Junior Market trading drops, with most prices up

Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 43 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 63 percent lower value than Thursday, with trading in 39 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged on a day mostly small price changes and a few of note.
The market closed on Friday with 4,230,099 shares trading at $8,122,644 from 7,401,497 units at $21,829,864 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 108,464 shares at $208,273, compared with 180,524 units for $532,436 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 161,282 stocks at $335,386 down from 165,048 shares at $344,449 on the previous day compared with  December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 2.31 points to end the day at 3,729.58.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 20 cents to end at $1.90 with investors transferring 1,274 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to close at $19.50 in an exchange of 4,349 shares, Elite Diagnostic popped 8 cents to $1.68 with investors dealing in 2,379 units. Express Catering shed 14 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.61, with 53,300 stocks crossing the exchange, Honey Bun rallied 13 cents and ended at $6.30 in trading 1,871 shares, Indies Pharma increased 26 cents to $2.94 after a transfer of 62,259 stocks. KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85 in trading 217,136 units, Knutsford Express rose $1 $12, with 1,112 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors lost 15 cents to close at $3.85 after an exchange of 42,502 shares. Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 cents and ended at $4.52 after an exchange of 11,540 stocks, Main Event advanced $1 to close trading at $16 with traders dealing in 60,755 units and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents to end at $1.59 after 437,366 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

JSE markets fall to close out the week

All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped at the close of trading on Friday as trading ended with a reduced volume of shares being exchanged, with a lower value than on Thursday, with a few stocks trading with sizable price movements on a day when prices of 27 stocks rose and 31 declined.
At the close of  the market on Friday, the Composite Index shed 465.78 points to end at 356,593.80. The JSE Main Index lost 723.40 points to conclude trading at 321,375.67. The Junior Market Index slipped 2.31 points to 3,729.58 and the JSE USD Market Index sank 3.74 points to lock up trading at 237.32.
At the close of trading, 12,488,845 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 17,340,719 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $97.58 million, down from $109.09 million on Thursday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 649,338 shares for US$15,760 compared to 156,654 units at US$16,462 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway which led trading with 2.47 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.29 million units and Jamaica Producers with 955,735 units.
In the Junior Market, ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are NCB Financial rose $1.89 to $67.99, Pan Jamaica gained $4.45 in closing at $50.
The major declining Main Market stocks include AS Bryden sank $2 in closing at $41, Caribbean Cement lost $3.68 to close at $51.32, Jamaica Producers dropped $5 to $22 and Seprod skidded $3.70 to $82.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to $19.50, KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85, Knutsford Express rose $1 in closing at $12 and Main Event advanced $1 to $16. No stocks ended with a major loss on Friday.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $24.28 to $192.28.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 2… on 2022-23 earnings and 1… times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Junior Market rose on reduced trading

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 26 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 10 percent lower value than Tuesday following trading in 42 securities compared with 39 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The market ended with 8,696,982 shares being traded for $19,603,907 compared with 11,812,842 units at $21,832,768 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 207,071 shares at $466,760, compared with 302,893 units at $559,815 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 163,794 units at $329,217 compared to 159,877 stock units at $316,767 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Express Catering led trading with 2.12 million shares for 24.4 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 2.04 million units for 23.5 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 971,348 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 17.68 points to finish trading at 3,741.40.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 76 cents and ended at $3.18 after investors ended trading 27,607 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 33 cents to $3.72, with 2,635 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 19 cents to end at $1.60 with investors dealing in 442 shares. Dolphin Cove skidded 30 cents in closing at $18.20 with 1,195 stock units clearing the market, Elite Diagnostic sank 18 cents to close at $1.51 with an exchange of 9,870 shares, Express Catering dropped 20 cents to $3.80 with 2,117,976 units changing hands. Fosrich fell 16 cents in closing at $2.22 with investors swapping 100,442 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance gained 44 cents to close at $2.51 in switching ownership of just one stock unit, ISP Finance rose $1.19 and ended at $22.64 while exchanging 1,435 shares. Knutsford Express declined $1.38 to end at $11 with traders dealing in 1,825 units, Lasco Distributors climbed 25 cents in closing at $4.10 in an exchange of 27,528 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing increased 9 cents to $4.61, with 32,190 stock units crossing the market. Main Event advanced 20 cents to end at $15 in an exchange of 30,918 shares, Spur Tree Spices rallied 10 cents to close at $2.46 and ended with an exchange of 82,607 stock units and Tropical Battery popped 17 cents and ended at $2.30 as investors exchanged 28,150 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading jumps on the JSE Junior Market

