In foreign exchange trading on Friday, net inflow was again positive, with US$11.7 million, bringing the net inflows for December to $144.3 million with the Jamaican dollar mostly gaining in value.
At the close of the market, dealers bought the equivalent of US$46,079,393 of all currencies and sold US$34,359,179, compared to US$39,589,559 purchased and US$32,426,860 sold on Thursday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$39,993,301 compared to US$35,025,983 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 4 cents to close at $127.58. A total of US$29,111,300 was sold versus US$27,928,981 on Thursday, with the selling rate remaining unchanged at $128.33. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate gained 13 cents to $94.49, with dealers buying C$5,734,004 and selling C$5,539,238 at an average rate that fell $1.04 to finish at $95.36. The average rate for buying the British Pound dropped $2.26 to $155.09 for the purchase of £1,397,743 while £513,571 was sold with a fall of $1.10 to end at $157.62.
At the end of trading on Friday, dealers sold €441,154 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a fall of $2.89 to $133.65, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €119,654 of the European common currency at $129.27 after rising 77 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$19,134 being bought and selling of US$41,550.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded foreign currencies on Friday, include a rise of $16.67 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to at end $120. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell $1.45 to end at $95.63. The highest buying rate for the British Pound lost $2.70 to $159.97, the highest selling rate fell $5.28 to $161.90, the lowest selling rate fell $1.80 to $152 and the lowest selling rate for the Euro dropped $1.50 to $128.
Archives for December 2016
Investors push Derrimon stocks up sharply – Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange, is seeing sparse trading, ahead of the Christmas holidays Thursday’s well below levels, leading to falls in the market indices in the morning session on Friday.
Investors pushed Derrimon Trading by 80 cents to $4.80 with 87,710 following the company’s report on Thursday that it will be making prepayment for 23,379,208 stock units in Caribbean Flavours. When purchased, Derimon would become the parent company having had just under 50 percent of the shares currently. This would require an offer being made to minority shareholders.
Market activity was moderate, resulting in only 20 securities trading at 10:45 am, compared to 15 on Thursday. A total of 9 securities advanced and 5 declined, resulting in a volume of 272,207 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $4,538,567, compared 904,871 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $7,114,541 on Thursday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 13,610 units versus 60,325 units on Thursday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index slipped 728.63 points to 202,396.49, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index shed 651.53 points to 185,353.01, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 556.28 points to be at 197,746.15 and the junior market index rose 4.66 to 2,516.51.
JPS preference share jumps $36 to $1,283
JPS preference share was the biggest mover on Thursday.
The market closed with reduced volume and value from the previous day with price changes, equally split between rising and declining stocks.
The All Jamaica Composite Index inched up by 147.22 points, to close at 203,125.12 to be up by 21 percent for the year to date. The JSE Market Index gained 131.64 points to finish at 186,004.54. The JSE combined index declined by 57.36 points to close at 198,302.43, with gain for the year to date, of 25 percent.
Market activity ended with just 25 securities changing hands, at the close, the prices of 8 stocks gained while 8 declined in the overall market, including 1 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 2,742,916 units valued at $409,709,133 changed hands, compared to 29,273,598 units valued at $1,131,638,942 changing hands on Wednesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,283,884 units changing hands, valued at $6,029,065.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 85,825 shares compared to an average of 1,205,881 units traded on Wednesday. The average for the month to date stands at 478,937 shares compared to an average of 872,049 units for the month up to Wednesday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Grace Kennedy fell 99 cents to close at $40 with 248,497 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents and closed at $15 with mere 317 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents to end at $9 with 137,243 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 3,728 shares, to end at $5.59. JMMB Group traded 3,328 shares at $14.48, Kingston Wharves ended trading 800 shares to close at $19.70 after adding 30 cents, National Commercial Bank lost 1 cent and ended at $48.99 with 5,274 shares changing hands,
PANJAM Investment traded 2,377 shares and jumped 65 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of $28.10. Sagicor Group lost 10 cents to close with 149,513 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 29,309 units to close with a gain of 49 cents at $11.49, Scotia Group with 21,945 shares changing hands and closed at $34. Scotia Investments dropped $4.10 with 1,828 units changing hands to close at $29.30, Seprod closed trading at $27.50 with 2,200 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures traded 500,000 units to end with the price falling 12 cents at $4.90 and Proven Investments declined from 22 US cents to end at 21.95 US cents, with 53,485 units changing hands.
