Rising stocks outnumbered those declining on a 2 to 1 ratio at the close of trading on Friday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange after an 18 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded but with a 10 percent lower value than on Thursday following trading in all 49 listed securities, up from 44 on Thursday and ended with 22 rising, 11 declining and 16 closing unchanged.
A total of 10,473,528 shares were traded for $25,758,434 up from 8,850,328 units at $28,524,287 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 213,745 shares at $525,682 compared to 201,144 units at $648,279 on Thursday with the month to date averaging 326,336 units at $752,089 versus 336,926 stock units at $773,383 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 3.33 million shares for 31.8 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 1.14 million units for 10.9 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 725,221 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 14.15 points to settle at 3,840.26.
The PE Ratio is a measure used in computing appropriate stock values and averages 12 at the end of trading. The PE ratios of Junior Market are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with a bid higher than its last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial dipped 23 cents to end at $22.99 with the swapping of 10 shares, Blue Power fell 35 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.05 after switching ownership of 16,700 stock units, CAC 2000 rose 45 cents to $8.35 after 13,353 units passed through the market. Cargo Handlers declined $2 to close at $12.99 after an exchange of 3,330 stocks, Dolphin Cove advanced 56 cents to $14.96 trading 6,472 units, Express Catering rallied 29 cents to end at $5.08 with 9,633 stocks changing hands. Fontana gained 30 cents in closing at $8.95 with a transfer of 134,996 shares, 
Future Energy Source shed 12 cents to $4.60 after investors traded 265,974 stock units, General Accident rose 55 cents in ending at $4.70 in exchanging 64,731 shares, following the release of full year results showing a doubling of profit over the prior year, with earnings per share of 52 cents. GWest Corporation popped 16 cents to close at $1.06 with 221 units changing hands, Indies Pharma gained 23 cents ending at $2.79 in switching ownership of 1,541 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rose 15 cents to $2.03 in an exchange of 4,400 stocks. Jamaican Teas popped 10 cents in closing at $2.55, with investors transferring 520,653 stock units, Lasco Distributors gained 15 cents to finish at $2.75 after trading 1,576 stocks, Lumber Depot rallied 13 cents to $2.28 as investors exchanged 1,137,806 units. Main Event advanced $1.35 to $10.40 after 64,164 shares crossed the market, 
Paramount Trading lost 10 cents in closing at $2.20 in transferring 51,512 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies gained 29 cents to close at $14.85 with an exchange of 1,948 shares and tTech popped 9 cents ending at $2.50 in trading 10,001 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Five days of decline for Junior
Stocks closed lower for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a marginal fall in the market value, with 44 securities trading compared with 46 on Wednesday and ended with 14 rising, 21 declining and 9 closing unchanged following a 40 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and 35 percent lower value than on Wednesday.
A total of 8,850,328 shares were traded for $28,524,287 compared with 14,651,750 units at $43,936,024 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 201,144 shares at $648,279 compared to 318,516 units at $955,131 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 336,926 units at $773,383, compared with 349,451 stock units at $784,923 on the previous day. Trading in January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 1.36 million shares for 15.3 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 1.35 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade, ONE on ONE Educational with 1.01 million units for 11.4 percent and Iron Rock Insurance with 1.0 million units for 11.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 12.31 points to close at 3,826.11.
The PE Ratio, a measure of use in computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 50 cents in closing at $2.80 after 24,215 shares passed through the market, CAC 2000 rose 70 cents to end at $7.90 in exchanging 7 units, Consolidated Bakeries 
popped 33 cents to settle at $2.53 in trading 500 stocks. Dolphin Cove rallied 20 cents to $14.40 with investors transferring 71,702 stock units, Fosrich lost 9 cents to close at $3.22 with 372,910 stocks changing hands, GWest Corporation fell 19 cents to 90 cents as investors exchanged 172,277 shares. Image Plus Consultants lost 8 cents to end at $1.92 with a transfer of 1,358,099 stock units, Indies Pharma shed 24 cents to finish at $2.56 after 27,301 units passed through the market, Iron Rock Insurance dipped 15 cents in closing at $1.88 in switching ownership of 1,000,138 units. KLE Group shed 34 cents to end at $1.74 with the swapping of 35,525 stocks, Knutsford Express gained 75 cents in ending at $11.10 after trading 550,415 stock units, Lasco Distributors fell 25 cents to $2.60 in switching ownership of 5,538 shares. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 20 cents to $4 after exchanging 79,211 stock units, 
Limners and Bards declined 21 cents to close at $2.68 with a transfer of 554 shares, Lumber Depot shed 15 cents in closing at $2.15 with 14,663 units changing hands and Spur Tree Spices rose 14 cents to end at $2.89 trading 311,246 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market falls on Wednesday
Trading climbed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday with the volume of stocks traded rising 19 percent and valuing 13 percent more than on Tuesday, from the trading in 46 securities compared with 38 on Tuesday and ended with 13 rising, 19 declining and 14 closing unchanged, while two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ low and two traded at 52 weeks’ intraday low.
