Investors owning Junior Market stocks would be fortunate if they held most of the 19 best performing stocks in that market in 2023, if they held the TOP10 stocks from the start of 2023, they would have picked up gains ranging from 13 percent to a high of 65 percent, plus dividends in some cases.
Junior Market stocks fared better than their Main Market counterparts with 19 or 40 percent of listings recording gains during the year and 29 or 60 percent declining. ISP Finance was the leading Junior Market stock after gaining 65 percent for the year followed by Main Event up 55 percent, Regency Petroleum added 47 percent to the price at the commencement of the year, while Knutsford Express put on a solid 45 percent and Dolphin Cove 39 percent, in addition, the company paid dividends amounting to $1.60 during the year thus raising the total returns to 51 percent.
Declining Junior Market stocks were headed by the managerially and financially troubled iCreate down 65 percent,
Elite Diagnostic struggling to overcome machine failures, declined by 46 percent, Medical Disposables suffered a fall of 44 percent as profit collapsed in 2023, helped by increased finance costs. CAC2000 fell 43 percent and 2022 highflyer, Fosrich dropped 38 percent. Advertising and public relations firm Limners and Bards fell 38 percent, money transfer and micro lender, Lasco Financial dropped 33 percent and petroleum distributor Future Energy a 2022 high flying stock retreated with a loss of 28 percent.
Trading surges on Junior Market to end 2023
Trading surged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, as the market closed out 2023 with a small decline for the second time since 2020, with a huge jump in the volume of stocks traded rising by 460 percent and the value jumping 479 percent more than Thursday with trading concluding with 46 securities changing hands compared with 45 on Thursday and ended with prices of 24 rising, 12 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 58,141,717 stock units for $143,291,459 versus 10,388,698 units at $24,745,282 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 1,263,950 shares for $3,115,032 compared with 230,860 units at $549,895 on Thursday. Trading ended with the month to date averaging 466,866 units at $1,111,272 compared to 416,223 stocks at $983,962 on the previous day, well up on November that closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Tropical Battery led trading with 21.15 million shares for 36.4 percent of the volume followed by Future Energy with 10.21 million stock units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum closed with 4.69 million units for 8.1 percent market share, EduFocal with 2.96 million units for 5.1 percent market share, Image Plus ended with 2.89 million units changing hands for 5 percent of stocks traded and Fosrich closed with 2.25 million units for 3.9 percent of the overall volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 65.03 points to lock up trading for 2023 at 3,848.33 with a loss of 3.5 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1, 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 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power dipped 28 cents to end at $2.66, with 20,016 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cream increased 39 cents to $4.59 as investors exchanged 5,166 units, Caribbean Flavours climbed 34 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.92 as 124,565 shares passed through the market. Derrimon Trading sank 16 cents to close at $1.85 in an exchange of 1,540,620 stock units, Dolphin Cove popped $1 in closing at $18.10 with traders dealing in 48,385 shares, EduFocal fell 8 cents to $1.62 while exchanging 2,955,104 stocks. Fontana advanced 20 cents in closing at $10.20 with a transfer of 151,667 units, Fosrich rose 15 cents and ended at $2.60 with investors swapping 2,248,711 stock units, Future Energy gained 39 cents to end at $3.94 in an exchange of 10,214,342 shares. 
Image Plus rallied 11 cents to close at $2.05 with investors transferring 2,892,365 units, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents to close at $3.09 after an exchange of 853,375 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 21 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $2.80, with 1,789,229 stock units crossing the market. Jetcon Corporation rose 19 cents in closing at $1.09 with an exchange of 603,626 shares, Lasco Distributors declined 10 cents to close at $3.75 with 396,396 stock units clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing shed 19 cents and ended at $4.31 with investors dealing in 9,827 units. Mailpac Group gained 16 cents to $2.29 after an exchange of 617,768 stocks, MFS Capital Partners rallied 24 cents to end at $2.24 with investors trading 409,204 units, ONE on ONE Educational increased 8 cents in closing at $1.10, with 908,832 shares changing hands. 
Paramount Trading climbed 17 cents and ended at $1.60 in trading 5,000 stock units, Regency Petroleum increased 22 cents to close at $2.48 after 4,687,683 stocks changed hands and Spur Tree Spices dropped 57 cents to close out the year at $2.76 after investors traded trading 1,707,764 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big gains for Junior Market stocks
Investors pushed 22 stocks higher on Thursday and left 10 declining after 45 securities trading compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 13 closing unchanged with the market index jumping 50.05 points to 3,783.30, following a near 51 points gain over the previous two trading days and ended trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining 90 percent from trading on Wednesday.
