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.