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a 36 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 36 percent greater value than Monday, with trading ending with an exchange of 39 securities compared with 43 on Monday and ending with prices of 12 stocks rising, 14 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The market closed with trading in 11,812,842 shares for a value of $21,832,768 compared with 8,711,353 units at $16,041,925 on Monday.
Trading averaged 302,893 shares at $559,915, compared with 202,590 units at $373,068 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 159,877 units at $316,767 compared to 146,753 stock units at $294,464 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Fosrich led trading with 2.86 million shares for 24.2 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 2.06 million units for 17.5 percent of the day’s trade, One Great Studio closed with 1.24 million units for 10.5 percent market share, iCreate ended with 1.14 million units for 9.6 of trading, Tropical Battery had an exchange of 1.12 million units for 9.5 percent market share and EduFocal with 1.02 million units for 8.6 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 11.23 points to finish at 3,723.72.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $2.17 to close at $22.68, with 2,379 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging skidded 63 cents to $2.42 with investors dealing in 131,215 stocks, Blue Power rallied 30 cents and ended at $3 and closed with an exchange of 4,114 shares. Cargo Handlers sank 92 cents to end at $13.08 while exchanging 304 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 23 cents in closing at $2.25 after a transfer of 6,758 shares, but the stock still has an overhang of selling, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 30 cents to $2.18 with traders dealing in 1,000 units. EduFocal dipped 11 cents to close at $1.44 in switching ownership of 1,018,324 stocks, Fosrich rose 8 cents to end at $2.38 after exchanging 2,862,584 stock units, Future Energy fell 9 cents in closing at $3.71 with 112,460 shares clearing the market. KLE Group declined 15 cents to $1.34 with trading of 30,000 stocks, Knutsford Express gained 38 cents to end at $12.38 after an exchange of one unit, Limners and Bards shed 16 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.30 after a transfer of 26,028 stock units. Main Event advanced 60 cents to close at $14.80 as investors exchanged 25,200 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 13 cents in closing at $1.52, with 211,741 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

All JSE Markets rise

The Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains in all three markets on Tuesday in trading on Monday as trading ended with a decline in the number exchanged, with the value traded rising over that on Monday
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 178.57 points to 335,378.11, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 2,400.43 points to wrap-up trading at 359,385.57, the JSE Main Index rose 1,467.74 points to finish at 322,832.91. The Junior Market Index rallied 11.23 points to finish at 3,723.72 and the JSE USD Market Index increased 5.74 points to end at 243.50.
At the close of trading, 19,941,630 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 25,106,007 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $83.9 million, up from $52.25 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 508,298 shares for US$11,596 compared to 501,713 units at US$12,814 on Monday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway with 4.42 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 706,792 units and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 402,277 units.
In the Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 2.86 million shares followed by MFS Capital Partners with 2.06 million units, One Great Studio closed with 1.24 million units, iCreate ended with 1.14 million stocks, Tropical Battery with 1.12 million shares and EduFocal with 1.02 million units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are First Rock Real Estate climbed $1 to $8, Scotia Group advanced $2.47 to end at $41.50, Mayberry Group rose 86 cents to close at $8.41 and Stanley Motta popped 88 cents in closing at $6.15.
The major declining Main Market stocks include General Accident dipped 65 cents in closing at $4.70, GraceKennedy fell 95 cents to close at $77.05, Jamaica Broilers dropped $1.02 to close trading at $32.50, Margaritaville lost $2.58 to $15, Massy Holdings declined $1 to end at $88.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Access Financial climbed $2.17 to close at $22.68, Knutsford Express gained 38 cents to $12.38 and Main Event advanced 60 cents to close at $14.80, with the major losing stocks being AMG Packaging skidded 63 cents to $2.42 and Cargo Handlers that sank 92 cents to end at $13.08.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $36.45 and ended at $167.27.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.7 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Junior Market drops to start week