A total of 10,388,698 shares changed hands for $24,745,282 compared to 99,492,688 units at $248,103,688 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 230,860 shares at $549,895, compared with 2,261,197 units at $5,638,720 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averages 416,223 units at $983,962 compared to 428,507 stock units at $1,012,729 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 3.09 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 1.10 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 1.05 million units for 10.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 50 cents and ended at $25 in an exchange of 185 units, AMG Packaging rallied 57 cents to $2.97 with traders dealing in 56,652 stocks, Blue Power climbed 28 cents to end at $2.94 after a transfer of 67 shares. Caribbean Cream rose 56 cents to $4.20, with 23,845 stock units changing hands, Derrimon Trading gained 12 cents to close at $2.01 with a transfer of 26 shares, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.60 after exchanging 217,112 stock units. Dolphin Cove advanced 10 cents to end at $17.10 with investors swapping 11,571 units, Fontana sank 14 cents to $10 in an exchange of 91,263 stocks, Honey Bun popped 14 cents and ended at $6.40 with investors trading 107 shares. ISP Finance rallied $4.15 to close at $29 with just 100 stock units clearing the market, Jamaican Teas increased 9 cents to $2.59 with investors transferring 48,336 stocks, J
etcon Corporation climbed 11 cents in closing at 90 cents in switching ownership of 530,832 units. KLE Group rose 40 cents to end at $1.90 while exchanging 784,660 shares, Knutsford Express advanced $1.20 to close at $12.60 with 300 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 14 cents and ended at $4.50 with an exchange of 11,703 units. Lumber Depot gained 10 cents and landed at $2.60, with 270,334 stock units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners lost 27 cents in closing at $2 after an exchange of 173,637 shares, Paramount Trading shed 26 cents to end at $1.43 in trading 6,800 stocks. Spur Tree Spices jumped 44 cents and ended at $3.33 as investors exchanged 3,088,133 units and Tropical Battery increased 21 cents to close at $1.95 after investors ended trading 272,925 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Friday’s bulk trading returns to Junior Market
The large blocks of stocks in four companies that swelled trading on Friday dominated trading again on Wednesday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the overall volume and the value of stocks traded rising a mere one percent over trading on Friday with trading in 44 securities up from 40 on Friday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Mailpac Group was the leading trade with 50.06 million shares for 50.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.75 million units for 32.9 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy chipped in with 10.59 million units for 10.6 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 2.34 million units for 2.4 percent of total volume.
The total amount of stocks traded was 99,492,688 for $248,103,688 up from 98,460,419 units at $245,339,629 on Friday.
Trading averaged 2,261,197 shares at $5,638,720, compared with 2,461,510 units at $6,133,491 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 428,507 units at $1,012,729 compared with 301,518 stock units at $692,188 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 5.11 points to end at 3,733.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 48 cents to $24.50 with 850,000 stock units clearing the market, AMG Packaging declined 30 cents and ended at $2.40 with traders dealing in 76 shares, Blue Power lost 36 cents to end at $2.66, with 1,000 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Cargo Handlers popped $1.84 in closing at $14.92 with investors trading 923 units, Dolphin Cove skidded 14 cents to close at $17 after an exchange of 701 stocks, Fontana advanced 16 cents to $10.14 with investors transferring 36,524 units. Honey Bun sank 14 cents to close at $6.26 in an exchange of 2,252 shares, Indies Pharma rose 14 cents and ended at $2.99, with 34,657 stock units crossing the market, ISP Finance shed $4.55 in closing at $24.85 with an exchange of 1,244 shares. Jamaican Teas climbed 19 cents to end at $2.50 after investors ended trading 32,747,972 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.18 in closing at $11.40 while exchanging 5,852 units, Medical Disposables increased 20 cents to $2.70 in trading 6,000 stock units and Spur Tree Spices gained 39 cents to close at $2.89 with, 2,339,563 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big trading day for Junior Market
Trading surged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday with Mailpac Group leading trading with 50.04 million shares accounting for 50.8 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.66 million units for 33.2 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy ended with 10.09 million units for 10.2 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 1.84 million units 
for 1.9 percent of total volume, resulting with the volume of stocks traded surging 3,131 percent, with the value 5,722 percent more than Thursday after trading in 40 securities as was the case on Thursday and ended with 16 rising, nine declining and 15 closing unchanged.
