The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index sank 3,468.82 points to close at 313,564.81 on Thursday and the JSE Index dived by 3,160.49 points to close at 285,693.01 as just 3,755,947 units valued at $24,471,583 changed hands, with the prices of 8 stocks falling.
The market is in a tussle as it tries break clear of the resistance zone, resulting in the market moving up and down as investors fight to trade stocks at the best price they can. The bulls clearly have the upper hand supported by fundamentals and technical support.
In the main activity, Barita Investments finished trading at $8, with 6,852 units, Berger Paints settled $1 higher at $16, with 72,420 shares, Cable & Wireless ended trading with a loss of 8 cents at 97 cents, with 531,733 shares, 
Caribbean Cement ended 99 cents higher at $33, with 4,350 stock units. Carreras ended trading with a loss of 9 cents at $11.41, with 243,091 units, Ciboney Group closed 2 cents higher at 22 cents, with 1,594,730 shares traded, Grace Kennedy traded at $43, with 6,370 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose 43 cents to $18.99, with 10,730 stock units. Jamaica Producers finished trading with a loss of 40 cents at $15.55, with 12,800 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 36,100 shares, JMMB Group closed with a loss of 50 cents at $26.50, in trading 45,350 shares, Kingston Wharves ended at $33, with 5,284 units. Mayberry Investments finished 75 cents higher at $5.80, with 45,017 shares, NCB Financial Group finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at $103.50, with 66,396 shares,
1834 Investments finished with a loss of 11 cents at $1.30, with 21,848 stock units, PanJam Investment traded with a loss of 40 cents at $41.60, with 43,458 units, Pulse Investments settled with a loss of 5 cents at $1.75, while trading 41,073 shares. Radio Jamaica finished trading 3 cents higher at $1.13, with 62,694 stock units, Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of $2 at $36, with 87,792 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished at $15, with 7,620 shares, Scotia Group ended at $52, with 28,752 stock units and Supreme Ventures settled 30 cents higher at $11.80, exchanging 204,713 stock units. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended with a loss of 5 cents at $1.90, with 576,774 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
T-bill rates drop again
Rates on Government of Jamaica Treasury bills fell again in November, with the latest offer resulting in the rate on the 91 days instrument falling to 4.26 percent from 4.58 percent previously and the 181 days rate slipping to 4.89 percent from 5.11 percent.
In April the 91 days rate was at 5.71 percent and fell in August to 5.49 percent before dropping sharply in September and October to reach 4.58 percent then.
In April the 182 days rate was at 6.4 percent and fell in August to 5.99 percent before dropping sharply in September and October to help push the current rate under 5 percent. As indicated in the attached chart the rates seems headed for 4 percent for the 182 days instrument and should be there by January or February if current trends continue.
Investors in equities, Money Market Instruments and real estate should pay keen attention to this critical development that will have profound implications for values in the market.
Lasco Financial lifts Junior Market
Lasco Financial
Following the news that Lasco Financial acquired CrediScotia, the stock jumped $1.10 on Wednesday to a record close, helping to push the Junior Market Index up by 40.48 points on Wednesday, bettering the 28.05 points decline on Tuesday, to close at 2,989.26 when trading ended.
At the close of market activities, 20 securities changed hands, down from 22 trading Tuesday leading to the prices of 8 rising, 5 declining and 7 remaining unchanged, in an exchange of 2,180,177 units valued at $9,696,165 compared to 1,809,393 units valued at $9,170,104 on Tuesday. While Lasco Financial closed at a record high for the day its sister Lasco Distributors closed at a 52 weeks’ low at the closed of trading.
Trading ended with an average of 109,009 units for an average of $484,808 in contrast to 82,245 units for an average of $416,823 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 68,783 units valued at $367,935 and previously 64,720 units, valued at $356,129 previously.
