Stocks enjoyed a big rally on the last day of the 2023 first quarter as investors closed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a big rally in the market index following a buoyant volume of stocks trading, with a 13 percent slippage at a marginally higher value than on Thursday, with trading in 44 securities compared with 42 on Thursday and ending with 26 rising, 14 declining and four closing unchanged.
A total of 26,446,403 shares were traded for $79,364,016 compared with 30,528,396 units at $77,798,162 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 601,055 shares at $1,803,728 versus 726,867 stocks at $1,852,337 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 509,288 units at $1,071,868 compared to 505,086 stock units at $1,038,359 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 6.27 million shares for 23.7 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 5.48 million units for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade, Indies Pharma with 4.88 million units for 18.5 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 3.88 million units for 14.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 93.32 points to 3,795.21.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.4. 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 ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained 80 cents in closing at $25.99 after a transfer of 150,908 shares, AMG Packaging lost 18 cents to close at $3 as 613 stock units passed through the market, Cargo Handlers dropped 10 cents to $13.30 as investors exchanged 200 units. Consolidated Bakeries rose 14 cents to end at $2.15 with the swapping of 2,734 stocks, Derrimon Trading increased 19 cents after ending at $2 and closed after 51,465 shares changed hands, Dolla Financial climbed 10 cents to $2.81 in trading 178,095 units. Dolphin Cove declined 44 cents after ending at $14.26 in switching owners of 7,080 stock units, EduFocal rallied 13 cents to close at $2.03 after exchanging 80,000 stocks, Express Catering fell 35 cents to end at $4.75 after an exchange of 48,166 stocks. 
Fontana popped 22 cents in closing at $8.40 with 53,472 shares changing hands, Future Energy Source advanced 16 cents to end at $4.59, with 689,541 stock units crossing the market, General Accident rallied 29 cents after ending at $5 with 1,761 units crossing the exchange. Honey Bun dipped 35 cents to $6.45 with an exchange of 28,472 units, Indies Pharma rose 46 cents in closing at $3.53 with a transfer of 4,882,159 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance shed 26 cents to close at $2.01 trading 5,000 stocks. Jamaican Teas popped 18 cents to close at $2.28 in an exchange of 33,330 shares, JFP Ltd advanced 10 cents in closing at $1.95 with investors transferring 5,482,938 stock units, Knutsford Express increased $1.24 to end at $12.24 while exchanging 603,480 stocks. Lasco Distributors gained 23 cents to $2.60, with 634 units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 11 cents after ending at $4.45, with 22,214 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards popped 34 cents to close at $2.59 in an exchange of 261,338 stock units. 
Paramount Trading shed 19 cents to close at $2.15 after 10,000 stocks were traded, Regency Petroleum rose 25 cents after ending at a record high of $2.44 with an exchange of 6,271,147 shares, Spur Tree Spices rallied 33 cents to $3.06 with 3,880,290 units changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.25 in closing at $15.75 as investors exchanged 98,938 units and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.08 while exchanging 246,272 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on Junior Market but prices fall
Trading picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, but the market value slipped after the volume of stocks traded rose 24 percent and the value 26 percent more than on Tuesday following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ended with nine rising, 24 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 10,202,465 shares for $28,165,787 up from 8,256,705 units at $22,347,499 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 226,721 shares at $625,906, compared to 187,652 shares at $507,898 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 494,951 units at $1,001,159 compared to 508,761 stock units at $1,020,480 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fosrich led trading with 2.82 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 2.17 million units for 21.3 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 792,425 units for 7.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 15.98 points to close at 3,678.38.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 fell $1.10 to $7.10 after trading 973 shares, Cargo Handlers rose 49 cents to $13.50 with investors transferring 10 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries shed 18 cents to end at $2.01 in switching ownership of 726 stock units. Dolla Financial declined 12 cents after ending at $2.66 with a transfer of 596,131 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 30 cents to close at $15 while exchanging 200 stock units, Everything Fresh dipped 11 cents to close at $1.45 as investors exchanged 2,104 units. 
Future Energy Source lost 12 cents to end at $4.35 with 497,865 shares crossing the exchange, General Accident dropped 35 cents to close at $4.70, with 5,150 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance declined $5.56 in closing at $20 after a transfer of 3,028 units. Jamaican Teas popped 13 cents to end at $2.29 with an exchange of 13,870 stock units, Knutsford Express rallied $1.33 to close at $11.33 with the swapping of 69,943 stocks, Lasco Distributors dropped 23 cents to $2.45 in an exchange of 13,792 shares. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 15 cents after ending at $4 and an exchange of 7,155 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 26 cents in closing at $2.25 after trading 6,624 shares, Main Event shed 15 cents to land at $12.10 in an exchange of 19,599 units. 