At the close investors traded a solid 98,460,419 shares for $245,339,629 compared with a mere 3,047,673 units at just $4,213,805 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 2,461,510 shares at $6,133,491, compared with 76,192 units at $105,345 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 301,518 stock units at $692,188 compared with 156,308 stock at $326,386 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 45.75 points to close at 3,728.14.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, 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 two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to $2.24 after a transfer of just 500 stocks, Caribbean Cream climbed 64 cents to end at $3.64 as investors exchanged a mere 18 units, Dolphin Cove rose 44 cents in closing at $17.14 after 4,684 shares passed through the market. Fosrich rallied 10 cents and ended at $2.40, with 5,551 stock units changing hands, 
Indies Pharma dropped 10 cents to close at $2.85 with a transfer of 2,500 shares, Iron Rock Insurance increased 49 cents to $2.55 with investors dealing in 2 units. Limners and Bards gained 14 cents in closing at $1.68 in an exchange of 500 stocks, One Great Studio advanced 12 cents and ended at 97 cents with investors transferring 259,498 stock units, Regency Petroleum rose 10 cents to end at $2.30 in an exchange of 36,407 shares. Spur Tree Spices climbed 25 cents to close at $2.50 with 1,844,997 stock units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 11 cents to $1.74 while exchanging 109,880 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips on reduced trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 29 percent and the value 15 percent lower than Monday with 41 securities trading compared with 42 on Monday and ended with 15 rising, 13 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 3,501,618 shares for $8,751,901 compared with 4,931,463 units at $10,278,286 on Monday.
Trading averaged 85,405 shares at $213,461, compared with 117,416 units at $244,721 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 155,065 units at $326,034 compared with 161,052 stock units at $335,710 on the previous day to end below November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
iCreate led trading with 762,439 shares for 21.8 percent of total volume following the company being placed in receivership and was followed by Fosrich with 624,699 units for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Elite Diagnostic with 509,097 units for 14.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 39.23 points to settle at 3,650.24.
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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power declined 40 cents and ended at $2.65 with a transfer of 31,088 stocks, CAC 2000 rose 51 cents to $4.51, with just 10 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 13 cents in closing at $1.63 in an exchange of 539 shares. Dolphin Cove advanced 43 cents to close at $16.98 after investors traded 3,293 stock units, EduFocal popped 12 cents to end at $1.82 after an exchange of 69,734 shares, Elite Diagnostic gained 11 cents in closing at $1.74 with investors transferring 509,097 stocks, but only after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.50. Express Catering rallied 10 cents to $3.90 in switching ownership of 3,250 units, Fontana skidded 47 cents and ended at $10 as investors exchanged 284,230 stock units, Future Energy increased 9 cents to close at $3.54 after 69,132 shares passed through the market.
iCreate fell 21 cents to end at 63 cents with traders dealing in 762,439 units, following an announcement on Monday that Sagicor Group had appointed a receiver for the company and comes after the majority shareholder muscled himself back in control of the company at board and executive levels. Indies Pharma dropped 9 cents in closing at $2.86, with 49,581 stocks changing hands, Lasco Distributors shed 16 cents to close at $3.77 with investors swapping 3,384 stock units. Lasco Financial climbed 26 cents to end at $1.88, with 600 shares crossing the exchange, Main Event sank $1.30 to close at $13 in trading 100,022 stock units and Paramount Trading increased 15 cents and ended at $1.63, with just 9 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady Junior Market
Market activity ended with 15 stocks rising and 15 declining in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday and 12 closed unchanged after trading in 42 securities compared with 40 on Friday with the volume and value of stocks traded marginally lower than on Friday.
Investors traded 4,931,463 shares for $10,278,286 compared with 4,960,272 units at $11,287,117 on Friday.
Trading averaged 117,416 shares at $244,721 compared to 124,007 units at $282,178 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 161,052 stock units at $335,710 compared with 165,266 shares at $344,495 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Dolla Financial led trading with 895,595 shares for 18.2 percent of total volume followed by KLE Group with 840,000 units for 17 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 674,354 units for 13.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index skidded 6.22 points to end the day at 3,689.47.
