Trading dips on the Junior Market

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange continued the declining pattern set from the start of the month, with just two days of index gains as the market lost value again on Friday, following a 42 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 52 percent lower value than Thursday with trading in 38 securities down from 42 on Thursday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 17 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Trading ended with an exchange of 10,164,214 shares for $20,268,746 compared with 17,444,446 units at $41,871,104 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 267,479 shares at $533,388 compared to 415,344 units at $996,931 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averages 253,961 stock units at $494,426 compared to 252,581 units at $490,446 on the previous day and an average of 358,542 units at $736,760 in July.
Dolla Financial led trading with 2.10 million shares for 20.7 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 1.68 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 895,692 stock units for 8.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index lost 23.57 points to close at 3,604.63.
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 eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 8 cents in closing at $3.50 after investors ended trading of 63,075 shares, Dolla Financial climbed 5 cents to $3, with 2,100,105 stocks crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic popped 7 cents to close at $1.61 in an exchange of 320,056 shares. Express Catering rallied 31 cents to finish at $4.44, with 120,456 stock units crossing the market, Fontana rose 13 cents and ended at $8.35 after a transfer of 49,180 shares, Fosrich advanced 6 cents to end at $2.20 with 30,000 stocks crossing the exchange. iCreate sank 6 cents in closing at 40 cents with a transfer of 756,093 units, Image Plus gained 6 cents to $1.69 with investors dealing in 150,257 stock units, ISP Finance dipped $2.01 to close at $20.98 and closed after an exchange of 5,000 shares. Jamaican Teas fell 14 cents to $2.05 as investors exchanged 1,676,763 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 12 cents to end at $1.35 with 63,654 units clearing the market, Lumber Depot sank 5 cents to finish at $2.76 with an exchange of 30,000 stock units. Spur Tree Spices slipped 24 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.66 after 161,400 shares passed through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 5 cents to end at $1.65 in an exchange of 28,657 stocks and Tropical Battery dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.18 with investors trading 251,756 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.