Trading closed on Friday, with the market rising to sit just 8 points away from the February 2020 high of 3,066.67 on the first trading day in the month after the Junior Market gained 18.23 points to close at 3,058.26. The market opened 3,017.24 points and gradually wind its way upwards to a peak of 3,062.24 points for the day with just eight minutes of trading left before the close.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, nine declining and 11, closed unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 12.3 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall 10,384,599 shares traded at $30,949,770 versus 9,469,995 units at $31,077,238 on Thursday.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 4.47 million shares for 43 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 1.89 million units for 18.2 percent and Lumber Depot with 1.18 million units for 11.4 percent market share.
Trading averaged 280,665 units at $836,480 in contrast to 286,970 at $941,734 on Thursday. Trading month to date averages 213,535 units at $700,777, up from 195,271 units at $663,857 on Thursday. Trading in March resulted in an average of 252,633 units at $733,196 trading.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 20 cents to $1.90, with 500 stocks changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 25 cents to close at $9.65 in trading 320,549 units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 8 cents to $2.18 after exchanging 3,750 stock units, Caribbean Flavours climbed 8 cents to $2.28 in switching ownership of 50,101 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries dropped 37 cents to $1.38 after exchanging 800 units, Fosrich rose 30 cents to $5.50 with the swapping of 100,350 stock units. General Accident fell 5 cents to $5.78 with 68,658 shares crossing the market, Indies Pharma climbed 5 cents to $4.45, with 185,769 units changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance lost 72 cents to end at $2.88, with an exchange of 1,000 stock units, Jamaican Teas rose 7 cents to $3.19, with 1,885,952 stock units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rose 25 cents to $4.59 in an exchange of 89,882 stocks. Limners and Bards gained 4 cents in closing at $2.75 and 103,398 units switching owners, Lumber Depot rose 6 cents to $2.31, trading 1,180,726 stock units. 
SSL Venture declined 6 cents to close at 55 cents with 331 stock units changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 7 cents to close at $5.50 after an exchange of 20,000 units.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share increased 18 cents to close at $1.38 in trading 6,335 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One year Junior Market recovery grows
The Junior Market continues its recent commanding run with a rise of 27.15 points in the market index on Thursday to close at 3,040.03, just below the close of 3,066.67 on February 3, last year, as the market seems to be breaking away from resistance at the 3,000 points level, with technical indicators pointing to more gains ahead.
The Junior Market recovering strongly with a 15% increase in 2021 and 50% since the 2020 low.
Trading ended with 33 securities changing hands from 36 on Wednesday, with prices of 14 rising, nine declining and 10 remaining unchanged.
The average PE Ratio ended at 12.3 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The number and value of stocks trading, jumped by 65 and 62 percent, respectively as 9,469,995 shares changed hands for $31,077,238, up from 5,748,389 units at $19,205,192 on Wednesday.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 44.7 percent after an exchange of 4.23 million shares, followed by Mailpac Group 25.2 percent, with 2.38 million units and Indies Pharma, 11.8 percent with an exchange of 1.12 million units.
Trading averaged 286,970 units at $941,734 compared to 159,677 at $533,478 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 195,271 units at $663,857 from 165,892 units at $574,829 on Wednesday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial climbed 34 cents to finish at $22.50 with an exchange of 445 shares, Blue Power fell 16 cents to $3.58 as 500 stock units changed hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 10 cents to $2.10 with 3,500 stocks traded. Caribbean Cream jumped 79 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $6.34 with a transfer of 2,411 shares, Caribbean Producers advanced 24 cents to $3.74 with 17,850 stocks passing through the market, Consolidated Bakeries gained 21 cents to settle at $1.75 with an exchange of 6,800 units. Dolphin Cove slipped 10 cents to $7.80 with 415 stock units changing hands, Everything Fresh lost 5 cents to end at 94 cents with 15,435 shares traded, Fosrich finished 5 cents lower at $5.20 with a transfer of 31,480 units. General Accident rose 8 cents to $5.83 with investors switching ownership of 5,239 units, Honey Bun increased by 5 cents to $5.09 with 10,383 units changing hands, Indies Pharma jumped 41 cents to $4.40 with a notable 1,121,424 shares trading. 
