Trading activity closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 72 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, carrying a 79 percent lower value than Tuesday with trading in 39 securities on both days and ending with prices of 14 rising, 12 declining and 13 closing unchanged including Iron Rock Insurance that closed at a 52 weeks’ high.
The market closed with trading of 3,536,843 shares at $6,698,902 down from 12,699,115 units at $31,583,992 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 90,688 shares at $171,767 compared to 325,618 units at $809,846 on Tuesday with trading month to date, averaging 231,865 units at $425,984 down from 250,786 stock at $460,054 on the previous day and July with an average of 358,542 units at $736,760.
Dolla Financial led trading with 780,363 shares for 22.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 732,539 stocks for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 456,031 units for 12.9 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 45.08 points to 3,624.09, well below the levels at the start of the month and just a fraction of the 183 points loss for August, up to Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Cargo Handlers sank 31 cents to $11.99 in switching ownership of 3,089 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 9 cents to end at $3.75 after 32,135 units passed through the market, Caribbean Flavours lost 38 cents in closing at $1.12 with investors swapping 87,907 shares. Consolidated Bakeries slipped 5 cents to close at $2.05 in an exchange of 194 stock units, prior to the company reporting a loss in its second quarter. Dolla Financial climbed 19 cents to finish at $3 in trading 780,363 shares, Dolphin Cove sank $1.14 and ended at $21.80 with investors dealing in 5,614 stock units ahead of reduced results for the half year. Future Energy popped 10 cents to $3.30, with 37,646 stocks changing hands,
Image Plus skidded 12 cents to end at $1.60 with investors trading 35,976 units, Iron Rock Insurance increased 15 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.15 1,443 stocks crossing the exchange, ahead of the release of six months results that showed a major 40 percent jump in revenues in the June quarter and 35 percent for the half year and an improvement in profitability versus 2023. Knutsford Express advanced $1.17 to close at $10.92 with traders dealing in 550 units, Main Event rose 95 cents and ended at $11.95 after it closed with an exchange of 20 shares and Paramount Trading fell 9 cents to finish at $1.01 as investors exchanged 1,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 416.23 points to close at 320,442.76, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,788.64 points to settle at 347,994.96 and the JSE Main Index slipped 768.55 points to 307,919.27. The Junior Market Index jumped 45.08 points to end the day at 3,624.09 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.16 points to end at 222.92.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Rates dropped on the latest Bank of Jamaica 
The issue resulted in rates falling to their lowest levels on 28 CDs since August 2, 2023, with an average of 9 percent, down from the previous week with an average yield for successful bids clearing at 9.34% in the auction of CDs held on July 31. The rate is down from 9.54 percent on July 24 when $50 billion was offered to the public and ended with $132 billion in outstanding 28 day CDs.
The market closed with 10,216,315 shares trading for $114,195,348 up from 7,412,487 units at $47,727,836 on Monday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Lasco Manufacturing dropped 38 cents to close at $6.52 with 58,916 stock units passing through the market, NCB Financial shed $1 to end at $50 after an exchange of 221,493 units, Portland JSX fell 65 cents in closing at $10.15 with a transfer of 976 stocks. Proven Investments increased $1.26 to $17.80 with investors dealing in 3,636 units, Scotia Group skidded $2.45 and ended at $42.30 in an exchange of 267,703 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance sank 67 cents in closing at $8.04 with investors trading 3,000 stocks and Wisynco Group dipped 30 cents to end at $19.90 in switching ownership of 1,402,808 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with an exchange of 16,703,911 shares for US$317,585 well up on 126,060 stock units at US$3,535 on Monday.
Proven Investments rose 0.09 of a cent to 10.9 US cents, with 405 shares being traded, Sterling Investments ended at 1.64 US cents in trading a mere 3 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 0.2 of a cent to finish at 9 US cents with 1,600 units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway dropped 0.09 of a cent to end at 1.9 US cents with traders dealing in 16,701,897 shares.
The market closed with trading of 12,699,115 shares for $31,583,992 compared with 8,838,672 units at $16,421,905 on Monday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Jamaican Teas sank 5 cents to close at $2.20, with 12,767 stocks crossing the market, JFP Ltd rallied 6 cents to finish at $1 with investors trading 39,036 stocks. Regency Petroleum advanced 5 cents to end at $2.20 after 122,276 shares passed through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 5 cents to close at $.70 in switching ownership of 147,670 stocks, Tropical Battery gained 7 cents to finish at $2.28 as investors exchanged 80,037 units and tTech slipped 23 cents to close at $2.07 with a transfer of 997 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index declined by 1,431.14 points to 320,858.99, the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 1,646.71 points to end at 349,783.60, the JSE Main Index dropped by 1,411.14 points to 308,687.82. The Junior Market Index dropped 11.33 points to end the day at 3,579.01 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.32 points to finish at 221.76.
In Junior Market trading, Express Catering led trading with 5.01 million shares followed by EduFocal with 2.86 million stocks and Dolla Financial with 2.04 million units.
The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
The market closed with trading of 834,319 shares for $3,392,494 up sharply from 94,688 stock units at $803,804 on Monday.
At the close of the market, Ansa McAl ended trading with investors swapping 1,526 stock units at $63, Calypso Macro Investment Fund lost 22 cents to close at $24 in an exchange of 20 shares, First Citizens Group dropped 75 cents in closing at $42.50 after investors traded 422 stocks. FirstCaribbean International Bank fell 5 cents to $7 as investors exchanged 90 units, Guardian Holdings remained at $14.50 after 83 stocks passed through the market, Guardian Media declined 3 cents to finish at $1.62 after an exchange of 2,250 shares. Massy Holdings slipped just 1 cent and ended at $3.54 with investors dealing in 811,533 stock units, National Flour Mills remained at $2, with 100 units crossing the market, One Caribbean Media dipped 5 cents to finish at $3.15 with an exchange of 5,776 shares. 
Prestige Holdings ended at $10.98, with 25 units crossing the market, Republic Financial rose 80 cents in closing at $113.80 with traders dealing in 2,479 stocks, Scotiabank sank 69 cents to end at $59 after a transfer of 269 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $6.26 in trading 2,877 shares, Trinidad Cement slipped 14 cents to end at $2.84, with 6,449 stock units changing hands, Unilever Caribbean remained at $10.75 with investors trading 45 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $7.50 in switching ownership of 375 stocks.
