Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday a 54 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a 61 percent slippage in value compared to Tuesday, following trading in 42 securities, down from 44 on Tuesday and ending, with prices of 17 rising, 15 declining and 10 closing unchanged resulted in a sizable rise in the market index.
The market closed following an exchange of 5,922,663 shares for $8,419,573, after it dropped from 13,003,089 units at $21,567,572 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 141,016 shares for $200,466, after falling from 295,525 stock units at $490,172 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averages 309,193 units at $491,007 compared to 319,445 stock units at $508,718 on the previous day andfor July, with an average of 280,479 shares at $401,436.
Atlantic Hardware led trading with 1.64 million shares for 27.7 percent of total volume, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.24 million stock units for 20.9 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus with 716,273 stocks for 12.1 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 30.92 points to 2,935.70. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two 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 11.5. ICInsider.com compiles the PE ratios, derived by dividing the last traded price of stocks by earnings per share for companies with their fiscal year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, Access Financial rallied by 50 cents to $18.50 with 154 stock units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers increased $1.34 and ended at $15.99 with a transfer of 400 shares, Dolla Financial rose 5 cents and ended at $3.50 with 132,061 stocks crossing the market. Dolphin Cove lost 43 cents to finish at $10.80 with an exchange of 3,554 units, Elite Diagnostic rose 5 cents to close at $1.37 with a transfer of 3,801 stocks, Fosrich advanced 10 cents to close at $1.18 with investors trading 79,308 units. Honey Bun fell 15 cents to $5.98 after an exchange of 4,871 shares, Image Plus increased 5 cents and ended at $1.15 with 716,273 stock units changing hands, Jetcon Corporation rallied 18 cents to $3.96 after the swapping of 35,852 shares. JFP shed 6 cents in closing at 42 cents after an exchange of 38,667 stock units, Knutsford Express declined 44 cents to finish at $7.55 with 1,112 stocks clearing the market, 
Lasco Financial rose 18 cents to close at $1.78 in an exchange of 12,574 units. Mailpac Group dropped 28 cents to $2.22 with the trading of 18,626 stocks, Medical Disposables rallied 9 cents to end at $1.18 with 2,474 shares passing through the market, ONE on ONE Educational popped 6 cents to close at 65 cents after the trading of 5,334 stock units. Paramount Trading gained 8 cents to close at $1.03 as investors exchanged 179,604 stock units, Regency Petroleum dipped 15 cents to finish at $4.30 in switching ownership of 80,507 shares, Spur Tree Spices slipped 6 cents and ended at $1.40 with 1,239,159 shares changing hands and Woodcats International advanced 6 cents to 57 cents with 388,776 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.