Iron Rock Insurance gained 5 cents to close at $3.60 with 3,080 stocks traded, Jamaican Teas fell 7 cents to $3.12 with a transfer of 4,230,341 stock units, following 2.3 million that traded on Wednesday, Lasco Distributors rose 11 cents to $4 with investors switching ownership of 6,450 shares. Lasco Manufacturing improved by 8 cents to $4.34 with 11,405 units changing hands, Medical Disposables dropped 19 cents to $4.50 with 4,372 stocks traded and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 cents to close at $5.57 with 7,906 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rises 14% year to date
Trading started out with a promise for a meaningful rise on Wednesday, with the market climbing to 3,040.03 points within less than an hour of the market opening. In the end, the market index drifted back to close marginally higher at the conclusion of market activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Investors traded 36 securities, down from 38 on Tuesday, resulting in the prices of 13 rising, 15 declining and eight remaining unchanged.
The Junior Market Index added a mere 1.43 points to finish at 3,012.88 and recorded a 14 percent rise for the year to date. The average PE Ratio ended at 12.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Trading accounted for 5,748,389 shares at $19,205,192 compared to 5,875,378 units at $21,108,083 on Tuesday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 40 percent of total volume for 2.3 million shares, followed by Fontana with 12.8 percent for 735,864 units and Lasco Manufacturing with 10 percent market share for 574,001 units.
Trading averaged 159,677 units at $533,478, in line with 154,615 at $555,476 on Tuesday. The month to date averages 165,892 units at $574,829, compared to 169,232 units at $597,047 on Tuesday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $3.08 to $22.16 after clearing the market with 50 shares, AMG Packaging lost 30 cents to close at $1.70, with 28,000 stocks crossing the exchange, Blue Power rose 16 cents to $3.74 with 142 shares changing hands. Cargo Handlers advanced $1.20 to $8.70 in switching ownership of 45 stock units, Caribbean Cream gained 15 cents to end at $5.55 after clearing the market of 78,741 units, Caribbean Flavours picked up 8 cents in closing at $2.20 in an exchange of 7,711 stocks. Caribbean Producers lost 26 cents to end at $3.50 in trading 140,115 units, Consolidated Bakeries gained 20 cents to settle at $1.54 with an exchange of 204,519 shares, Dolphin Cove lost 13 cents to end at $7.90 trading 550 stock units, Everything Fresh closed 5 cents higher at 99 cents with 15,500 units crossing the market. Express Catering finished 12 cents lower at $4.78 after an exchange of 27,186 shares, Fontana shed 13 cents to close at $5.75 in transferring 735,864 units, 
Iron Rock Insurance lost 5 cents to end at $3.55 trading 2,311 stock units, Jetcon Corporation fell 5 cents to 71 cents with the swapping of 151,000 units. Lasco Manufacturing shed 22 cents to settle at $4.26 with 574,001 stock units changing hands. Mailpac Group rose 9 cents to $3.54 after 381,236 units crossed the market and tTech declined 19 cents to $4.41 with the swapping of 25,457 shares.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share gained 5 cents in closing at $1.20 in exchanging 7,932 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Strong Q1 gains for Junior Market
Junior Market stocks closed the first quarter of the year with gains of 12.8 percent, recording the highest gain by far of the three market segment of the Jamaica Stock Exchange as the volume of stocks traded climbed 378 percent with 46 more value than Tuesday.