A total of 14,651,750 shares were traded for $43,936,024, up from 12,292,679 units at $38,830,902 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 318,516 shares at $955,131 compared with 323,492 units at $1,021,866 on Tuesday with the month to date averaging 349,451 units at $784,923 compared with 352,752 stock units at $766,757 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
JFP Ltd led trading with 4.55 million shares for 31 percent of total volume followed by Fontana with 1.54 million units for 10.5 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial with 1.31 million units for 9 percent market share, Derrimon Trading with 1.23 million units for 8.4 percent and Image Plus Consultants with 1.19 million units for 8.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 8.36 points to end at 3,838.42.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks use the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging shed 46 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.30 with an exchange of 68,761 shares, Blue Power traded 31,980 shares and closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.46 after slipping 6 cents, Cargo Handlers rose $2.01 to $14.99 in switching ownership of 1,205 stock units, Caribbean Cream gained 20 cents to end at $3.30 with the swapping of 20,000 units. 
Consolidated Bakeries dipped 26 cents to $2.20 in transferring 17,635 stocks, Fosrich popped 8 cents in closing at $3.31 after trading 180,199 stocks, Future Energy Source lost 10 cents after ending at $4.65 with a transfer of 181,272 shares. General Accident shed 36 cents to close at $4.10 with 22,000 units crossing the exchange, GWest Corporation gained 11 cents to close at $1.09 with investors trading 1,157 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 44 cents to $7.45 after trading 18,696 shares. Iron Rock Insurance dipped 14 cents in closing at $2.03 with 18,263 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd lost 9 cents to end at $1.66 in exchanging 4,546,622 stocks, Lasco Financial closed at $2.50 after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.01 and trading 58,400 shares, Lasco Distributors rallied 32 cents in closing at $2.85 with an exchange of 97,521 units. 
Lasco Manufacturing popped 14 cents to close at $4.20 with the swapping of 9,986 units, Main Event fell 90 cents to $9.10 after a transfer of 193,929 stocks, Spur Tree Spices traded 423,831 shares in closing at $2.75, but after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.69 and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 89 cents to $14.51 in trading 28,267 shares.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share gained 11 cents to end at $1.18 as investors exchanged 201 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops as stocks mostly fall
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped further on Tuesday following the volume of stocks traded declining 83 percent following a 66 percent decline in value compared to Monday with 38 securities trading versus 44 on Monday and ended with 14 rising, 20 declining and four closing unchanged.
Investors traded 12,292,679 shares for $38,830,902 versus 73,141,898 units at $113,341,861 on Monday.
Trading averaged 323,492 shares at $1,021,866 compared with 1,662,316 units at $2,575,951 on Monday with the month to date averaging 352,752 units at $766,757 compared to 355,581 stock units at $742,090 on the previous day. Trading in January averaged 239,755 units at $646,375.
MFS Capital Partners was the leading trade, with 3.42 million shares for 27.8 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 3.13 million units for 25.5 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 808,689 units for 6.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 47.70 points to end at 3,846.78.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.9. The PE ratios of 
Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 26 cents to $2.76 in an exchange of 5,186 shares, Cargo Handlers fell $1.92 to $12.98 after trading 243,264 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries gained 26 cents to close at $2.46 after 2,024 units crossed the market. Dolphin Cove rallied 20 cents to finish at $14.20 in transferring 3,450 stock units, EduFocal gained 12 cents in closing at $2.15 with an exchange of 35,124 units, Everything Fresh rose 16 cents to $1.36 with 38,441 shares changing hands. Fosrich lost 19 cents in closing at $3.23 in switching ownership of 268,928 stocks, 
Honey Bun fell 29 cents to $7.01 as investors exchanged 7,789 stock units, Indies Pharma shed 16 cents to close at $2.74 after trading 2,001 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance dipped 22 cents to end at $2.17 with 27,038 units changing hands, Knutsford Express declined 65 cents to $10.35 with 20,156 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing fell 16 cents to $4.06 in trading 40,033 shares. Limners and Bards gained 14 cents to end at $2.89 with an exchange of 320,192 stocks, Medical Disposables popped 35 cents in closing at $4.85 with a transfer of 201 stock units, MFS Capital Partners shed 15 cents to settle at $3.79 in switching ownership of 3,415,569 units. 