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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 44 cents in closing at $2.74, with 6,077 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 sank 60 cents to $4 with a transfer of 2,105 shares, Cargo Handlers rose $1.77 to end at $13.08 after an exchange of 168 units. Derrimon Trading climbed 14 cents to close at $2 in switching ownership of 143 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 45 cents and ended at $16.55 after a transfer of 35,558 shares, EduFocal lost 16 cents to close at $1.70, with 123,046 stock units changing hands. Elite Diagnostic fell 12 cents in closing at $1.63 in an exchange of 106,042 units, Everything Fresh skidded 12 cents to end at $1.31 with investors dealing in 150,000 stocks, Express Catering dipped 20 cents to $3.80, with 113,033 shares crossing the market. 
Fontana increased 8 cents to close at $10.47 in trading 97,108 stock units, GWest Corporation popped 12 cents to 99 cents and closed with an exchange of 797 units, Knutsford Express gained $1.42 to close at $12.78 with an exchange of 112 stocks. Lasco Financial declined 26 cents to end at $1.62 after trading 30,200 units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 40 cents in closing at $4.23 with investors transferring 1,464 stocks, Limners and Bards fell 18 cents and ended at $1.50 in an exchange of 23,032 shares. Main Event rallied $1.30 to $14.30 with traders dealing in 984 stock units, Paramount Trading sank 19 cents and ended at $1.48 passed through the market 102,587 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents to close at $1.68 with investors swapping 55,629 units and tTech increased 21 cents in closing at $2.21 after an exchange of 4,506 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on the Junior Market
Trading climbed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 43 percent and the value 58 percent more than Tuesday following trading in 40 securities similar to the outcome on Tuesday and ended with 18 rising, 13 declining and nine unchanged but that failed to save the market index from dropping at the close following a jump in the index in the morning session.
Investors traded 4,766,135 shares for $10,223,648 compared with 3,334,500 units at $6,456,830 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 119,153 shares at $255,591 compared to 83,363 units at $161,421 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 132,501 stock units at $288,790 compared to 134,174 shares at $292,953 on the previous day and markedly lower than November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545, after the market opened in the 3,750 range.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.02 million shares for 21.3 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 626,665 units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 626,493 units for 13.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 41.33 points to close at 3,682.38 after the market traded in the 3,750 range in early market activity.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rallied 35 cents and ended at $3 as 69,678 stocks passed through the market, following the release of half year results with profit up 330 percent to $70.5 million, Cargo Handlers rose 95 cents to close at $14.95 with an exchange of 110 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 26 cents to $2.50, with 1,232 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Flavours popped 20 cents in closing at $1.50 with a transfer of 135,000 stock units, Derrimon Trading dipped 17 cents to end at $1.86, with 75,221 shares crossing the market, Dolla Financial increased 10 cents in closing at $2.50 with investors trading 626,493 stock units. Dolphin Cove fell 17 cents to $17 and closed with an exchange of 614 stocks, Elite Diagnostic advanced 8 cents and ended at $1.74 with investors trading 29,491 units, Express Catering gained 12 cents to end at $3.95, with an exchange of 415 shares. Fontana skidded 49 cents to close at $10 after a transfer of 53,519 stocks, GWest Corporation popped 12 cents to 95 cents with shareholders swapping 300,000 units, Indies Pharma lost 16 cents to end at $2.83 after an exchange of 130 stock units. 
Jamaican Teas climbed 16 cents in closing at $2.46, with the trading of 14,560 shares, Lasco Distributors declined 46 cents to $3.52 with stakeholders exchanging 4,272 units, Lasco Manufacturing shed 43 cents to end at $4.20 in switching ownership of 40,621 stocks. Mailpac Group dropped 8 cents to $2.02 as investors exchanged 18,030 stock units, Main Event popped 30 cents to $13.40 after 11,050 shares were traded, Paramount Trading advanced 15 cents in closing at $1.67 with traders dealing in 23 units. Regency Petroleum rose 18 cents and ended at $2.38 in an exchange of 216,183 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 15 cents to close at $1.80 with investors dealing in 85,794 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market surge
Trading activity sent the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surging on Tuesday by 54.04 points to 3,723.71, following a sharp reduction in the volume and value of stocks traded, as volume dropped 57 percent from that on Monday, with a 46 percent lower value following trading in 40 securities compared with 38 on Monday and ended with the prices of 18 rising, 17 declining and five closing unchanged.
Investors traded 3,334,500 shares for $6,456,830 compared with 7,705,493 units at $11,922,249 on Monday.