The market index climbed 13.95 points to finish at 2,982.95. Just 30 securities traded, down from 38 on Tuesday, resulting in 13 stocks rising, 12 declining and five closed unchanged, resulting in 14,376,733 shares trading for $36,855,263, up from 3,008,031 shares for $7,749,677 on Monday. The average PE Ratio ended at 16.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Derrimon 
Trading led trading with 74 percent, with a transfer of 10.7 million units, followed by Tropical Battery with one million units for 7 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac with 3.9 percent after trading 566,794 shares,
Trading averaged 479,224 shares at $1,228,509, up from 79,159 units at $203,939 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averages 252,633 units at $717,051, compared to 243,918 units at $714,145 on Monday. February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $1.89 to $22.90 with an exchange of 23,197 shares, Blue Power slipped 3 cents to $3.75 with 1,475 units changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 17 cents to $2 with 266,053 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading lost 2 cents to end at $2.51 trading 10,631,676 stock units. Fontana fell 8 cents to $5.87 with 60,269 stocks crossing the exchange, Fosrich shed 7 cents to finish at $5.10 with 1,030 shares traded, Indies Pharma added 5 cents to end at $4 with 220,856 stock units changing hands. Knutsford Express shed 49 cents to close at $5.51 with 170 shares traded. Lasco Financial climbed 22 cents to $2.90 after trading 32,307 shares, Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents to end at $4.50 with 2,423 shares changing hands, 
Limners and Bards rose 6 cents to $2.75, with 257,417 stock units changing hands, Lumber Depot slipped 7 cents to $2.30 with a transfer of 359,623 units, Mailpac Group picked up 4 cents to finish at $3.49 trading 566,794 stock units. Medical Disposables traded 200 shares but lost 55 cents to close at $4.15 and SSL Venture Capital rose 4 cents to 60 cents while trading 4.400 shares.
Lacklustre trading on Tuesday
On the day ahead of the opening of Fesco Initial Public Offer of shares, the Junior Market delivered a lacklustre performance resulting in 58 percent less volume and value of shares trading than Monday.
At the close, the market index slipped 3.41 points to finish at 2,969, with the market enjoying a 12.3 percent rise for the year, with just one more day left for the first quarter to end. This year’s performance contrast with a 32.7 fall in the market index at the same time in 2020. Since then, the market has gained 32 percent in value.
A total of 38 securities traded, down from 37 on Monday, resulting in an equal number of 15 stocks rising and declining as eight remained unchanged. The average PE Ratio ended at 16.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings. The market closed with an exchange of 3,008,031 shares for $7,749,677 down from 7,215,425 units at $18,425,745 on Monday.
GWest Corporation led trading with 19.4 percent of total volume for 583,204 shares, followed by Derrimon Trading 17.2 percent, with a transfer of 518,007 units and Lumber Depot with 12 percent, with an exchange of 359,623 units.
Trading averaged 79,159 units at $203,939, down from 195,011 at $497,993 on Monday. Trading month to date averages 243,918 units at $714,145, verusu 252,356 units at $740,275 on Monday. February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 18 cents to $2.08 with an exchange of 16,000 shares, Blue Power slipped 6 cents to end at $3.78 with 24,025 units crossing the market, Cargo Handlers climbed 21 cents to $8.71 with 100 stocks traded. Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined by 8 cents to $1.83 with 18,965 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading lost 5 cents to end at $2.53 with a transfer of 518,007 stock units, Dolphin Cove rose 7 cents to $8.10 with an exchange of 1,149 units. General Accident climbed 34 cents to $5.84 with 4,000 stocks crossing the exchange, Honey Bun gained 7 cents to finish at $5.09 with 17,268 shares traded, Indies Pharma slipped 5 cents to $3.95 with 258,289 stock units changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance climbed 80 cents to $3.60 with a transfer of 520 units, ISP Finance dipped 20 cents to $23.80 with an exchange of 350 stocks, Knutsford Express shed 35 cents to close at $6 with 1,420 shares traded. 