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 119 percent with 77 percent more value than Friday with trading in 43 securities compared with 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged but shares of Limners and Bards traded at a 52 weeks’ low.
The market closed with trading of 8,711,353 shares valued at $16,041,925 up from 3,979,718 units at $9,087,458 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,590 shares at $373,068, compared with 97,066 units at $221,645 on Friday, Trading for the month to date, averaged 146,753 units at $294,464 compared to 140,468 stock units at $285,616 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
One Great Studio led trading with 2.19 million shares for 25.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.25 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 904,279 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 54.46 points to settle at 3,712.49.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging skidded 12 cents to end at $3.05 with an exchange of 4,000 units, after the company posted a 64 percent rise in profit  $to 40 million for the first quarter to November, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 23 cents to end at $2.02, with 7,382 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 40 cents and ended at $4.05 as investors exchanged 2,223 shares. Fontana shed 7 cents in closing at $10.63 after 73,121 stock units crossed the market, Future Energy rallied 9 cents to close at $3.80 with investors trading 155,057 shares, Indies Pharma declined 24 cents to $2.71 in an exchange of 64,959 units. Iron Rock Insurance lost 43 cents to close at $2.07 with investors swapping 176 stocks, ISP Finance dropped $3.41 to $21.45 with a transfer of 2,380 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 19 cents and ended at $2.40 while exchanging 182,250 shares. Jetcon Corporation rose 7 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 33 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 40 cents to $12 in an exchange of 2,223 units, Lasco Distributors fell 20 cents and ended at $3.90 with traders dealing in 56,178 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing lost 7 cents to close at $4.48 after an exchange of 58,705 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to end at $2.50 in trading 360,630 stock units, Main Event sank 60 cents in closing at $14.20, with 20,634 stocks changing hands, before the company released 2023 full year results with earnings of 69 cents per share. MFS Capital Partners shed 9 cents to $2.35 after trading in 456,811 units, Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $1.45, with 15,826 shares crossing the exchange and Tropical Battery popped 7 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 528,007 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Main & Junior Markets fall on reduced trading

Trading dropped back on the Jamaica Stock Exchange gained on Monday, with the number of stocks exchanged rising to but with a lower value than on Friday, with the Main Market sliding and the Junior Market dropping sharply as the JSE USD market rose moderately, to start the week.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,296.25 points to 333,903.28, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,854.05 points to end trading at 356,985.14, the JSE Main Index dropped 873.63 points to conclude trading at 321,365.17. The Junior Market Index lost 54.46 to end at 3,712.49 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 0.30 points to finish at 237.76.
At the close of trading, 25,106,007 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 23,346,054 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $52.28 million, down from $389.49 million on Friday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 501,713 shares for US$12,814 compared to 30,414 units at US$3,460 on Friday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.92 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.37 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 1.70 million units and Ciboney Group with 1.35 million units.
In the Junior Market, One Great Studio led trading with 2.19 million shares followed by Fosrich with 1.25 million units and iCreate with 904,279 stock units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are First Rock Real Estate gained 99 cents to close at $7, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $1 to end at $91, NCB Financial rallied $1.95 to $67.40 Seprod climbed $1.95 and ended at $85.95.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Caribbean Cement shed $1.40 in closing at $55.50, GraceKennedy skidded $1 to close at $78 while exchanging 104,553 units and Guardian Holdings dropped $9.49 in closing at $350.51.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, there were no stocks with a major higher, with the major losing stocks being ISP Finance down $3.41, Main Event with a loss of 60 cents and Caribbean Cream and Knutsford Express with a decline of 40 cents each.
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.8 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Profit rise 23% in Q2 at Knutsford Express

Profit at Jamaica’s intra-island luxury bus service, Knutsford Express, rose 23 percent for the quarter ending November 2023 to $72 million up from $59, million in 2022 and 10 percent for the half year to $158 million from $143 million in 2022.

