Trading activity closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday after a 7 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 24 percent higher value than on Friday with trading in all 45 securities available for trading being active up from 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 19 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Trading ended after 4,258,224 shares changed hands for $10,584,817 versus 4,564,235 stock units at $8,534,568 on Friday.
Trading averaged 94,627 shares at $235,218 compared to 114,106 units at $213,364 on Friday. Trading ended with a month to date, average of 490,989 units at $1,040,180 down from 515,796 stock units at $1,090,560 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.54 million shares for 36.1 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 929,509 stock units for 21.8 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 330,703 units for 7.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index skidded 4.28 points to 3,687.26.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4, 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging declined 34 cents and ended at $2.91 with trading of 15,794 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 30 cents to $3.20 after 5,184 units passed through the market, Caribbean Cream lost 16 cents to end at $3.74 after an exchange 1,583 shares. Caribbean Flavours skidded 12 cents in closing at $1.58, with 90 stock units crossing the market, Dolla Financial sank 10 cents to finish at $2.55 in trading 1,538,700 shares, Dolphin Cove gained $1.15 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $23.65 after an exchange of 59,960 stock units. EduFocal climbed 9 cents to 89 cents in switching ownership of 191,329 units, Elite Diagnostic dipped 7 cents to close at $1.51 after investors ended trading 25,106 stocks, Everything Fresh fell 10 cents in closing at $1.70 with investors dealing in 60,100 units. Express Catering rose 15 cents to finish at $3.90 after an exchange of 33,991 stocks, Fosrich rallied 8 cents and ended at $2.19 with a transfer of 259,304 shares, 
Honey Bun rallied 80 cents to end at $7.90, with 51,867 stock units crossing the exchange. Indies Pharma gained 34 cents to $2.69 with traders dealing in 3,951 shares, ISP Finance dropped $2.01 and ended at $26 in an exchange of 112 stocks, Knutsford Express popped $1.32 to finish at $11.45, with 2,265 units changing hands. Lasco Financial shed 7 cents to close at $1.53 in an exchange of 16,925 stock units, Limners and Bards slipped 17 cents to end at $1.38 with 10,618 shares clearing the market, Main Event rallied 36 cents in closing at $13.10 with investors transferring 1,840 stock units and Paramount Trading fell 19 cents to $1.21, with 16,228 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
No impact from added hours on Jamaica Stock Exchange trading
Monday was the first day of extended trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the market opening at 9 o’clock instead of the 9.30 opening, the norm for several years and closing at 2 pm instead of 1 pm previously. The market activity resulted in all three markets closing moderately lower than Friday, with the increased trading hours having no impact on the volume and value of stocks trading so far, instead there was a sharp fall in both the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared with market activity on Friday, resulting in prices of 42 shares declining and 31 rising.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 577.51 points in ending at 329,284, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 148.69 points to end at 354,558.12, the JSE Main Index skidded 571.38 points to end trading at 316,691.12. The Junior Market Index slipped 4.28 points to 3,687.26 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.84 points to close at 235.96.
At the close of trading, 9,688,074 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from units on 18,855,563 Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $59.56 million, well below the $81.15 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 299,302 shares for US$36,390 compared to 233,466 units at US$32,685 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.49 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.19 million stock units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 485,182 units.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.54 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 929,509 stocks and One Great Studio with 330,703 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share sank $2.94 and ended at $17.06, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share surged $165 to close at $1,200 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $6.50 to end trading at $113.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.9 based on 2023-24 earnings and 13 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. 
Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The aroma of rising profit
The wonderful aroma of increased profit brewed by Salada Foods ended with an impressive 43 percent jump in earnings in the March quarter, to $68 million from $48 million in 2023. For the six months to March, profit rose by a more sedate but still impressive 31 percent to $99 million from $75 million in 2023.
The latest results follow a moderate rise in profits in 2022 and 2023 and a 42 percent jump in 2021.
Contributing to the gains in profits was an 8 percent rise in sales revenues for the quarter, to $427 million from $394 million and a 6 percent pop for the year to date, to $727 million from $688 million in 2024.
Gross profit margin slipped to 68 percent from 69 percent in both the second quarter and for the half year, effectively, pushing operating profit 13 percent in the quarter to $138 million from $122 million and 6 percent for the year to date to $229 million from $216 million in 2023.