One new high & 1 low on TTSE – Thursday
Scotia Investments traded at a new high on Thursday of TT$2.01.
Market Activity resulted in 435,352 shares being traded valued at $9,756,871 compared to 94,976 shares being traded valued at $1,384,143 on Wednesday.
The Composite Index rose 0.29 points to 1,205.68, the All T&T Index gained 0.56 points to 1,833.65 with a year to date loss at 5.91 percent. The Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 77.20 points with year to date gains of 55.93 percent.
IC bid-offer Indicator |The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 6 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| Guardian Holdings traded 30,678 units with a value of $388,217 after rising 13 cents to close at $12.65 and Scotia Investments traded 315,000 shares to close at a 52 week’s high of $2.01, after gaining 1 cent.
Losses| Clico Investments lost 20 cents with 54,459 shares being traded, to close at $22.60, Readymix West Indies closed at a 52 week’s low of $10.99, after falling by 1 cent, with 2,999 shares changing owners and West Indian Tobacco fell 2 cents on the trading of 101 shares to close at $126.88.Firm Trades | Massy Holdings contributed 8,455 shares valued at $439,651 to end at $52, Republic Financial Holdings with a volume of 75,484 shares valued at $8,186,240 being traded, closed at $108.45, Scotiabank traded 174 shares to close at $58.78 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL fell 10 cents, in trading 1,591 shares at $21.25.
FX surplus continues to build
In foreign exchange trading on Thursday, net inflow was again positive with US$7 million, continuing the net inflows for December. Market activity led to the selling rates of the US and Canadian dollars and the pound falling.
At the close of the market, dealers bought the equivalent of US$39,589,559 of all currencies and sold US$32,426,860, compared to US$53,620,805 purchased and US$34,296,736 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$35,025,983 compared to US$44,977,358 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 15 cents to close at $127.62. A total of US$27,928,981 was sold versus US$27,142,705 on Wednesday, with the selling rate declining 17 cents to end at $128.33.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $1.27 to $94.36, with dealers buying C$3,065,234 and selling C$3,625,253 at an average rate that eased 29 cents to finish at $96.40. The average rate for buying the British Pound rose 30 cents to $157.35 for the purchase of £1,727,460 while £1,063,217 was sold with a fall of 38 cents to end at $158.72.
At the end of trading on Thursday, dealers sold €420,085 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a rise of 76 cents to $136.54, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €140,293 of the European common currency at $128.44 after falling 65 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$26,347 being bought and selling of US$12,647.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded foreign currencies on Thursday, include a fall of $1 in the highest buying rate of the US dollar to $128.90. The lowest selling rate for the Canadian dollar fell $1.60 to end at $91.40. The highest selling rate for the British Pound gained $2.17 to $162.67, the lowest selling rate fell $1.20 to $153.80 and the highest buying rate for the Euro jumped $1.14 to $137.14.
Juniors retreat again on Thursday
The junior market index lost ground on Thursday, as advancing stock were edged out by declining ones pulling the market index down by 17.45 points to end at 2,511.85 points with a 40 percent increase for the year to date.
At the close, the prices of 3 stocks rose, 4 declined with 8 securities trading, compared to 16 trading on Wednesday. Volume of stocks traded rose on Thursday by 286 percent, from Wednesday’s level, ending with 1,283,884 units changing hands, valued at $6,029,065, up 284 percent from $1,568,652 on Wednesday.
Market activities ended with 8 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 1 ending with a lower offer.
The recent issue of Eppley 8.25% preference share at $6 each was listed today without any units being traded but the bid closed at $5.55.