Trading averaged 83,363 shares at $161,421, compared with 202,776 units at $313,743 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 134,174 units at $292,953 compared with 141,459 stock units at $311,810 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
EduFocal led trading with 761,518 shares for 22.8 percent of total volume, Tropical Battery followed with 497,599 units for 14.9 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 361,282 units for 10.8 percent market share.
he 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rose 36 cents to end at $2.66 with just two stocks crossing the exchange, Blue Power shed 42 cents to $2.65 with a transfer of 400 units, ahead of the company reporting profit for the second quarter surging 221 per cent to $33 million, Cargo Handlers declined 95 cents and ended at $14 with investors dealing in 711 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 11 cents to close at $2.24 in an exchange of 1,000 stock units, Caribbean Cream dropped 69 cents in closing at $3 with 706 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Flavours fell 20 cents to $1.30 after a transfer of 2,067 units. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 10 cents to end at $1.90, with 5,000 stocks crossing the market, Derrimon Trading popped 8 cents in closing at $2.03 with an exchange of 467 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained 60 cents to close at $17.17 after 508 shares changed hands. 
EduFocal increased 16 cents and ended at $1.87 with traders dealing in 761,518 units, Elite Diagnostic dipped 18 cents to $1.66 after an exchange of 1,476 stocks, Fontana climbed 29 cents and ended at $10.49 with investors transferring 1,984 stock units. GWest Corporation skidded 17 cents in closing at 83 cents after 15,094 shares passed through the market, Honey Bun fell 10 cents to end at $6.30 with stakeholders exchanging 7,308 stock units, Indies Pharma advanced 17 cents to close at $2.99 in trading 37,465 units. Lasco Distributors popped 37 cents to $3.98 with 17,682 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Financial lost 10 cents in closing at $1.80 as investors exchanged 850 shares, Mailpac Group declined 9 cents to end at $2.10 with investors trading 4,515 stocks. Paramount Trading shed 22 cents and ended at $1.52 with shareholders swapping 1,000 units and Tropical Battery climbed 17 cents to close at $1.95 in an exchange of 497,599 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks pelted Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped for a third consecutive day, on Monday, after the volume of stocks traded climbed 53 percent and the value slipped a tad lower than Friday following trading in 38 securities compared with 36 on Friday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 7,705,493 shares for $11,922,249 compared with 5,022,943 units at $11,992,912 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,776 shares at $313,743, compared with 139,526 units at $333,136 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 141,459 units at $311,810 compared with 131,791 stock units at $311,505 on the previous trading day down from November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
iCreate led trading with 3.46 million shares for 44.8 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.19 million units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 907,966 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index skidded 31.09 points to end the day at 3,669.67.
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 eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers
At the close, AMG Packaging shed 59 cents to close at $2.30 with investors transferring just 403 stock units, CAC 2000 climbed 60 cents and ended at $4.60, with 11 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 15 cents in closing at $2.35 while exchanging 300,000 units. Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents to end at $1.80 in trading 53,000 stocks, Derrimon Trading increased 8 cents to close at $1.95 after an exchange of 2,190 units, Dolla Financial dipped 10 cents to $2.39, after 1,185,788 stocks passed through the market.
Dolphin Cove lost 82 cents to close at $16.57 in trading 1,569 shares, EduFocal skidded 21 cents to end at $1.71 in an exchange of 829,284 stock units, Express Catering dropped 17 cents in closing at $3.83, with 2,588 shares changing hands. Fontana popped 63 cents and ended at $10.20 in an exchange of 29,895 stocks, iCreate advanced 10 cents to 87 cents with 3,455,685 units clearing the market, Image Plus fell 11 cents and ended at $1.92 in switching ownership of 6,149 stock units. Indies Pharma dipped 18 cents in closing at $2.82 with stakeholders exchanging 10,350 shares, ISP Finance lost 10 cents to end at $29.90 after a transfer of 708 stock units, Jamaican Teas skidded 25 cents to close at $2.30 with shareholders swapping 44,424 units. Lasco Manufacturing rose 35 cents to $4.65 with an exchange of 42,628 stocks, Limners and Bards gained 13 cents in closing at $1.74 with investors dealing in 133,000 shares, 
Mailpac Group rallied 14 cents to close at $2.19 with a transfer of 75 stock units and Main Event increased 10 cents to end at $13.10 after closing with 3,744 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