Increased revenues were not the sole contributor to the solid rise in profits. Administrative expenses fell 11 percent to $36 million in the quarter and slipped two percent in the six months to $74 million. Marketing and sales expenses dropped by a sizeable 29 percent to $17 million for the second quarter and declined by 28 percent for the six months to $32 million. Finance cost jumped to $6 million in the quarter, from $1.4 million in 2023 and from $3.5 million to $7.6 million for the six months.
The operations generated gross cash flows of $189 million after working capital spend and ended with $95 million after paying $62 million in dividends.
Current assets ended the period at $1.2 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $305 million, cash, investments and bank balances of $492 million, inventories climbed to $417 million from $374 million at the end of September last year. Current liabilities ended the period at $291 million. Net current assets closed the period at $923 million.
At the end of March, this year, shareholders’ equity amounted to $1.13 billion, with no outstanding loans.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 7 cents and 10 cents for the year to date. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 22 cents per share for the fiscal year ending September 2024, with a PE of 16 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $3.76 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market. The PE ratio compares with an average of the market of 12.9. Net asset value ended the period at $1.09 with the stock selling at 3.44 times book value.
Three additions to ICTOP10
In a week of volatility in the Junior Market and a calmer Main Market, the Junior Market TOP10 has one new addition and the Main Market two after five Junior Market stocks posted notable moves and three in the Main Market.
Dropping from the ICTOP10 are Dolla Financial from the Junior Market and Lasco Manufacturing and Jamaica Broilers from the Main Market.
The Junior Market ICTOP10, AMG Packaging, climbed 12 percent to $3.25, followed by Access Financial, with an 11 percent rise to $20. Edufocal dropped 11 percent to 80 cents, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers is down 9 percent to close at $2.90 and Caribbean Cream fell 7 percent to $3.90.
In the Main Market, Pulse Investments popped 9 percent to close at $1.75, JMMB Group rose 4 percent to $24.51 while Berger Paints fell 6 percent to close at $8.
Lumber Depot is the only new listing for the Junior Market ICTOP10 for the week, this follows the announcement by the company of the purchase of a 35 percent interest in Atlantic Hardware. Earnings per share for the current fiscal year starting June, is projected at 35 cents by ICInsider.com. General Accident and VM Investments are new additions to the Main Market ICTOP10. VMI posted b first quarter results with gains from securities providing the bulk of the profits. Some of these gains are from the one off sale of its associate company. 
With the investing environment slowly improving, the company appears set to enjoy a profitable year, accordingly, ICInsider.com’s estimate is for earnings of 50 cents per share, which could be bettered if investments deliver more returns in the next three quarters.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 13.6 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.4, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 298 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 228 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 86, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 43, averaging 21, well above the market’s average.
The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
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, 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.
Trading picks up for JSE USD Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent with a 3 percent lower value than on Wednesday, resulting in trading in seven securities, similar to trading on Wednesday with prices of two rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 233,466 shares for US$32,685 compared to 276,289 units at US$33,572 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 33,352 units at US$4,669 versus 39,470 shares at US$4,796 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 32,964 shares at US$3,017 compared with 32,938 units at US$2,906 on the previous day and April that ended with an average of 35,401 units for US$2,453.
The US Denominated Equities Index dipped 0.81 points to culminate at 237.80.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.6. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden remained at 22.49 US cents after 40,144 stocks passed through the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at 61 US cents after an exchange of 95 units, Proven Investments dipped 0.01 of a cent to finish at 13.81 US cents, with 2,926 shares crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 1.7 cents and ended at 9.4 US cents with a transfer of 100,001 stock units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of a cent to end at 2.09 US cents with investors swapping 81,455 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share rose 1 cent to close at US$1.28 in switching ownership of 4,537 units and JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2 with investors trading 4,308 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks edged out Main Market losers
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 101 percent and the value 16 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 60 securities up from 57 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 18 stocks rising, 21 declining and 21 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 14,203,187 shares trading for $79,115,438 versus 7,063,416 stock units at $68,154,039 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 236,720 shares at $1,318,591 compared to 123,920 units at $1,195,685 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 372,703 units at $2,376,327 compared with 381,355 units at $2,443,627 on the previous day and April that closed with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.19 million shares for 64.7 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.39 million units for 9.8 percent of the day’s trade and Wisynco Group with 753,254 units for 5.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 333.74 points to wrap up trading at 354,409.43, the JSE Main Index fell 236.81 points to 317,262.50 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.06 points to 67.27.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden dipped 64 cents in closing at $36.95 with an exchange of 26,127 stocks, Berger Paints rose 65 cents to $8 after investors ended trading of 10 units, Guardian Holdings fell $4 to end at $360, with 22,161 shares crossing the exchange. Jamaica Broilers lost 30 cents and ended at $31.50 with investors swapping 427,863 stock units, Jamaica Producers declined $1.36 to finish at $21.14 and closed after an exchange of 1,179 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 58 cents to close at $10.95 in an exchange of 2,005 units. Massy Holdings sank $1 to $88 with traders dealing in 428 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $12.15 in closing at $93.15 after 65 stock units passed through the market, NCB Financial dropped $1.99 to close at $60.01 with investors dealing in 166,673 shares. 