An average of 160,486 units with an average value of $753,633 units traded, compared to 20,778 units with an average value of $98,041 on the preceding trading day. The average for December to date is 139,639
units, at an average of $697,387. The average for December to Wednesday is 138,249 units, at an average of $693,637. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.
Cargo Handlers lost 30 cents after rising to a new high of $18.50 to close at $16 with 46,199 units changing hands, 
Caribbean Producers traded 31,110 units at $3.50, C2W Music had 7,546 units changing hands to close at 35 cents. Derrimon Trading gained 30 cents and ended at $4 with 696,000 shares changing hands, General Accident exchanged 5,000 shares and closed at $3, Honey Bun had 281,550 shares changing hands to close at $5.70 after falling 35 cents. Lasco Financial ended with 208,325 shares changing hands, for a loss of 20 cents to $3.10, Lasco Manufacturing fell 18 cents and ended at $4.80, after 15,500 units switched hands and Eppley 9.5% preference share traded just 200 units at $6.18.
Mild losses for Jamaican stocks – Thursday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange, suffered mild losses in the market indices in the morning session on Thursday. The important all Jamaica Composite Index sits just under 203,000 points compared to 204,535 in early trading on Wednesday.
Trading of note includes Supreme Ventures with 500,000 shares at $4.90, Lasco Financial Services with 208,325 units at $3.10 and Cargo Handlers traded at intraday high of $18.50 before falling back to $16 with 46,199 shares changing hands.
Market activity was moderate, resulting in only 15 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 22 on Wednesday at 10:45 am. A total of 3 securities advanced and 5 declined, resulting in a volume of 904,871 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $7,114,541, compared 488,203 shares changing hands carrying a value of $11,897,071 on Wednesday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 60,325 units versus 22,191 units on Wednesday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index slipped 81.33 points to 202,896.57, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index shed 72.73 points to 185,800.17, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 80.79 points to be at 198,279.00 and the junior market index pulled back 1.30 to 2,528.00.
Jamaican stocks pull back from record
Sagicor Group closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Thursday on the JSE.
The All Jamaica Composite Index closed with a fall of 205.12 points at 202,977.90 to be up by 21 percent for the year to date. The JSE Market Index dropped 183.41 points to finish at 185,872.90. The JSE combined index declined by 351.05 points to close at 198,359.79, with gain for the year to date, of 25 percent.
Market activity ended with 40 securities changing hands, at the close, the prices of 10 stocks gained while 17 declined in the overall market, including 3 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 29,273,598 units valued at $1,131,638,942 changed hands, compared to 22,971,772 units valued at $146,022,777 changing hands on Tuesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 332,445 units changing hands, valued at $1,568,652.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 1,205,881 shares compared to an average of 728,789 units traded on Tuesday. The average for the month to date ends at 872,049 shares compared to an average of 538,216 units for the month up to Tuesday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 7,628 shares to end unchanged at $5.55, Cable & Wireless fell 5 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of 65 cents with 260,217 units trading, Caribbean Cement traded with a loss of $1.19 while trading 1,700 shares at $32, Carreras lost 25 cents in exchanging 12,795 shares to close at $66. Investors traded 19,691 shares of 1834 Investments to close with a rise of 1 cent at $1.16, Grace Kennedy gained 98 cents to close at $40.99 with 4,020 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers closed at $14.50 with 9,583 shares changing hands, after falling 41 cents, Jamaica Producers lost 71 cents to end at $8.50 with 949,034 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 999 shares, to end at $5.59 after falling by a cent, JMMB Group traded 11,569 shares and gained 47 cents to close at $14.48. Kingston Wharves ended trading 27,322 shares to close at $19.40 after slipping 20 cents, Mayberry Investments ended trading with 22,609 shares, to close with a rise of 70 cents at $5.50, National Commercial Bank ended at $49 with 17,096,730 shares changing hands, PANJAM Investment traded 1,173,845 shares but fell 5 cents to close at $27.45. Radio Jamaica lost 12 cents to close at $1.08 with 34,484 shares trading.