ONE on ONE Educational lost 9 cents in ending at $1.16 with the swapping of 778,380 shares and Tropical Battery gained 8 cents to close at $2.41 after trading 160,166 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Four new ICTOP10 stocks
ICTOP10 has four new additions this week. The changes followed release of new company results that saw upward and downward movements in earnings per share, while the price of one stock rose to exit the list.
At the end of the week, Paramount Trading jumped 17 percent to $2.58 after the supply of stocks in the market fell sharply during the week as the stock hit a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $2.95 before pulling back by the end of the week and Honey Bun rose 4 percent to $7.35. Lasco Manufacturing fell 8 percent to close at $4.33, General Accident slipped 6 percent to $4.70, Lasco Distributors lost 5 percent to end at $2.60 and Iron Rock Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39.
Stocks rising in the Main Market TOP10 were hard to come by as losers outgunned winners. Jamaica Broilers jumped 8 percent to close at 52 weeks’ high of $32.50, but 138 Student Living dropped 10 percent to $5.00, as investors reacted negatively to a board decision to raise added capital by issuing more shares to the public. Radio Jamaica fell 7 percent to $1.90 after reporting poor results to December, while Caribbean Producers and Sygnus Investments fell 6 percent to $10.80 and $12.25, respectively, followed by a 5 percent decline for Guardian Holdings to close at $505.70.
Tropical Battery returns to ICTOP10 after a one week absence, Main Event posted better than expected full year results and moved into the TOP10 with projected earnings of $1.45 for the 2023 fiscal year and One on One Education moved into the TOP10, while Lasco Manufacturing moved out followed by Lasco Financial and Paramount Trading. In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica slipped out of the TOP10 and Scotia Group reentered after a brief respite.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.7, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.6 compared with the market at 12.3, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 207 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average of 280 percent, to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the total interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 30, averaging 20 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 90, with an average of 27 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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, resulting 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.
Junior Market rally
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed moderately higher on Tuesday after the market added nearly 90 points up late in the morning session, with the volume of stocks traded declining 21 percent and the value 29 percent lower than on Monday with 40 securities trading down from 47 on Monday and ended with prices of 20 rising, 16 declining and four closing unchanged.
A total of 9,486,819 shares were traded at $24,258,679 compared with 12,032,460 units at $34,094,366 on Monday.
Trading averaged 237,170 shares at $606,467 compared to 256,010 units at $725,412 on Monday. Trading month to date averages 196,347 units at $515,552 versus 187,473 stock units at $495,788 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 2 million shares for 21 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 1.01 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 1 million units for 10.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 7.39 points to 3,912.36.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of 
Junior Market stocks use ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial year ending that fall between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $2.25 to end at $23.25 with an exchange of 50 shares, AMG Packaging lost 20 cents to close at $2.70 after trading 47,645 stock units, Blue Power shed 24 cents to $2.46 in transferring 2,700 units. Caribbean Cream gained 25 cents to close at $3.50 with 85,796 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries popped 60 cents in closing at $2.60 with the swapping of 32,800 stock units, Dolphin Cove fell 11 cents to end at $15.18 in switching ownership of 5,529 units. 
EduFocal shed 11 cents to close at $2.06 in exchanging 213,512 stocks, Fontana popped 10 cents to finish at $8.80 after 54,166 shares were traded, Fosrich lost 7 cents in ending at $3.52 with investors trading 539,126 shares. General Accident dipped 49 cents to close at $4.50 with 5,603 stock units changing hands, Honey Bun gained 10 cents to end at $7.40 after trading 1,290 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 22 cents to $2.39 with the swapping of one unit. Knutsford Express rallied 15 cents to close at $10 as investors exchanged 63,301 shares, Lasco Distributors shed 13 cents to end at $2.54 after 8,275 stock units passed through the market, Lasco Financial rose 19 cents to end at $2.82 as investors exchanged 17,200 units. Main Event gained 37 cents to close at $9.92 after a transfer of 1,602 stocks, 
Paramount Trading fell 10 cents to end at $2.25 in trading 27,000 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies declined $1.23 to $14.26 with the swapping of 5,291 shares and Tropical Battery gained 14 cents in ending at $2.50 after exchanging 311,397 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading jumps
Surging trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday sent the volume of stocks trading up by 88 percent with a value 108 percent higher than on Friday after 47 securities changed hands compared with 45 on Friday and ended with 13 rising, 30 declining and 4 closing unchanged.
