The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Thursday against two of its main trading currencies as purchases of all currencies by dealers amounted to US$29,464,814 equivalent, compared with US$39,727,764, on Wednesday and selling of the equivalent of US$32,319,414 versus sale of US$38,332,411, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$25,297,611 compared to US$34,618,052 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 4 cents to $115.06 and US$30,716,384 was sold versus US$35,235,410 on Wednesday, the selling rate increased by 11 cents to end at $115.65. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 37 cents to $94.41 with dealers buying C$1,273,867 and selling C$596,732, at an average rate that fell 9 cents to $96.10. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 16 cents to $174.77 for the purchase of £1,977,760, while £566,872, was sold, at an average rate that was up 70 cents to $178.10. At the end of trading it took J$128.83 to purchase the Euro, $1.97 more than on Wednesday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.32 for a rise of $1.90 on Wednesday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$117,743, while the equivalent of US$234,214, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 17 cents to $116.05. The lowest buying rate remained at $94.19. The highest selling rate rose 21 cents to $120.91 with the lowest selling rate remaining unchanged at $96.16. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 15 cents to $96.40. The lowest buying rate jumped $2.15 to $76.15, the highest selling rate dropped 68 cents to $98.17 and the lowest selling rate rose 50 cents to $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 25 cents to $178.50, the lowest buying rate climbed $2.20 to $142.35, the highest selling rate climbed 76 cents to $181.83 with the lowest selling rate falling 45 cents to $167.05.
Archives for April 2015
J$ falls against US & Pound
Unemployment worsens
Jamaica’s unemployment worsened in December last year compared with a year ago according to the main findings of the Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) between December 14 and 20, last year.
According to Statin, the Unemployment Rate for December 2014 was 14.2 percent compared to 13.4 in December 2014 leaving the Employment Rate at 85.8 percent, a fall from the 86.6 percent in December 2013.
A total of 188,100 persons were unemployed in December last year, an increase of 13,100 when compared with 175,000 in December 2013. The deterioration did not stem from less persons being employed as the number of persons in the Labour Force rose to 1,320,800, or 15,700 higher than the 1,305,100 recorded in December 2013. The Employed Labour Force for December 2014 was 1,132,700, or 2,600 more than the 1,130,100 recorded in December 2013.
Jamaica’s Minister of Finance. At the last election his party promised jobs & more jobs. Tight economic policies won’t deliver them in the short term
The number of persons employed in the group ‘Manufacturing’ increased by 7,200 persons or 10 percent, while ‘Transport, Storage and Communication’ increased by 5,500 persons (7.7 percent). Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry & Fishing’ declined by 7,400 persons (3.6 percent) followed by ‘Real Estate, Renting & Business Activities’, which declined by 6,100 persons or 8.6 percent.
JSE jumps Thursday up 11% for April
NCB closed at a new 52 weeks’ high at $30.08 and is up 77% from the low in summer last year.
The strong market activity on Thursday, resulted in the prices of 23 stocks rising, 5 declining as 34 securities changed hands, ending in 7,695,548 units trading, valued at $109,643,238, in all market segments. The JSE Market Index gained 1,987.22 points to 93,264.43, the
JSE All Jamaican Composite index jumped 2,221.80 points to close at 102,992.25 and the JSE combined index gained 2,133.14 points to close at 95,042.74. At one point during trading, the market recorded more than 3,000 points gain on the all Jamaica Composite index.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 with offers that were lower. This out turn indicates another strong day ahead for price movements.
The main stocks trading| Caribbean Cement traded only 100 shares, gained 55 cents to end at $3.85, but closed with the bid at $3.88, Carreras ended trading with 31,886 shares to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47.08, but ended with a bid at $47.49, followed by Desnoes & Geddes with only 500 units in closing at a new 52 weeks’ high of $6.02. Hardware & Lumber had only 480 units changing hands, gained 45 cents to end at $7.50,
Jamaica Broilers closed with 24,500 shares at $4.75, after falling by 35 cents, Jamaica Producers lost 25 cents with 60,000 shares to end at $17.25. JMMB Group gained 50 cents and closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $8 with 13,250 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves traded 16,105 units with the price declining 56 cents to $5.95. Mayberry Investments had 711,200 units changing hands a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.60, National Commercial Bank traded 3,066,787 shares between $29.50 and the closing price and closed with a gain of $1.58 at a new 52 weeks’ high of $30.08. Pan Jamaican Investment price fell $3 with only 885 units trading at $57, Sagicor Group had 290,390 shares and closed 21 cents higher for a new 52 weeks’ high of $11.01. Scotia Group traded 58,380 shares to gain 25 cents and end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $23.25, Scotia Investments traded just 910 units to gain $2.90 and closed at $27, Seprod had only 630 units trading, to end at $18.50 and Supreme Ventures traded 515,400 units to close at $3.50, but traded as high as $3.75, for a new 52 weeks intraday high.