MFS Capital Partners fell 14 cents to end at $3.31 as 792,425 stock units passed through the market, Paramount Trading rose 19 cents to close at $2.34 after exchanging 545 units and tTech lost 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2, with 117,880 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market climbs
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday with an 89 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with a 96 percent greater value than on Monday with trading in 44 securities compared with 45 on Monday. It ended with 25 rising, 12 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 8,256,705 shares were exchanged for $22,347,499 up from 4,366,193 units at $11,400,138 on Monday.
Trading averaged 187,652 shares at $507,898, compared with 97,027 units at $253,336 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 508,761 units at $1,020,480 compared with 525,784 stocks at $1,047,653 on the previous day. Februaryc losed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fosrich led trading with 1.88 million shares for 22.8 percent of total volume, followed by Limners and Bards with 1.46 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 687,146 units for 8.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index jumped 38.90 points to settle at 3,694.36.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 78 cents to $22.20, with 2,283 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging popped 55 cents to end at $3.15 after a transfer of 2,100 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 10 cents after ending at $2.08, with an exchange of 33,749 units. Dolphin Cove dropped 30 cents to $14.70 with 3,135 stock units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 25 cents in closing at $2.45, with 52,140 units crossing the market, Everything Fresh increased by 15 cents to $1.56 with the swapping of 137 shares.
Express Catering advanced 19 cents to end at $5 in an exchange of 4,636 stock units, Fosrich declined 10 cents in closing at $2.74 after exchanging 1,879,393 stocks, Future Energy Source rose 19 cents to $4.47 in trading 376,387 stocks. GWest Corporation rallied 13 cents to $1.06 in switching ownership of 5,423 shares, Honey Bun gained 30 cents after ending at $6.30 as investors exchanged 6,202 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 9 cents to close at $2.09 after trading 4,956 units. Jamaican Teas fell 14 cents in closing at $2.16 in an exchange of 201,530 stocks, KLE Group popped 24 cents to $1.70, with 3,177 units crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express dipped 30 cents to end at $10, with 97,416 shares clearing the market. Lasco Distributors advanced 22 cents to $2.68 in trading 28,430 stock units, Limners and Bards rose 22 cents in closing at $2.51 with a transfer of 1,461,352 stock units, Lumber Depot increased 26 cents after ending at $2.40 as 268,060 stocks passed through the market. Mailpac Group gained 19 cents to close at $2 with investors transferring 558,371 shares, Main Event climbed 25 cents to end at $12.25 while exchanging 20,646 units,Medical Disposables popped 15 cents to $5, with 1,877 stocks crossing the market.
Paramount Trading fell 25 cents to end at $2.15, as 350 stock units passed through the market, Regency Petroleum rose 11 cents to close at $2.09 while exchanging 535,937 units, Spur Tree Spices climbed 10 cents after ending at $2.50 with an exchange of 153,009 shares but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.33 and Tropical Battery declined 9 cents in closing at $2 after exchanging 141,447 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rallies on lower volume
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 58 percent and the value falling 68 percent compared with Thursday’s activities following trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Thursday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 6,478,077 shares were traded for $16,544,909 compared with 15,501,984 units at $52,166,724 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 154,240 shares at $393,926, compared to 360,511 units at $1,213,180 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 550,362 units at $1,093,187 compared to 57 2,754 stock units at $1,132,714 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Indies Pharma led trading with 1.31 million shares for 20.3 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.29 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 1.01 million units for 15.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 34.78 points to settle at 3,629.45.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.5. 
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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose $2.44 to $22.99 after 8 shares were traded, Blue Power dropped 34 cents to $2.06 in switching ownership of 4,100 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 10 cents to end at $1.90 as investors exchanged 58,622 units. Caribbean Flavours lost 17 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.03, with 56,530 stock units crossing the market, EduFocal popped 14 cents to close at $1.93, with 205,458 shares clearing the market, Express Catering advanced 45 cents to end at $5.20, with 40,680 units changing hands. 