Sagicor Group closed with 8,850,415 shares changing hands, 30 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $27.80, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 159,673 units to close with a gain of 5 cents at $11, Scotia Group lost 90 cents with 63,901 shares changing hands and closed at $34. Scotia Investments dropped $4.10 with 1,828 units changing hands to close at $29.30, Seprod lost $2.50 to close trading at 27.50 with 37,856 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures traded 117,534 units to end with a rise of 2 cents at $5.02 and Proven Investments declined from 22 US cents to end at 21.95 US cents, with 72,620 units changing hands.
Juniors close at new record – Wednesday
New high for Cargo Handlers on Wednesday.
At the close, the prices of 3 stocks rose, 4 declined with 16 securities trading, compared to 18 trading on Tuesday. Volume of stocks traded fell on Wednesday by 93 percent, from Tuesday’s level, ending with 332,445 units changing hands, valued at $1,568,652, down 95 percent from $32,819,600 on Tuesday.
Market activities ended with 7 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 3 ending with lower offers.
An average of 20,778 units with an average value of $98,041 units traded, compared to 264,003 units with an average value of $1,823,311 on the preceding trading day.
The average for December to date is 138,249 units, at an average of $693,637. The average for December to Tuesday is 146,640 units, at an average of $736,180. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.AMG Packaging jumped $3.01 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $24.51 with 500 units changing hands, Blue Power climbed $1.70 in trading 1,000 shares to end at $25, Caribbean Cream closed with 29,189 shares changing hands to end at $8. Caribbean Flavours lost 50 cents with 19,950 units changing hands. Caribbean Producers traded 16,520 units at $3.50, C2W Music had 7,546 units changing hands to close at 35 cents, Derrimon Trading ended at $3.70 with 9,000 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove exchanged 100 shares and closed at $15, Honey Bun had 17,850 shares changing hands to close at $6.05 after gaining 5 cents.
Iron Rock Insurance traded 65,544 shares at $3.60, Key Insurance closed trading with 30,346 units, to end at $2.60 after shedding 40 cents. Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents to end trading with 20,717 shares at $6.50. Lasco Financial ended with 40,000 shares changing hands, for a loss of 5 cents to $3.30, Lasco Manufacturing ended at $4.98 after 10,750 units switched hands, Medical Disposables had 17,334 units changing hands, to close at $4.20 and Paramount Trading ended with 46,099 shares being exchnaged to close at $3.
US$19M added to December’s surplus
In foreign exchange trading on Wednesday, net inflows was a positive US$19.3 million, continuing the positive flows for December, with only two trading days with negative flows. Market activity led to the selling rates of the US and Canadian dollars and that of the euro falling.
At the close of the market, dealers bought the equivalent of US$53,620,805 of all currencies and sold only US$34,296,736, compared to US$56,569,758 purchased and US$50,911,941 sold on Tuesday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$44,977,358 compared to US$39,593,605 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar remained unchanged at $127.77. A total of US$27,142,705 was sold versus US$39,593,605 on Tuesday, with the selling rate declining 8 cents to end at $128.50. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 43 cents to $95.63, with dealers buying C$7,531,239 and selling C$7,227,209 at an average rate that eased 1 cent to finish at $96.69. The average rate for buying the British Pound dropped $1.15 to $157.05 for the purchase of £2,325,710 while £1,268,083 was sold with a rise of 31 cents to end at $159.10.
At the end of trading on Wednesday, dealers sold €121,818 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a fall of 33 cents to $135.78, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €127,157 of the European common currency at $129.09 after falling 95 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$19,813 being bought and selling of US$16,639.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded foreign currencies on Wednesday, include a fall of $17.88 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to $103.12. The highest selling rate for the Canadian dollar fell $1.66 to end at $100.44, while the lowest selling rate rose $3 to $93. The highest selling rate for the British Pound dropped $8.46 to $166.54. The highest buying rate for the Euro jumped $4.50 to $136, the highest selling rate rose $3.26 to $140.40 and the lowest selling rate climbed $1.20 to $130.20.