2 new funds that did not trade
Fortress Caribbean Property Fund Scc – Development Fund and the Fortress Caribbean Property Fund Scc – Value Fund were listed on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Thursday but they did not trade. Elsewhere the market closed with 12 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 2 declined and 6 traded with prices unchanged. A total of 290,627 units, valued at $6,013,857, traded.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.21 points to close at 1,151.34, the All T&T Index rose by 0.49 points to close at 1,966.05 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.01 points to end at 44.13.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank trading just 300 shares, closed with a gain of 1 cent, at $35.71, Guardian Holdings ending with 160,331 shares changing hands for a value of $2,268,684 closed at $14.15. National Flour Mills with 6,360 shares trading, advanced 10 cents, to end at $1.60 and Trinidad Cement added 9,104 shares to close at $2.75 after gaining 3 cents.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with a volume of 18,471 shares being traded for $256,747 fell 1 cent to close at $13.90 and Grace Kennedy with 428 shares to close down a cent at $3.59.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal contributing 162 shares as the price closed unchanged at $67.01, Clico Investment Fund trading 73,050 shares valued at $1,647,278 but the price remained at $22.55. Guardian Media closed with 6,743 units trading at $19.76, National Enterprises had 336 shares trading to end at $17.30, One Caribbean Media traded 1,300 shares at $22.30 and Republic Bank contributed 14,042 shares with a value of $1,614,829 at $115.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Junior market trading picks up
Activity on the Junior Market picked up on Thursday with a number on new highs recorded as investors increased their exposure to the segment of the market that has been late to the rally.
The market closed with 10 securities traded and ending with 2,839,792 units changing hands valued at $6,035,405. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 28.36 points to close at 785.93, with the price of 6 stocks advancing and 1 declining. At the close of the market, two stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high and two hit 52 weeks’ high during trading but retreated. At the end of trading there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer lower. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 10 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Access Financial traded 2,000 units and lost $1.89 to end at all-time high of $15.09. AMG Packaging price moved up in trading to $3 with 9,000 and closed with a gain of 74 cents, the stock was halted during trading for an hour and then was reopened at minutes before the close at which time it officially traded. Caribbean Producers traded 1,089,045 units between $2.75 and $3, where it closed with a gain of 25 cents. 
Dolphin Cove gained 30 cents with 1,000 shares trading, to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, of $9.50. General Accident Insurance had 1,152,419 shares trading, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2, the stock traded as low as $1.75 but closed 10 cents higher than Wednesday’s closing price, at $1.80, Lasco Distributors had 177,909 shares trading to close with a loss of 3 cents at $1.40, but traded between $1.37 and $1.43. Lasco Financial Services closed with a gain of 7 cents as 175,000 shares traded, to end at $1.20. Lasco Manufacturing trading of 212,000 as high as $1.30, a new 52 weeks’ high but ended with a closing price of $1.20, Medical Disposables traded only 2,000 shares at $1.70 after losing 10 cents and Paramount Trading had 19,419 units trading at $3.60.
All Jamaica Index up 2,000 points
National Commercial Bank traded at a new 52 weeks’ high in the morning 
session on Thursday with 3.025 million units trading.
The move helped the all Jamaica composite index to jump by 2,086.18 to reach 102,856.63. The junior market index is also on the move climbing 20.05 points to 777.62.
Jamaica Producers slipped 25 cents to $17.25 with 60,000 shares, Kingston Wharves fell 56 cents to $5.95, Pan Jam also fell as the price declined 43 to 57 as only 100 units traded, Mayberry Investments traded 511,000 units at 52 weeks’ high of $2.60, Sagicor Group traded 281,420 units $11. Caribbean Producers that traded at $3 now has 148,763 units on offer at $2.75. Supreme Ventures traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.75.
Bulls continue roaming on JSE
Jamaica stock market trading is off with just moderate volumes being exchanged in the first 45 minutes of opening, 
but its clear so far that the bulls are not retreating any time soon.
