Trading activity closed sharply higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a 124 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, accompanied by a 51 percent rise in value compared with Tuesday. The market index jumped and recovered from the previous day’s steep fall, following trading in 42 securities similar to Tuesday, with prices of 10 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Trading ended with an exchange of 14,148,099 shares for $16,310,076 compared with 6,302,303 units at $10,830,092 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 336,860 shares at $388,335, up from 150,055 stock units at $257,859 on Tuesday, with trading month to date, averaging 537,181 shares for $517,925 after falling slightly from 562,073 stock units at $534,028 on the previous day but well below December, with an average of 1,003,109 shares at $2,482,468.
Atlantic Hardware led trading with 4.65 million shares for 32.9 percent of total volume, after the stock hit a record high, followed by Kintyre Holdings ending with 3.23 million stocks for 22.8 percent of the day’s trade, EduFocal closed with 3.12 million stocks for 22 percent of the volume traded and RA Williams with 1.60 million stock units for 11.3 percent of market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 54.13 points to 3,373.12. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share. ICInsider.com compiles the PE ratios in this report for companies with their financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of the market, Access Financial gained 82 cents after closing at $18.44 with traders dealing in 153 shares, AMG Packaging sank 40 cents to $2.50 after an exchange of 22,875 units, Atlantic Hardware popped 17 cents and ended at a record high of $2.02 after trading of 4,649,996 stock units. Cargo Handlers rallied $2.32 to end at $17.81 with a transfer of 12,185 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 18 cents in closing at $1.78 with 3,183 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Cream dipped 16 cents to finish at $2 in an exchange of 4,613 shares. Consolidated Bakeries fell 16 cents to $1.35 with investors trading 2,000 stocks, Derrimon Trading skidded 9 cents to finish at $1.65 with investors switching ownership of 330,362 units, Dolla Financial gained 22 cents and ended at $2.57 with 35,252 stock units changing hands. Dolphin Cove sank 34 cents to close at $12.10 with investors dealing in 773 shares, EduFocal slipped 6 cents to 23 cents after an exchange of 3,116,038 stock units, Everything Fresh lost 8 cents to end at $2.10 in trading 218 units. 
Express Catering dropped 26 cents to $2.33 with 117,107 stocks crossing the market, Fontana shed 25 cents and ended at $7.75 with investors trading 82,210 units, Fosrich declined 25 cents to finish at $2.21 with 3,897 stocks clearing the market. Jetcon Corporation sank 8 cents in closing at $2.27 as investors exchanged only 545 shares, Knutsford Express advanced 55 cents to close at $10 with 1,573 stock units passing through the market, Mailpac Group climbed 38 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $2.88 after an exchange of 106,489 shares and Main Event increased 20 cents in closing at $7.70 with investors swapping 138 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated. unit