023 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies popped 10 cents to end at $1.60, with 424,355 shares crossing the market and tTech dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.30 after an exchange of 310 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.