Fontana climbed 77 cents in closing at $8.17 after 58,097 stocks crossed the exchange, General Accident rallied 99 cents to close at $5.98 in an exchange of 16,691 stock units, Honey Bun gained 49 cents to close at $6.75 in an exchange of 9,412 shares. iCreate dipped 8 cents to $1.52 after investors traded 17,856 units, Iron Rock Insurance slipped 30 cents to $2 after trading 3,000 stock units, Knutsford Express increased $1.45 to close at $10.30 as 29,957 stocks changed hands. Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to end at $2.37 with a transfer of 1,489 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to $4.05 with the swapping of 10,560 shares, Main Event gained 28 cents in closing at $11.85 after an exchange of 21,203 stock units. Paramount Trading rose 14 cents to end at $2.38, with 54,500 units crossing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies declined 33 cents to close at $14.17 as 14,663 units passed through the market and tTech shed 23 cents in closing at $2.30 with investors transferring 700 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks overwhelmed Junior Market
Trading jumped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, but the market suffered more declines with falling stocks overwhelming those rising following a 69 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with 136 percent more value than Wednesday following trading in 43 securities up from 41 on Wednesday and resulting in prices of 10 rising, 28 declining and five closing unchanged.
Investors traded 15,501,984 shares for $52,166,724, up from 9,199,758 units at $22,141,233 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 360,511 shares at $1,213,180 compared to 224,384 units at $540,030 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 572,754 units at $1,132,714 versus 585,792 stock units at $1,127,771 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Future Energy Source led trading with 7.96 million shares for 51.3 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 3.14 million units for 20.3 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 586,143 units for 3.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 48.88 points to settle at 3,594.67.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.6. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price divided by ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 38 cents to end at $3 after trading 5,025 shares, Caribbean Cream fell 15 cents in closing at $3.30 while exchanging 20,000 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 75 cents to close at $15 in switching ownership of 7,635 stocks. EduFocal declined 12 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing low of $1.79, with 12,319 stock units crossing the market, Everything Fresh dropped 9 cents to $1.54 after 15,311 stocks changed hands, Express Catering dipped 44 cents after ending at $4.75 with investors transferring 15,134 units. Fontana shed 11 cents to end at $7.40 with 54,775 shares clearing the market, Fosrich dipped 15 cents to $2.72 in an exchange of 259,589 stock units, 
Honey Bun increased 16 cents in closing at $6.26 after an exchange of 11,446 stocks. Indies Pharma advanced 9 cents to close at $2.80 after a transfer of 160,593 stock units, ISP Finance gained $1.01 to close at $21.01, with investors exchanging 80 units, Jamaican Teas fell 18 cents to $2.12 in an exchange of 192,340 shares. JFP Ltd rallied 8 cents to $1.68 in an exchange of 586,143 stocks, Knutsford Express lost 15 cents to end at $8.85 following 9,150 stock units passing through the market, Lasco Manufacturing declined 20 cents to $4.15 with the swapping of 6,685 shares. Main Event shed 29 cents to close at $11.57 with a transfer of 12,086 units, Medical Disposables dropped 15 cents to close at $4.85, with 5,000 shares crossing the exchange. MFS Capital Partners shed 11 cents to end at $3.41, with 564,431 stocks crossing the market, 
Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $2.24 with an exchange of 100 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 50 cents after ending at $14.50, with 31,821 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks battered risers on the Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 55 percent and the value 58 percent lower than on Tuesday after trading took place in 41 securities compared with 40 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 11 rising, 24 declining and six closing unchanged.
A total of 9,199,758 shares were exchanged for $22,141,233 compared to 20,297,652 units at $52,761,871 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 224,384 shares at $540,030, compared with 507,441 shares at $1,319,047 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 585,792 units at 1,127,771 compared with 608,277 stock units at $1,164,338 on Tuesday the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.10 million shares for 22.8 percent of total volume followed by Mailpac Group with 1.59 million units for 17.2 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial with 1.53 million units for 16.6 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.28 million units for 13.9 percent of the trading volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 46.89 points to end at 3,643.55.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined 45 cents to end at $20.55, with an exchange of 100 shares, AMG Packaging increased 8 cents to $3.38 in trading 30,002 stocks, Cargo Handlers shed $1.09 in ending at $13.01 after investors traded 2,333 units. Caribbean Flavours lost 9 cents to close at $1.26 with an exchange of 194,228 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 20 cents to $2 after an exchange of 248,902 shares, 
Derrimon Trading dipped 10 cents to $2.05 in trading 2,098,597 stocks. Dolphin Cove fell 99 cents to end at $14.25 after 10,546 units changed hands, Fontana dipped 66 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing low of $7.51, with 52,622 stock units crossing the market, Honey Bun shed 35 cents in closing at $6.10 as investors exchanged 15,387 shares. Indies Pharma dropped 15 cents in ending at $2.71 with a transfer of 404,485 stocks, Jamaican Teas rallied 19 cents to $2.30 with investors transferring 15,150 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 9 cents in closing at $1.60 as 1,616 units passed through the market. Knutsford Express fell $1.15 after ending at $9 after an exchange of 17,979 stock units, Lasco Financial declined 16 cents to close at $2.55 in switching ownership of 21,263 stocks, Main Event gained 71 cents to end at $11.86, with 12,040 shares changing hands, 
Spur Tree Spices ended at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.51 after slipping 5 cents, with an exchange of 104,763 shares to close at $2.45 and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 10 cents to $15 after a transfer of just two units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market at 14 months low
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday at the lowest point since January last year, with the market Index falling 31.75 points to 3,704.30, with the volume of stocks traded declining 55 percent with the value 61 percent lower than on Friday following trading in 39 securities compared with 40 on Friday and ended with 10 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 4,128,803 shares were exchanged for $10,755,628 down from 9,097,236 units at $27,766,092 on Friday.