Pan Jamaica gained 40 cents to end at $45 in an exchange of 71,493 stocks, Sagicor Group increased $1 and ended at $41, with 68,224 units changing hands, Scotia Group skidded $2.79 to finish at $41.50 with investors trading 80,038 stock units. Seprod climbed $1.30 and ended at $78.50 with 5,238 shares clearing the market and Supreme Ventures shed 70 cents to $24.30 after exchanging 31,826 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rallied $1.41 to close at $18.46 with investors trading 338 stocks. 138 Student Living preference share rose $2 to end at $217 after an exchange of 13 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $2 in closing at $107, with 8,800 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rallies into week end
Stocks closed trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with a 42 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with a marginally higher value than Wednesday following trading activity in 40 securities down from 42 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 19 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Trading closed with 4,564,235 shares for $8,534,568 compared to 3,223,099 units at $8,496,465 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 114,106 shares at $213,364 compared with 76,740 units at $202,297 on Wednesday, Trading month to date averages 515,796 units at $1,090,560 versus 539,459 stock units at $1,142,236 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
EduFocal led trading with 1.77 million shares for 38.9 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 731,474 units for 16 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 434,369 units for 9.5 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index gained 10.69 points to wrap up trading at 3,691.54.
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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 45 cents to close at $2.90 with a transfer of 87,152 units, Caribbean Cream gained 29 cents to close at $3.90 with investors trading 4,292 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries slipped 7 cents to finish at $2.11 after an exchange of 1,000 shares. Dolphin Cove rose 60 cents and ended at $22.50 following the trading of 15,458 stock units, EduFocal fell 14 cents in closing at 80 cents after a transfer of 1,773,403 shares, Everything Fresh advanced 10 cents to end at $1.80 with investors swapping 510 units. 
Honey Bun skidded 76 cents in closing at $7.10, with 2,348 stocks clearing the market, Indies Pharma sank 35 cents to $2.35 with investors dealing in 22,265 stock units, ISP Finance climbed $4.01 and ended at $28.01 in switching ownership of just 80 shares. Knutsford Express shed $1.37 to end at $10.13 with investors transferring 7,662 stocks, Lasco Financial increased 8 cents to close at $1.60 in an exchange of 1,400 units, Main Event dropped 35 cents to finish at $12.74 with traders dealing in 31,528 stock units. Medical Disposables lost 17 cents and ended at $2.02 as investors exchanged 18,859 shares and Spur Tree Spices rallied 9 cents to $2.40 with trading in 434,369 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors rise as Main Market slips
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped in trading on Friday with the JSE USD market dipping lower and the Junior Market closing moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands climbing sharply over Thursday volume, with the value moderately higher, resulting in prices of 41 shares declining and 23 rising on the last trading day before the extended trading starts on Monday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 152.52 points to close at 329,861.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 333.74 points to 354,409.43, the JSE Main Index skidded 236.81 points to 317,262.50. The Junior Market Index gained 10.69 points to wrap-up trading at 3,691.54 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.81 points to settle at 237.80.
At the close of trading, 18,855,563 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 10,562,804 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $81.15 million, over the $76.65 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 233,466 shares for US$32,685 compared to 276,289 units at US$33,572 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.19 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.39 million units and Wisynco Group with 753,254 stocks.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.77 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 731,474 units and Spur Tree Spices with 434,369 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share increased $1.41 to end at $18.46, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $2 in closing at $217 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rose $2 to finish at $107.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20. on 2023-24 earnings and 13.1 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. 
Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Winners beat losers on the JSE Main Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks that were exchanged declining by 35 percent, with a 7 percent lower value than on Tuesday, and similar to Tuesday, trading took place in 57 securities and ended with prices of 27 stocks rising, 13 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
Trading closed with 7,063,416 shares changing hands at $68,154,039 down from 10,788,125 units at $73,059,080 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 123,920 shares for $1,195,685 compared with 189,265 stock units at $1,281,738 on Tuesday. Trading month to date, averages 381,355 stocks at $2,443,627 down from 397,917 units at $2,523,912 on the previous day versus April with an average of 680,802 stock units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.07 million shares for 29.2 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Producers with 1.0 million units for 14.2 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 687,416 units for 9.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,411.32 points to end at 354,075.69, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,718.09 points to end at 317,499.31 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.68 points to 67.33.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden popped $3.38 and ended at $37.59 with an exchange of 380 shares, Eppley advanced $1 to $39, with 881 stocks passing through the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 56 cents to finish at $39.60 with investors swapping 867 units. First Rock Real Estate climbed 45 cents to end at $10.15 after a transfer of 1,550 stock units, General Accident shed 76 cents in closing at $6.33 with investors dealing in 7,805 shares, Guardian Holdings increased $4 to close at $364 after the exchange of 21 stock units. Jamaica Broilers gained $1.30 to end at $31.80 after the trading of 10,616 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.17 to close at $10.37 clearing the market with 168,867 units, Lasco Distributors increased 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.49 with investors trading 55,670 stocks. Massy Holdings lost $1 to end at $89 in an exchange of 182 units, Mayberry Group popped 55 cents to finish at $8.05 with traders dealing in 1,795 shares, Pan Jamaica dipped $1.40 and ended at $44.60 in switching ownership of 15,212 stock units.
Proven Investments advanced 44 cents to $21.44 with investors exchanging 2,462 shares, Seprod fell $1.39 to end at $77.20 with a transfer of 126,618 units, Stanley Motta skidded $2.34 in closing at $5.15 after 10,000 stocks passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 30 cents to close at $10.78 in trading 5,150 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 40 cents and ended at $11, with 164 shares crossing the market and Wisynco Group gained 50 cents to finish at $21 in an exchange of 11,932 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rallied $1.16 and ended at $20 after just one stock was traded and 138 Student Living preference share popped 46 cents to $215, with 7 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mixed Junior Market trading
Trading activity picked up on Wednesday ahead of the close of the market on Thursday for the labour day holiday as trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with a 15 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a 15 percent greater value than Tuesday, resulting in trading in 42 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ending with rising and declining stocks ending with 16 price movements each as 10 closed unchanged.
The Junior Market closed with trading of 3,223,099 shares for $8,496,465 compared with 3,806,992 units at $7,393,971 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 76,740 shares at $202,297 compared with 86,523 units at $168,045 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averages 539,459 units at $1,142,236 compared with 569,968 stock units $1,204,210 on the previous day up from April with an average of 204,118 stock units at $439,599.
EduFocal led trading with 994,984 shares for 30.9 percent of total volume followed by Fontana with 394,800 stocks for 12.2 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 307,222 units for 9.5 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 11.69 points to end at 3,680.85.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4, 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 50 cents to $20 as investors exchanged 2,710 shares, AMG Packaging gained 31 cents and ended at $3.20, with 598 units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 24 cents to close at $2.45 in an exchange of 2,201 shares. Caribbean Cream sank 59 cents to end at $3.61 with investors trading 3,767 stock units, Dolphin Cove slipped 79 cents in closing at $21.90 after an exchange of 17,677 shares, Fontana lost 8 cents in finishing at $8.15 with a transfer of 394,800 stock units. 
Indies Pharma popped 20 cents to $2.70 after 3,207 stocks passed through the market, ISP Finance skidded $4.01 to close at $24 with investors transferring 18 stock units, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 91 cents with 716 shares clearing the market. Knutsford Express advanced 50 cents to close at $11.50 with investors dealing in 4,476 units, Limners and Bards increased 24 cents to end at $1.60 with 26,159 stocks crossing the market, Main Event climbed 58 cents to finish at $13.09 after a transfer of 9,467 stock units. Medical Disposables rallied 19 cents to $2.19 with investors swapping 2,297 shares and tTech shed 10 cents to close at $2.16 in an exchange of 389 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
