Trading up on Wednesday

Trading picked up with 43 percent more funds entering the market and driving the volume of stocks traded up 17 percent at the close on Wednesday, over Tuesday’s trades and sent the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rising moderately, with declining stocks edging out those that rose as the market continues to consolidate.
The number of stocks trading fell to 33, from 37 on Tuesday and ended with 12 rising, 14 declining and seven closing unchanged. The Junior Market Index rose 5.10 points to settle at 3,287.73.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.5 based on ICInsider.com forecasted 2021-22 earnings.
Trading ended with 5,353,446 shares changing hands for $20,594,887 up from 4,576,086 units at $14,364,164 on Tuesday. Jamaican Teas led trading, with 32.2 percent of total volume and 1.72 million shares, followed by Lumber Depot 23.7 percent with 1.27 million units and Future Energy Source 14.8 percent, with 793,771 shares.
Trading averaged 162,226 shares at $624,087 in contrast to 123,678 units at $388,221 on Tuesday. Trading month to date, averages 167,235 shares at $596,470, compared to 168,725 units at $588,260 on Tuesday. September closed with an average of 207,032 units at $668,264.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and just one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging rallied 16 cents to $1.81 after exchanging 13,311 shares, Caribbean Cream fell 20 cents to $6.30 with an exchange of 60,498 stock units, Everything Fresh shed 7 cents to close at 90 cents after trading 21,739 units. Express Catering rose 10 cents to $5.50 switching ownership of 12,270 stocks, Fontana declined 12 cents to $6.40 after exchanging 343,755 units, Honey Bun dropped 15 cents to $8.50, with 155,598 shares clearing the market. Indies Pharma gained 30 cents to end at $3.45 with 1,500 stock units crossing the exchange, Iron Rock Insurance lost 75 cents to close at $3.35 in trading 100 stocks, Jamaican Teas dropped 10 cents in closing at $4.40, with 1,722,319 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors fell 13 cents to $3.77 after exchanging 48,765 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 11 cents to $4.80 with the swapping of 2,693 stock units, Mailpac Group shed 14 cents to $3.70 while trading 141,762 units. Medical Disposables declined 9 cents to close at $4.71, with 15,685 stocks crossing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 15 cents in, ending at $6.20 after trading 3,000 units and Tropical Battery rallied 7 cents to end at $1.37 in an exchange of 1,654 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.