Trading averaged 105,867 shares at $275,785, compared with 227,431 units at $694,152 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 614,793 units at $1,154,341 compared with 649,010 stock at $1,213,416 on the previous trading day. February ended with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 855,959 shares for 20.7 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 478,505 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 402,878 units for 9.8 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers. At the close, Caribbean Flavours lost 12 cents to close at $1.27 after an exchange of 100 shares, Elite Diagnostic rallied 19 cents in closing at $2.89 with 75,902 stocks clearing the market, Everything Fresh climbed 22 cents to $1.64 in an exchange of 3,200 stock units. Fontana declined 22 cents in ending at $8.18 after 22,925 units crossed the market, Honey Bun dropped 25 cents to end at $6.50 as 12,807 shares passed through the market, iCreate fell 11 cents to close at $1.57 with the swapping of 6,189 stock units. Indies Pharma shed 9 cents to $2.81 with a transfer of 17,869 stocks, 
Jetcon Corporation advanced 12 cents to $1.07, with 2,705 units crossing the market, Knutsford Express gained $1.13 to end at $10.15 as investors exchanged 93 stocks. Lasco Distributors dipped 21 cents in closing at $2.53 after investors exchanged 53,482 shares, Limners and Bards declined 14 cents in closing at $2.36 trading 94,523 units, Main Event fell 10 cents to close at $12.15 with an exchange of 89,562 stock units. MFS Capital Partners popped 9 cents in ending at $3.49, with 242,453 stocks changing hands, Paramount Trading rose 24 cents to end at $2.44 and closed with an exchange of 2,500 units, 
Spur Tree Spices traded 75,047 shares with a gain of 1 cent to close at $2.59 after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.51 and Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 10 cents to $14.90 while exchanging 39,934 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading falls back
Trading pulled back to more normal levels from Wednesday’s heady levels at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 98 percent declining the volume of stocks traded with the value 96 percent lower than on Wednesday following trading in 46 securities up from 42 on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 5,242,797 shares were traded for $17,417,126 compared to 272,054,087 units at $419,217,066 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 113,974 shares at $378,633, compared with 6,477,478 units at $9,981,359 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 680,242 stock units at $1,251,880 in contrast to 732,972 units at $1,333,194 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 734,917 shares for 14 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 453,589 units for 8.7 percent of the day’s trade after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.90 and Future Energy Source with 399,936 units for 7.6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 9.49 points to close at 3,751.17.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. The average is down to this relatively low due to new company results that led to increased earnings for the Thursday report and following 
ICInsider.com upgrading earnings for Main Event to $1.80 from $1.45 and Dolla Financial being switched from 2022 earnings of 15 cents for last year to 40 cents for this year, following the release of 2022 full year results, with earnings of 18 cents per share. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last traded stock price and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dipped 12 cents to close at $22, with 11,249 shares changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 24 cents in closing at $2.24 after investors swapped 5,051 stock units, Dolla Financial gained 15 cents to end at $2.85 as investors crossing the market exchanged 243,218 stocks Dolphin Cove rose $1.09 in ending at $15.25 with 57,649 units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic rallied 9 cents to $2.80 in an exchange of 445 stocks, Express Catering advanced 38 cents to end at $5.48 with investors transferring 5,600 units.