A total of 12,032,460 shares were exchanged for $34,094,366 compared to 6,415,297 units at $16,382,248 on Friday.
Trading averaged 256,010 shares at $725,412 compared with 142,562 units at $364,050 on Friday, with the month to date averaging 187,473 units at $495,788 compared to 163,960 stock units at $417,012 on the pior trading day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 5.81 million shares for 48.3 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.02 million units for 8.5 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 826,181 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 35.50 points to close at 3,904.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks include ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell $2.01 in closing at $21 after a transfer of 25,000 shares, Cargo Handlers dipped 38 cents to close at $13 in trading 149 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to end at $2.14, with 8,669 units clearing the market. Caribbean Cream dipped 24 cents to settle at $3.25 with investors transferring 5,932 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries lost 11 cents after ending at $2 with 569 stocks changing hands, Fontana shed 30 cents to close at $8.70 with the swapping of 7,751 shares. 
Fosrich lost 9 cents to end at $3.59 as investors traded 600,846 stock units, Future Energy Source shed 14 cents in ending at $4.63 with an exchange of 315,068 units, Honey Bun rallied 23 cents in closing at $7.30 in switching ownership of 1,028 units. iCreate lost 15 cents to end at $2 with a transfer of 331,953 shares, Iron Rock Insurance fell 33 cents to finish at $2.17 in an exchange of 1,026 stock units, KLE Group rose 23 cents to $2.08 after exchanging 21 stocks. Knutsford Express declined $1.15 in ending at $9.85 as investors traded 3,213 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 7 cents to close at $2.67 after 11,424 stock units passed through the exchange, Lasco Financial dipped 17 cents to $2.63 trading 19,000 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing shed 59 cents to end at $4.11 with 3,070 units changing hands, Main Event rose 35 cents to end at $9.55 after 6,413 shares passed through the market, Medical Disposables advanced 39 cents to close at $5 in trading 56,291 stock units. MFS Capital Partners gained 34 cents in closing at $3.55 in switching ownership of 5,814,055 units, 
Paramount Trading popped 15 cents to $2.35 after exchanging 92,494 stocks, Spur Tree Spices lost 12 cents to close at $2.78 with the swapping of 209,621 stock units. Tropical Battery shed 24 cents to end at $2.36 while trading 669,029 shares and tTech declined 14 cents to $2.41 with a transfer of 2,167 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Two companies exist ICTOP10
As was the case last week, the Jamaica stock market continues to consolidate as it awaits developments that will push investors to act decisively. At the same time, the Main Market traded heavily and sat below the close of the previous week but the Junior Market mostly traded above the prior week’s close.
After just one week in the ICTOP10, Tropical Battery price rose this week and resulted in the stock falling outside the top flight, to be replaced by Lasco Manufacturing that dropped out during the previous week. In the Main Market, Scotia Group slipped out of the TOP10 and Radio Jamaica reentered.
At the end of the week, Tropical Battery rose 9 percent to $2.60, Image Plus Consultants gained 6 percent to close at $2.05, Paramount Trading rallied 5 percent to $2.20 and Iron Rock Insurance rose 4 percent to end at $2.50. Honey Bun fell 8 percent to $7.07 and was the only one of only two stocks to decline for the week, with the other slipping by just one percent.
In the Main Market, 138 Student Living popped 11 percent to $5.56, while Berger Paints fell 8 percent to $9.75, followed by a 5 percent decline for Jamaica Broilers to close at $30.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.7, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.6 versus the market at 12.8, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 208 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 275 percent, to May this year. The major concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before full interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 16 stocks representing 33 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 31, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 116, with an average of 28 and 21 excluding the highest valued stocks and 28 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.
More declines for Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday with moderate changes from Thursday after trading took place in 45 securities down from 47 on Thursday, and ended with 17 rising, 14 declining and 14 closing unchanged and resulting in a fall in the market index by 19.95 points to 3,940.47 and ending the week lower than the start of the year.