Limners and Bards fell 10 cents to $2.69, with 59,408 stock units changing hands, Lumber Depot slipped 7 cents to $2.30 with a transfer of 359,623 units, Mailpac Group lost 5 cents to finish at $3.45 with an exchange of 165,721 stock units. Paramount Trading declined by 11 cents to end at $1.30 with investors swapping 22,050 units, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 20 cents to $5.50 with 47 units traded and tTech climbed 34 cents to $4.81 with 18,908 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks dominate juniors
The majority of stocks trading on Monday declined, vastly outnumbering those rising, leading the market index down with an exchange of 17 percent more shares, with 10 percent less value than on Friday at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Trading accounted for 37 securities, up from 33 on Friday, with the prices of six rising, 22 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The Junior Market Index shed 12.29 points to settle at 2,972.41. The average PE Ratio ended at 16.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
At the close, 7,215,425 shares traded for $18,425,745 versus 6,154,149 units at $20,517,294 on Friday. Lumber Depot led trading with 22.1 percent of total volume after exchanging 1.60 million shares, followed by GWest Corporation with 18.1 percent for 1.31 million units and Mailpac Group 14.7 percent, with 1.06 million units.
Trading averaged 195,011 units at $497,993, in contrast to 186,489 at $621,736 on Friday. Month to date averaged 252,356 units at $740,275, compared to 255,365 units at $752,990 on Friday. February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
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, AMG Packaging fell 18 cents to $1.90 in trading 2,555 units, Cargo Handlers shed 21 cents to close at $8.50, with 3,013 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers finished 13 cents lower at $1.91, after 4,029 stocks cleared the market. Caribbean Cream lost 6 cents in closing at $4.99 in exchanging 10,846 units, Caribbean Flavours rose 37 cents to close at $2.27 trading 133,707 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 42 cents to close at $8.03 in a transfer of 700 units, Elite Diagnostic lost 9 cents to settle at $3 trading 32,100 stocks. Express Catering gained 7 cents in closing at $3.80, after exchanging 68,617 shares, Fosrich ended 6 cents lower at $5.19 in exchanging 15,486 units, General Accident lost 6 cents to end at $5.50 with 448,517 stocks changing hands, Honey Bun slipped 7 cents to $5.02 with the swapping of 13,811 shares. iCreate lost 5 cents to end at 77 cents and finished with a transfer of 252,717 stock units, Indies Pharma gained 20 cents to close at $4 in the swapping of 180,504 units, Iron Rock Insurance fell 80 cents to $2.80 in switching ownership of 100 stocks. 
KLE Group shed 24 cents to end at $1 after 134,900 stocks crossed the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing lost 8 cents to end at $4.38 with an exchange of 25,019 stock units. Limners and Bards gained 4 cents in closing at $2.79 after trading 849,093 units and Mailpac Group picked up 5 cents to close at $3.50 with 1,058,633 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share shed 15 cents to end at $1.15, clearing the market of 286 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior market recovery
Junior market recovery
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones by a two to one margin on Friday, leading the Junior Market Index to continue its ascent in clawing back last year’s losses by adding 12.51 points to Thursday close to settle at 2,984.70 after the volume and values exchanged dropped 22 percent each from Thursday.
Overall, 33 securities traded, similar to Thursday and closed with 18 stocks rising, eight declining and seven remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio ended at 16.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
In all, 6,154,149 shares traded at $20,517,294, down from 7,850,128 units at $26,568,082 on Thursday. Limners and Bards led trading with 37 percent of total volume in exchanging 2.28 million shares, followed by General Accident with 22.8 percent for 1.4 million units and GWest Corporation with 8.3 percent for 511,334 units.
Trading averaged 186,489 units at $621,736 in contrast to 237,883 at $805,093 on Thursday. Month to date averaged 255,365 units at $752,990, compared to 258,747 units at $759,436 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.08 to $21.01 with 16,826 shares crossing the exchange, Blue Power gained 33 cents ending at $3.84 after trading 175 stocks, Caribbean Cream rose 23 cents to close at $5.05 after clearing the market of 52,748 units. Caribbean Flavours shed 37 cents to $1.90 in exchanging 29,212 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed 14 cents higher at $1.54 in the swapping of 1,000 units, Fosrich lost 15 cents to close at $5.25, with 59,598 stock units switching owners, General Accident shed 27 cents to $5.56, with 1,400,497 shares changing hands. iCreate picked up 6 cents in ending at 82 cents trading 11,747 stock units, ISP Finance gained 12 cents to close at $24 after finishing with an exchange of 8 shares. Jamaican Teas fell 5 cents to $3.16 in transferring 76,571 stock units, KLE Group lost 15 cents in closing at $1.24 with 100 stocks changing hands. 