Knutsford Express

Revenues for the second quarter and the half year were up 19 percent respectively to $473 million from $398 million for the November 2022 quarter and for the half year, to $965 million from $830 million in 2022.
Profit resulted in 14 cents earnings per share for the quarter and 32 cents for the six months to November. ICInsider.com projects 85 cents for the year to May 2024.
The company generated net cash from operating activities of $225 million up from $173 million in 2022 but ended with cash outflows of $32 million that arose from payments of dividends, purchase of property and loan repayment, reduced the funds at the end of May of $87 million to $55 million at the end of November.

Junior Market ends steady trading day slightly down

Declining stocks whipped those rising on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but price movements were mostly moderate with a few exceptions, following 41 securities being traded compared with 42 on Thursday, with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged after a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 37 percent lower in the value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 3,979,718 shares for $9,087,458 down from 7,215,549 units at $14,447,149 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 97,066 shares at $221,645, compared with 171,799 units at $343,980 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 140,468 units at $285,616 compared to 145,686 stock units at $293,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 530,862 units for 13.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to close at 3,766.95.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $2.50 to close at $20.50 in an exchange of 5,053 stocks, AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to close at $3.17, with 568,839 units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25 with an exchange of a mere 500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries lost 32 cents in closing at $1.88 after 210 stock units passed through the market, Fontana advanced 10 cents and ended at $10.70 after an exchange of 73,847 shares, Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 88 stock units. ISP Finance declined by 14 cents to close at $24.86, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 78 cents with investors trading 25 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 112,900 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 13 cents to end at $1.68 while exchanging a mere 1,553 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 9 cents in closing at $2.03 with a transfer of 4,385 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Junior Market rises

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent higher value than on Wednesday following trading in 42 securities the same as Wednesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday, with 7,215,549 shares changing hands for $14,447,149 up from 4,153,063 units at $9,236,370 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 171,799 shares for $343,980 compared with 98,882 units at $219,914 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 145,686 units at $293,307 up from 142,018 stock units at $286,189 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.19 million shares for 30.4 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.30 million units for 18 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 851,349 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 26.75 points to settle at 3,768.57.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $3 in closing at $23 after an exchange of 2,386 stock units, AMG Packaging popped 40 cents to closed at $2.76 after an exchange of 23 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 24 cents to close at $2.01 with an exchange of 8,602 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 29 cents and ended at $2.20 after 1,584 units were traded, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to end at $18.50 with investors trading 3,891 shares, EduFocal fell 9 cents in closing at $1.50 with an exchange of 184,967 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 22 cents to $2.78 while trading 96 units, Jamaican Teas rose 27 cents to end at $2.59 as investors exchanged 550,059 stock units, Knutsford Express skidded 20 cents and ended at $12.40 in trading 525 shares.

Lasco Distributors climbed 12 cents to close at $4.10, with 183,822 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 10 cents to $4.60 in switching ownership of 110,247 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.40 after 51,017 units passed through the market. Main Event dropped 12 cents to close at $14.85 with an exchange of 3,517 shares, MFS Capital Partners advanced 34 cents in closing at $2.49 with traders dealing in 1,298,213 stocks, following an announcement of a directors’ meeting to consider recapitalization of the company, Spur Tree Spices dipped 12 cents to end at $2.35, with 37,003 units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies sank 14 cents in closing at $1.55 with investors dealing in 25,501 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.