Fontana popped 15 cents to close at $8.40 after a transfer of 68,140 stock units, Future Energy Source rose 23 cents to $4.40 with an exchange of 399,936 shares, after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $4.05, GWest Corporation climbed 12 cents in closing at $1.08 with a transfer of 1,564 stock units. Honey Bun lost 29 cents to $6.75, with 51,922 shares clearing the market, iCreate rallied 18 cents to end at $1.68 after trading 87,063 units, Indies Pharma rose 10 cents to close at $2.90, with 21,002 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas shed 27 cents in closing at $2.20 with 151,736 units passing through the market, Jetcon Corporation fell 10 cents to 95 cents with 3,984 stocks crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express declined 13 cents to $9.02 after exchanging 7,287 stock units. Mailpac Group dipped 10 cents to close at $1.70 in switching ownership of 113,259 shares, Main Event popped $1.20 after ending at a record closing high of $13 while exchanging 264,941 stocks, following the release of solid first quarter results of 39 cents per share before trading opened, 
MFS Capital Partners dropped 18 cents in closing at $3.33 in an exchange of 734,917 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies increased 89 cents to end at $15.10 in trading 9,521 units.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share gained 14 cents to $1.05 with the swapping of 26,055 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Huge trading surge for Junior Market
Trading closed sharply higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 4,359 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded and the value jumping 2,415 percent more than on Tuesday after trading in 42 securities compared with 45 on Tuesday and ended with 10 rising, 21 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors exchanged 272,054,087 shares for $419,217,066 compared to 6,101,272 units at $16,671,644 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 6,477,478 shares at $9,981,359 compared to 135,584 units at $370,481 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 732,972 units at $1,333,194 up from 199,190 stock units at $529,604 on Tuesday the previous day. February averaged 318,024 units at $782,332.
JFP Ltd led trading with 261.41 million shares for 96.1 percent of total volume followed by tTech with 5 million units for 1.8 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 948,138 units for 0.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 55.99 points to close at 3,741.68,, the lowest point since the ending of January 2022.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. 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 eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial lost 13 cents in closing at $22.12 in an exchange of 1,885 shares, AMG Packaging popped 36 cents in ending at $2.94, with 1,127 units crossing the market, Cargo Handlers dipped 89 cents to $14.11 and closed with 8 stock units changing hands. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 15 cents to close at $1.90 after an exchange of 948,138 stocks, Caribbean Cream declined 20 cents to $3.50 after an exchange of 200,000 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 9 cents to $2 with the swapping of 26,653 stock units. Dolla Financial shed 20 cents to close at $2.70 with a transfer of 369,259 units, Dolphin Cove shed 36 cents in closing at $14.16 in an exchange of 39,713 shares, Express Catering fell 30 cents to end at $5.10 after a transfer of 9,461 units. 
Fontana lost 15 cents at $8.25 in switching ownership of 37,317 stocks, Future Energy Source dipped 14 cents to $4.17 as 79,996 shares passed through the market, GWest Corporation declined 13 cents in closing at 96 cents with an exchange of 263 stock units. ISP Finance dropped $5.66 to close at $20 as investors exchanged 784 units, Knutsford Express advanced 13 cents to $9.15, with 21,743 stock units clearing the market, Main Event 20 cents to end at $11.80 after trading 36,428 shares. MFS Capital Partners lost 12 cents to end at $3.51 in trading 255,734 stocks, Paramount Trading climbed 16 cents in ending at $2.34 with an exchange of 142 shares, 
Stationery and Office Supplies fell 29 cents to $14.21 while exchanging 30,289 stocks and tTech gained 23 cents to close at $2.53 with investors transferring 5,000,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended Wednesday, with a 26 percent fall in the volume of stocks changing hands following a 90 percent lower value than on Tuesday, resulting in seven securities traded, compared to eight on Tuesday with two rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 33,994 shares were exchanged for US$8,059 compared with 45,731 units at US$80,158 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 4,856 shares at US$1,151 versus 5,716 shares at US$10,021 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 8,281 stock units at US$3,190 compared with 8,596 units at US$3,377 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index lost 1.23 points to end at 220.54.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.04 of a cent to end at 6.95 US cents after a transfer of 400 shares, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced 1.4 cents to 68 US cents after just two stocks passed through the market, Proven Investments dipped 0.47 of a cent after ending at 18.52 US cents in an exchange of 10,157 stock units. Sterling Investments fell 0.25 of a cent to close at 1.75 US cents with the swapping of 4,980 units and Sygnus Credit Investments USD share gained 0.49 of one cent in closing at 10 US cents while exchanging 14,905 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2 with 915 units crossing the market and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.05 with a transfer of 2,635 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.