Knutsford Express rose 80 cents to $6.35 after exchanging 500 units, Lasco Distributors rose 8 cents to $4.14, with 49,688 stock units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing lost 13 cents to end at $4.46 in an exchange of 101,862 stocks. Limners and Bards gained 5 cents to close at $2.75 with the swapping of 2,276,465 shares, Main Event rose 32 cents to $3.47, with 50,000 stocks hands and tTech finished 8 cents higher at $4.50 after transferring 40 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips back on Thursday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday, with the market declining after falling stocks far outnumbered rising ones two to one as investors exchanged 35 percent fewer shares than on Wednesday, with a 28 percent fall in value.
The Junior Market Index steadily moving higher
In the end, 33 stocks traded, down from 36 on Wednesday with nine stocks rising, 19 declining and five remaining unchanged.
The Junior Market Index fell 14.42 points the first decline in seven trading days as the market settle at 2,972.19.
The average PE Ratio ended at 16.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors exchanged 7,850,128 shares for $26,568,082, in contrast to 12,160,533 stock units at $36,790,003 on Wednesday. Lasco Distributors led trading with 19.8 percent of total volume as 1.55 million shares changed hands, followed by Lumber Depot 16.4 percent with 1.29 million units and Limners and Bards traded 824,921 units for 10.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 237,883 units at $805,093, a fall from 337,793 at $1,021,945 on Wednesday.
The Month to date average trade was 258,747 shares at $759,436, compared to 259,825 units at $757,078 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Producers rose 8 cents to $3.38 with investors swapping 730,312 shares, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 15 cents to $1.40 with an exchange of 100,000 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 55 cents to end at $8.45, with 2,652 units changing hands. Fosrich gained 5 cents to close at $5.40, with the transfer of 76,249 stock units, iCreate slipped 5 cents to 76 cents, trading 5,786 shares, Indies Pharma fell 65 cents to $3.80 with 457,414 stocks passing through the market. Jetcon Corporation rose 7 cents to close at 77 cents while exchanging 17,831 units, Lasco Financial rose 5 cents to settle at $2.69 with an exchange of 123,700 shares, Lasco Manufacturing advanced 18 cents to $4.59 with 517,865 stocks changing hands. 
Limners and Bards lost 5 cents to finish at $2.70 with a transfer of 824,921 units, Mailpac Group rose 6 cents to $3.45 with 617,187 shares traded, Main Event shed 32 cents to settle at $3.15 with 152,969 stocks passing through the market.Medical Disposables jumped 58 cents to $4.73 with a transfer of 270 units and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 27 cents to $5.30 with 4,150 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% gained 15 cents to close at $1.30 with 400 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Winning run continues Wednesday
The Junior Market index inched closer to the 3,000 mark on Wednesday, gaining 5.06 points to settle at 2,986.61 after the market moved to 3,011.57 immediately as the market opened, but the early gains fizzled away subsequently to the close of the market with gains for the year of 13 percent.
The top three volume leaders saw transfers of over one million units, collectively accounting for 64 percent of the day’s trade. Lumber Depot led trading with 33.3 percent of total volume or 4.04 million shares, followed by Fosrich with 17.9 percent of the day’s trade for 2.18 million units for and GWest 13 percent, with an exchange of 1.58 million stocks.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Tuesday, with 15 stocks rising, 12 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio ended at 17 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed trading with 17 percent fewer shares than on Tuesday after an exchange of 12,160,533 shares for $36,790,003, down from 14,669,963 units at $43,192,636 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 337,793 units at $1,021,945 versus 444,544 at $1,308,868 on Tuesday. The month to date trading averaged 259,825 units at $757,078 versus 255,170 units at $741,265 on Tuesday.
