Traders took another stab of breaking through the 3,100 barrier and succeeded in staying above at the close on Wednesday, with the market index jumping 48.60 points to 3,112.93 after the market opened with a rise of just over 35 points at 3,099.73 and then broke to 3,103.34 with just 9 minutes of the opening and then gradually moved up at the close of the Junior Market.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands compared to 37 on Tuesday and closed with the prices of 16 stocks rising, 15 declining and five remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings averages 13.
The market closed with an exchange of 55 percent fewer shares with 64 percent less than on Tuesday, as 4,400,394 shares traded for $13,254,157 compared to 9,724,544 units at $37,278,300 on Tuesday. Caribbean Assurance Brokers led trading with 22.9 percent of total volume for 1 million shares, followed by Lasco Manufacturing with 22.7 percent for 997,854 units and Tropical Battery 15.6 percent for 65,135 units changing hands.
Trading averaged 122,233 units at $368,171 in contrast to 262,826 at $1,007,522 on Tuesday. Month to date averaged 195,649 units at $639,120, compared to 201,838 units at $661,964 on Tuesday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 99 cents to end at $21.10 with the swapping of 3,274 shares, AMG Packaging climbed 9 cents ending at $1.82 with 1,756 stocks crossing the exchange, Blue Power gained 30 cents to close at $3.80 in the transfer of 347 shares. Caribbean Cream fell 50 cents to $5.90 after 5,055 units crossed the exchange, Caribbean Flavours picked up 15 cents to close at $2.35, with 121,821 shares crossing the market. Caribbean Producers finished 9 cents higher at $3.80 in trading 197,945 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries shed 24 cents to close at $1.55 in an exchange of 575 units, Elite Diagnostic lost 15 cents to end at $3 with a transfer of 27,319 shares. Fontana shed 15 cents to settle at $5.85, with 28,318 shares crossing the market. Fosrich gained 5 cents in closing at $7.05 with 41,501 stocks changing hands, Indies Pharma rose 24 cents ending at $4.25 in switching ownership of 151,041 stocks. Jamaican Teas gained 12 cents to close at $3.50 with the swapping of 406,045 shares, Knutsford Express advanced 70 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $9 in the trading of 545 units. Lasco Distributors gained 24 cents to end at $3.99 after a transfer of 10,950 stocks.
Lasco Manufacturing picked up 6 cents to finish at $4.65 with 997,854 shares clearing the market, Main Event lost 12 cents to end at $4.80 in switching ownership of 2,128 units, Medical Disposables closed 15 cents lower at $4.50 with an exchange of 265 shares, Paramount Trading shed 8 cents ending at $1.33 after an exchange of 500 stocks. At the same time, Stationery and Office Supplies rose $1.03 in closing at $5.57, with investors switching ownership of 38,970 stock units.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference shares rose 29 cents to close at $1.40 after clearing the market with 570 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading averaged 262,826 units at $1,007,522 and on Monday 66,662 at $226,935. The month to date averaged 201,838 units at $661,964, compared to 196,052 units at $629,180 on Monday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Knutsford Express jumped $1.40 to $8.30 with an exchange of 92 units, Lasco Distributors lost 24 cents to end at $3.75 with 34,324 shares changing hands. Main Event climbed 22 cents to close at $4.92 with 250 stocks traded, Medical Disposables advanced 15 cents to $4.65 with 12,010 units transferred, Paramount Trading gained 11 cents to settle at $1.41 with investors switching ownership of 41,276 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 26 cents to $4.54 with 136,528 units changing hands and tTech fell 19 cents to close at $4.41 with 500 shares crossing the exchange.
Volume and value of trades dropped 84 percent and 83 percent, respectively with more stocks rising than falling versus Friday, on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Trading averaged 66,662 units at $226,935 in contrast to 468,107 at $1,520,701 on Friday. The average month to date is 196,052 units at $629,180, compared to 210,840 units at $675,151 on Friday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Honey Bun picked up 5 cents to finish at $5.09 with the trading of 55,600 shares, Indies Pharma closed 12 cents higher at $4.36 with an exchange of 71,313 units, Jamaican Teas gained 9 cents to end at $3.38 trading 541,001 units, Knutsford Express advanced 55 cents to $6.90 after a transfer of 43,806 shares Mailpac Group gained 9 cents in closing at $3.54 with 555,210 stock units changing hands and Medical Disposables rose 35 cents to $4.50 with the swapping of 5,560 units.