In contrast, October closed with a slightly higher average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging traded 4 cents higher at $3.04, with 30,700 stock units, Cargo Handlers ended at $10.99, with 4,643 stock units, Caribbean Producers ended 15 cents higher at $4, with 244,630 units, Consolidated Bakeries ended with a loss of 16 cents at $2.20, with 12,847 stock units, Dolphin Cove settled at $17.55, with 2,500 shares, Derrimon Trading traded with a loss of $1 in closing at $6, with 3,394 shares. Express Catering settled with a loss of 10 cents at $4.45, with 13,900 stock units, General Accident closed at $2.70, with 4,000 shares, Honey Bun ended trading at $4.80, with 3,862 shares, 
Jamaican Teas finished trading at $4, with 71,805 units. Jetcon Corporation ended trading 30 cents higher at $4.80, with 100,710 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $12.20, with 2,810 shares, KLE Group finished trading 1 cent higher at $2.51, with 502,226 units, Caribbean Cream ended at $5.62, with 13,930 shares. Lasco Distributors traded 60 cents higher at $5.60, with 362,543 shares, Lasco Financial traded $1.10 higher at $6, with 589,625 stock units, after investors attempted to trade it at $6.50 which was outside the range it could trade at for the day. Medical Disposables concluded trading 9 cents higher at $5.29, with 24,000 shares, Main Event lost 30 cents to close at $5.50, with 6,891 shares, Paramount Trading ended with a loss of 49 cents at $3.50, trading 106,600 units and Stationery and Office settled 15 cents higher at $5.15, with 78,561 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Main market index dives
The main market with fell sharply as 8,130,384 units valued at $56,308,791 traded on Wednesday. 23 securities changed hands, 8 advanced, 10 declined and 3 traded firm leading to the All Jamaican Composite Index diving 2,309.99 points to 317,033.63 and the JSE Index dropping 2,104.66 points to 288,853.50.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments ended trading with a loss of 30 cents at $8, with 549,876 units changing hands, Berger Paints closed with a loss of $1.25 at $15, with just 4,757 shares, Cable & Wireless concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents at $1.05, with 1,676,000 units, Caribbean Cement finished trading with a loss of 99 cents at $32.01, with 1,900 stock units, Carreras traded 50 cents higher at $11.50, with 124,283 shares. 
Ciboney Group ended 1 cent higher at 20 cents, with 451,323 units, Grace Kennedy settled $1.50 higher at $43, with 54,448 shares trading, Jamaica Broilers ended trading 6 cents higher at $18.56, with 4,258 stock units, Jamaica Producers rose 85 cents to $15.95, with 128,472 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 20 cents higher at $7, with 152,521 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading with a loss of $2 to $27, with 333,294 stock units, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 45 cents at $5.05, with 2,020 shares, NCB Financial Group ended at $104, with 197,658 shares. PanJam Investment traded with a loss of $1 at $42, while trading 88,396 units, Pulse Investments settled at $1.80, with 55,231 shares,
Radio Jamaica traded with a loss of 3 cents at $1.10, with 554,984 stock units, Sagicor Group ended $3.40 higher at $38, with 2,300 units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 45 cents to end at $15, with 16,082 shares, Scotia Group ended trading $1 higher at $52, with 62,403 stock units, Seprod finished trading at $30, with 2,504 units and Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 30 cents at $11.50, with 127,554 shares.
In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group concluded trading at $1.10 with 3,540,000 stock units and Proven 8.25% share traed 120 units at $5.20. In the US equity market, Productivity Business Solutions traded 3,921 shares at 57 US cents after falling 0.51 cents and Proven Investments fell 2 cents in trading 398 ordinary shares at 21 US cents. JMMB Group 6% US dollar preference share traded at $1.121 US cents with 11,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Jamaican$ value slips – Wednesday
The rate of exchange to buy the US dollar by the public rose on Wednesday to $126.74 as dealers sold US$47.67 million of the US dollar, compared to US$48.09 million at an average rate of $126.64 on Tuesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$44.36 million on Wednesday, at an average rate of $125.89 compared to Tuesday with US$59.23 million at $126.15.
Dealers’ purchases dipped to US$55.58 million, versus US$74.79 million on Wednesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$58.02 million compared with US$61.65 million of all currencies sold previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar declined to J$99.90 from J$100.20 at the close on Tuesday. The selling rate for the British Pound jumped to J$167.18 versus J$165.09 on Tuesday and the euro surged in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$150.01 to buy the European common currency, versus J$147.39 previously.
4 TTSE stocks fell 1 gained – Wednesday
Trading volume picked up on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with the market exchanging 11 securities compared to just 9 on Tuesday.
At the close, 1 stock advanced, 4 declined and 6 were unchanged as 239,293 shares traded at a value of $1,003,289 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 52,590 valued at $1,117,150.
The Composite Index advanced 5.92 points to 1,295.18, the All T&T Index remained unperturbed at 1,752.55 and the Cross Listed Index rose 1.62 points, closing at 112.99.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| The sole security advancing in price is Grace Kennedy with gains of 3 cents, as it closed at $3 trading 52,452 shares.
Losses| The last traded price of the securities declining and volume changing hands are, JMMB Group down 5 cents, in closing at $2.15 with 91,831 shares, L.J. Williams B share fell 1 cent, to settled at 77 cents exchanging 31,000 shares, Sagicor Financial closing at $7.96, losing 3 cents trading 13,691 shares and 
Trinidad Cement with a loss 5 cents, ending at $3.95 with 8,500 shares.
Firm Trades| At the close of trading, Clico Investment remained at unchanged $21 with 2,102 shares traded, First Citizens closed at $31.80 with 2,380 shares changing hands, First Caribbean International Bank last traded at $9 after hitting a high for the day of $9.25 to end the day trading 33,937 shares valued at $313,667. Massy Holdings last traded at $49.50 exchanging 490 units, National Enterprises traded 200 units at $9.75 and NCB Financial Group held firm at $6.50 with 2,710 shares.