February closed with an average of 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 10 cents to $19.91 with an exchange of a mere four shares, AMG Packaging gained 6 cents to end at $2.08 with 12,408 stocks changing hands, Cargo Handlers advanced 14 cents to $8.71 with 2,248 units traded. Caribbean Flavours declined by 6 cents to $2.27 with 51,221 stock units passing through the market, Caribbean Producers rose 12 cents to $3.30 with a transfer of 128,402 shares, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 30 cents to $1.55 with an exchange of 308,319 stocks. Derrimon Trading increased by 5 cents to $2.60 with 324,491 units changing hands, Fontana climbed 16 cents to $5.98 with 901,113 shares traded, Fosrich gained 15 cents to finish at $5.35 with 2,175,280 stocks passing through the market. iCreate rose 7 cents to 81 cents with a transfer of 32,680 stock units, Indies Pharma slipped 5 cents to $4.45 with an exchange of 675,385 units, Iron Rock Insurance jumped 30 cents to $3.60 with 27,836 shares changing hands. 
Jetcon Corporation fell 8 cents to 70 cents with 75,350 stocks traded, Lasco Manufacturing lost 8 cents to end at $4.41 with 32,473 units passing through the market, Limners and Bards rose 5 cents to $2.75 with a transfer of 398,797 shares. Lumber Depot fell 14 cents to $2.36 with 4,043,628 stocks passing through the market, Main Event climbed 35 cents to $3.47 with a transfer of 21,350 stock units and tTech dropped 28 cents to $4.42 with 19,083 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors in easy reach of 3,000 points mark
Straight out of the opening, stocks prices rose and pushed the market index up nine points at the start and up 29 points just before half an hour of trading having elapsed on Tuesday. As the morning progressed, buying pressure constantly pushed the index along to close out just below the 3,000 points mark and the day’s peak of 2,983.41 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The Junior Market Index surged 35.57 points to close at 2,981.55, just 19 points adrift of the 3,000 mark and shy of the previous best close of 2,994.69 points, on February 10, last year and recording a gain of 12.8 percent for the year to date.
Trading ended with 33 securities changing hands, down from 37 on Monday and closed with the prices of 12 stocks rising, 12 declining and nine remaining unchanged.
The PE Ratio averaged 16.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading volume and vales rose 258 percent and 243 percent respectively above Monday levels with an exchange of 14,669,963 shares for $43,192,636, up from 4,093,792 units at $12,580,039 on Monday. Limners and Bards dominated trading with 74 percent of total volume in exchanging 10.92 million shares, followed by Jamaican Teas with 7.4 percent or 1.08 million units and Lasco Manufacturing with 5.7 percent for 839,196 units.
Trading averaged 444,544 units at $1,308,868, up from 110,643 at $340,001 on Monday. The month to date averaged 255,170 units at $741,265, versus 244,206 units at $708,404 on Monday. February averaged 365,365 units at $881,118.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power shed 50 cents in closing at $3.50, with 14,812 shares crossing the market, Cargo Handlers gained 7 cents to end at $8.57 with an exchange of 5,407 stocks, Caribbean Cream lost 18 cents to close at $4.82 trading 109,998 stocks, Caribbean Flavours gained 13 cents to end at $2.33 with 129,256 units clearing the market. Dolphin Cove rose 55 cents to $9 trading 3,205 stocks, Express Catering gained 20 cents in closing at $3.70 and transferring 13,176 units, GWest Corporation lost 6 cents to finish at 81 cents in an exchange of 18,382 shares. Indies Pharma closed 30 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.50 with 294,303 stocks changing hands, Lasco Distributors shed 7 cents to $4.08 after trading 119,353 units, 
Limners and Bards slipped 10 cents to $2.70 after a transfer of 10,916,426 shares. Lumber Depot gained 5 cents to end at $2.50 in trading 52,534 stocks. Medical Disposables fell 58 cents to $4.15 with 892 shares clearing the market and tTech shed 14 cents to end at $4.70 with 48,759 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share fell 35 cents to $1.15 after exchanging 8,886 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