Overall, 36 securities changed hands compared to 37 on Thursday, ending with the prices of 11 stocks rising, 15 declining and 10 trading unchanged as Consolidated Bakeries traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.80 and at a closing high of $1.75 and Fosrich closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.
The day’s average trade is 468,107 units at $1,520,701, compared to 122,950 units at $353,242 on Thursday. The average month to date is 210,840 units at $675,151, compared to 181,344 units at $578,209 on Thursday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with lower offers.
Indies Pharma lost 6 cents to settle at $4.24 with investors switching ownership of 34,215 units, Lasco Distributors advanced 24 cents to $3.99, with 270 stocks traded, Lumber Depot rose 6 cents to $2.47 with, 180,752 shares changing hands. Main Event dropped 18 cents to $4.74 in with a transfer of 5,000 units, Paramount Trading slipped 10 cents to $1.32 with investors switching ownership of 15,000 stock units and tTech gained 18 cents to close at $4.59, with 2,092 stocks crossing the exchange.
Overall, 37 securities traded up from 35 on Wednesday and concluded with the prices of 18 stocks rising, 11 falling and eight remaining unchanged.
Trading averaged 122,950 units at $353,242 versus 160,988 at $485,606 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 181,344 units at $578,209, compared to 189,144 units at $608,258 on Wednesday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196 trading.
KLE Group rose 22 cents to $1.40 in trading 11,999 units, Lasco Distributors rose 12 cents to $3.75 with an exchange of 896,501 shares, Lasco Financial climbed 25 cents to $3.10 with 8,613 stock units changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing rose by 9 cents to $4.59 with 47,215 units passing through the market, Limners and Bardsfell 10 cents to $2.80 trading 21,200 stocks, Lumber Depot declined by 8 cents to end at $2.41 with a transfer of 354,836 shares. Mailpac Group advanced 24 cents to $3.49 with investors switching ownership of 151,017 units, Main Event jumped $1.22 to close at $4.92 with 6,637 stocks changing hands, Medical Disposables fell 10 cents to $4.15 with 3,800 stock units traded and tTech lost 19 cents to close at $4.4 with 1,000 shares crossing the exchange.
Trading in March averaged 252,633 units at $733,196.
Lasco Distributors declined 13 cents to end at $3.63 with 34,120 stock units clearing the market, Lasco Financial shed 20 cents to close at $2.85 after 15,880 shares crossed the exchange and Lasco Manufacturing lost 9 cents to settle at $4.50 after the transfer of 15,424 stocks.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Monday and closed with the prices of 13 stocks rising, 15 declining and eight remaining unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Lasco Financial fell 5 cents to $3.05 after exchanging 3,171 shares, Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 cents to finish at $4.59 trading 25,371 stock units, Lumber Depot picked up 9 cents to end at $2.49, trading 688,898 stocks. Medical Disposables fell 25 cents in closing at $4.25 in the swapping of 3,202 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 cents to end at $5.49 with an exchange of 185 units.
The Junior Market Index dropped 40.82 points to settle at 3,017.44. The PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings averages 11.2.
Trading averaged 194,673 units at $639,814, in contrast to 280,665 at $836,480 on Friday. Trading month to date averages 210,513 units at $691,011, consistent with 213,535 units at $700,777 on Friday. Trading in March resulted in an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
Lumber Depot gained 9 cents to finish at $2.40 with investors switching ownership of 283,488 stocks, SSL Venture rose 8 cents to 63 cents in trading 44,276 shares. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 10 cents to $5.40, with 20,100 units crossing the market and tTech advanced 20 cents to $4.60 with 100 shares clearing the market.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, nine declining and 11, closed unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 12.3 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
SSL Venture declined 6 cents to close at 55 cents with 331 stock units changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 7 cents to close at $5.50 after an exchange of 20,000 units.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
Iron Rock Insurance gained 5 cents to close at $3.60 with 3,080 stocks traded, Jamaican Teas fell 7 cents to $3.12 with a transfer of 4,230,341 stock units, following 2.3 million that traded on Wednesday, Lasco Distributors rose 11 cents to $4 with investors switching ownership of 6,450 shares. Lasco Manufacturing improved by 8 cents to $4.34 with 11,405 units changing hands, Medical Disposables dropped 19 cents to $4.50 with 4,372 stocks traded and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 cents to close at $5.57 with 7,906 shares crossing the exchange.