Prices have started to move higher with Carrears gaining 50 cents to $47.50, Seprod gained 50 cents to $18.50. in the junior market with two stocks trading Caribbean Producers gained 25 cents to end at $3 with 235,282 units trading, Mayberry Investments was the broker buying all. General Accident Insurance gained 30 cents to $2 with 92,648 units.
National Commercial Bank has not traded so far but has a bid for 100,000 at $28.60, it last traded ta $28 on Wednesday and Caribbean Cement bid is now at $3.79 to buy 10,000 units versus yesterday’s close of $3.30.
The all jamica Index put on 335.70 points to reach 101,106.15, the JSE index is up 300.26 91,577.47 and the Junior Market index gained 14.12 to be at 771.69.
JSE now at 40 months’ high
Carreras closed $2 higher, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47 on Wednesday.
Trading resulted in the prices of 15 stocks rising, 4 declining as 22 securities changed hands, ending in 2,104,274 units trading, valued at $19,545,760, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,419.14 points to 91,277.21, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,586.66 points to close at 100,770.45 and the JSE Combined Index gained 1,533.53 points to close at 92,909.60. The market is at its highest since January 5, 2012 when it closed then at 101,108.42 on the all Jamaican Composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower.
Wednesday session closed with, Caribbean Cement gained 30 cents in trading 91,665 units at $3.30, Carreras having 4,200 units changing hands to end with a gain of $2, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47, Gleaner closed with 295,600 shares being active to end at 95 cents, up by 5 cents. Grace Kennedy put on 51 cents with 198,238 shares traded, at $63.50, Jamaica Broilers traded 14,200 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $5.10,for a 30 cents increase, JMMB Group traded 151,000 units at $7.50, Kingston Wharves
traded 66,666 shares at $6.51,as the price fell 46 cents. Mayberry Investments traded 200,000 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.55, after putting on 30 cents on the price.
National Commercial Bank had 17,584 units changing hands for 50 cents higher to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $28.50. Sagicor Group traded 6,755 shares at a new 52 weeks’ high of $10.80, after gaining 14 cents, Scotia Group exchanged 10,923 shares for a new 52 weeks’ high of $23, with an increase of 28 cents, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents in trading 20,000 units, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.50. Proven Investments traded 55,171 ordinary shares at 20 US cents, for a 2 cents increase, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 185,000 units at $2.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 54,700 units at $3.20.
Junior market index jumps
Activity on the Junior Market closed with 5 securities trading and ending with 652,472 units changing hands valued at $1,335,856. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 21.35 points to close at 757.57, with the price of 3 stocks advancing and 4 declining.
At the close of the market, there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer that was lower. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 8 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Dolphin Cove with 68,960 shares trading, to close at $9.20 after trading at $9.50, Lasco Distributors had 60,000 shares trading at $1.43, with the stock rising 13 cents. Lasco Financial Services with 348,122 units trading, lost 1 cent to end at $1.14, Lasco Manufacturing gained 13 cents while trading 170,390 shares and closed at $1.20 and Paramount Trading ended with just 5,000 changing hands at $3.60 to record a gain of 3 cents.
J$ falls most vs Pound & Canadian
The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Wednesday against all its main trading currencies as purchases of all currencies by dealers, amounted to US$39,727,764 equivalent, compared with US$42,569,572, on Tuesday and selling of the equivalent of US$38,332,411 versus sale of US$42,408,749, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$34,618,052 compared to US$39,083,575 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 1 cent to $115.02 and US$35,235,410 was sold versus US$39,865,854 on Tuesday, the selling rate rose 2 cents to end at $115.54.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 80 cents to $94.04 with dealers buying C$1,924,120 and selling C$1,243,546, at an average rate that increased $1.01 to $96.19. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed $1.60 to $174.61 for the purchase of £2,185,138, while £1,037,093 was sold, at an average rate that climbed $1.19 to $177.40. At the end of trading it took J$126.86 to purchase the Euro, $1.23 more than on Tuesday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$124.42 for a rise of $1.34 on Tuesday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$219,391, while the equivalent of US$469,393, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 3 cents to $115.88. The lowest buying rate rose 25 cents to at $94.19. The highest selling rate remained unchanged $120.70 and the lowest selling rate dropped $16.64 to $96.16.
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar climbed 35 cents to $96.55. The lowest buying rate is down 87 cents to $74, the highest selling rate gained 54 cents to $98.85 and the lowest selling rate rose 20 cents to $90.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose $1.55 to $178.75, the lowest buying rate climbed 83 cents to $140.15, the highest selling rate climbed 80 cents to $181.07 with the lowest selling rate falling 35 cents to $167.50.