A total of 6,415,297 shares were exchanged for $16,382,248 against 5,986,665 units at $16,728,284 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 142,562 shares at $364,050 compared to 127,376 units at $355,921 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 163,960 units at $417,012 compared with 174,426 stock units at $442,917 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
Tropical Battery led trading with 1.52 million shares for 23.6 percent of total volume followed by recently listed Image Plus Consultants, with 968,564 units for 15.1 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 927,094 units for 14.5 percent of market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dipped 99 cents in closing at $23.01 in an exchange of 204 shares, CAC 2000 advanced $1.25 to close at $8.35 in switching ownership of 12 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 10 cents to finish $2.04 in trading 500 stocks. Fontana rallied 40 cents after ending at $9 and trading 49,813 units, Fosrich gained 15 cents to close at $3.68 as investors exchanged 338,220 units, GWest Corporation popped 13 cents to end at $1.10 after transferring 3,064 stock units.
Honey Bun shed 36 cents in ending at $7.07 in switching ownership of 3,327 shares, iCreate rose 22 cents to $2.15 with the swapping of 927,094 stocks, following a release of the company signing an agreement to acquire Visual Ideas Execution Limited, ISP Finance popped 44 cents to $27.94 after exchanging 721 units. JFP Ltd gained 7 cents to settle at $1.77, with 293,494 shares crossing the market, Knutsford Express fell $1.50 to $11 with 1,948 stocks changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rose 64 cents to $4.70 with a transfer of 28,371 stock units. Main Event fell $1.04 to $9.20 after 7,713 units passed through the market, Medical Disposables shed 80 cents to close at $4.61 after trading 20,474 stocks, MFS Capital Partners gained 20 cents in closing at $3.21 after an exchange of 441,437 stock units.
Stationery and Office Supplies popped 50 cents to end at $15.50 with investors transferring just 1,627 shares and Tropical Battery gained 15 cents in closing at $2.60 after 1,515,045 stock units cleared the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market Index drops for a second day
Investors were less active in Trading levels dropped the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, resulting in a 40 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, with the value slipping by 30 percent compared to trading on Wednesday, with trading in 47 securities compared with 45 on Wednesday and ending with 23 rising, 17 declining and seven unchanged.
A total of 5,986,665 shares were traded for $16,728,284 versus 10,060,543 units at $24,020,110 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 127,376 shares at $355,921 compared with 223,568 units at $533,780 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 174,426 stock units at $442,917. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 872,884 shares for 14.6 percent of total volume, followed by Image Plus Consultants with 800,060 units for 13.4 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 696,555 units for 11.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 35.38 points to settle at 3,960.42, giving back all of Tuesday’s substantial gains and a bit more.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years that end between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power rose 27 cents in closing at $2.70 after 8,814 shares were traded, Cargo Handlers rallied 18 cents ending at $13.38 with investors transferring 540 stocks, Caribbean Cream fell 53 cents to $3.45 after an exchange of 31,088 stock units. Caribbean Flavours gained 12 cents to end at $1.74 as investors switched ownership of 1,101 units, Dolla Financial popped 10 cents to close at $3 with a transfer of 336,116 shares, Dolphin Cove rose 30 cents in closing at $15.30, with 38,892 stocks crossing the market. 
Elite Diagnostic popped 9 cents to close at $3.19 with 1,374 units changing hands, Express Catering lost 25 cents to end at $5 in switching ownership of 20,271 stock units, Fontana gained 10 cents to settle at $8.60 after swapping of 27,725 stocks. Fosrich dipped 16 cents to end at $3.53 in trading 224,651 shares, General Accident popped 53 cents to finish at $4.99 after 3,000 stock units cleared the market, Honey Bun advanced 19 cents to $7.43 after an exchange of 10,701 units, iCreate rallied 24 cents to $1.93 after trading 455,165 stocks, Indies Pharma gained 20 cents in ending at $3 with 11,248 units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance rose 33 cents to close at $2.50 as investors exchanged 100 shares. ISP Finance climbed $2.50 in closing at $27.50 after a transfer of 11 stock units, KLE Group gained 19 cents to settle at $1.90 after an exchange of 32,543 units, Lasco Manufacturing declined 54 cents to end at $4.06 after 33,289 stock units passed through the market. 
Limners and Bards dipped 39 cents to close at $2.35 in an exchange of 69,019 stocks, Mailpac Group shed 15 cents to $2.05 with a transfer of 54,898 shares, Medical Disposables rose 41 cents to $5.41 with the swapping of 10,254 stocks. Regency Petroleum lost 10 cents ending at $1.81, trading 304,679 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 15 cents to close at $15 in exchanging 2,320 units and Tropical Battery gained 9 cents to end at $2.45 with the swapping of 650,135 stock units.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share gained 16 cents in closing at $1.18 in an exchange of 5,145 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.