JSE main market retreats again
Stock prices mostly fell for the second consecutive day in trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday with 23 securities changing hands, 8 advanced, 10 declined and 3 traded firm
The main market with 8,130,384 units valued at $56,308,791 compared to 17,396,748 units valued at $218,089,928 on Tuesday. The US dollar market traded just 3 securities accounting for 15,319 units valued at just US$14,671 while the market index fell 12.29 points to close at 166.33.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dived by 2,309.99 points to close at 317,033.63 and the JSE Index dropped 2,104.66 points to close at 288,853.50.
Trading ended with an average of 353,495 units for an average of $2,448,208 in contrast to 756,380 units for an average of $9,482,171 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 307,065 units valued at $3,786,627 with an average value of 302,442 units valued at $3,919,890 previously. In contrast, October closed with average of 185,251 units valued at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the close of trading, Berger Paints fell $1.25, Grace Kennedy rose $1.50, PanJam Investment fell by $1, Sagicor Group rose $3.40 and Scotia Group rose $1.
Profit taking hits majors – Tuesday
NCB Financial Group dropped $3 to help pull JSE down.
With most companies having reported earnings for the third quarter the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange failed to be inspire investors to buy into the stocks aggressively, leading profit taking in a number of stocks on Tuesday, with prices mostly falling.
At the end of trading to market closed with a total of 23 securities changing hands with 5 advancing, 11 declining and 7 traded firm as 17,396,748 units valued at $218,089,928 changed hands.
Market activity concluded with a fall in the All Jamaican Composite Index by 1,833.47 points to 319,343.62 and a dip in the JSE Index by 1,670.50 points to close at 290,958.16.
In market activity, Barita Investments finished with a loss of 55 cents to end at $8.30, in exchanging 5,860 units, Berger Paints closed $1.25 higher at $16.25, with 30,850 shares, Cable & Wireless settled 3 cents higher at $1.08, with 1,502,200 shares. 
Carreras closed with a loss of 50 cents at $11, trading 130,758 units, Grace Kennedy settled with a loss of 51 cents at $41.50, with 51,585 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended at $18.50, with 16,125 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 45 cents at $15.10, with 26,605 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 10 cents to $6.80, with 14,785 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading 10 cents higher at $29, with 39,907 shares, Kingston Properties traded 6,096 stock units at $8, Kingston Wharves concluded trading at $33, with 9,767 units. Mayberry Investments traded 50 cents higher at $5.50, with 236,821 shares, NCB Financial Group dropped $3 to $104, with 79,253 shares, 1834 Investments concluded trading with a loss of 7 cents at $1.41, with 115,372 stock units, 138 Student Living ended trading at $6, with 10,000 shares, 
PanJam Investment finished trading 50 cents higher at $43, with 20,683 units, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 20 cents at $1.80, exchanging 8,688 shares. Sagicor Group traded 1,145,023 units with a loss of $2.90 to end at $34.60, Sagicor Real Estate Fund concluded trading with a loss of 35 cents at $15.45, with 17,074 shares, Scotia Group finished with a loss of 50 cents at $51, with 84,315 stock units, Seprod finished at $30, with 3,792 units and Supreme Ventures traded 13,741,689 shares to settled at $11.80. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers finished trading at $1.85 with 99,500 stock units and in the US equity market, Proven Investments traded 1,369 ordinary shares and lost 1 US cents to end at 22 US cents.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Junior Market drops
The Junior Market Index declined by 28.05 points, to close at 2,948.78 on Tuesday with 22 securities changing hands, the same numbers as on Monday.
At the close, the prices of 5 securities gained, 7 declines and 10 remained unchanged. Market activity resulted in an exchange of 1,809,393 units valued at $9,170,104, compared to 1,906,761 units valued at $16,655,143 on Monday.
Trading ended with an average of 82,245 units for an average of $416,823 in contrast to 86,671 units for an average of $757,052 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to $64,720 units valued at 356,129 and an average of 62,529 units valued at $348,543 previously. In contrast, October closed with a slightly higher average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial ended trading 51 cents higher at $43.01, with 5,000 shares, AMG Packaging ended trading with a loss of 15 cents at $3, with 7,538 stock units, CAC 2000 finished trading with a loss of 40 cents at $6.50, with 21,110 shares, Caribbean Producers ended trading 20 cents higher at $3.85, with 202,809 units, Derrimon Trading traded at $7, with 14,000 shares. Express Catering settled with a loss of 3 cents at $4.55, with 5,046 stock units, Eppley concluded trading $1 higher at $12.50, with 61,000 units, Honey Bun finished trading at $4.80, with 2,382 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading at $4, with 27,675 units. Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 30 cents at $4.50, with 47,131 shares, 
Knutsford Express closed at $12.20, with 26,259 shares, Key Insurance settled at $3.99, with 9,429 stock units, KLE Group finished trading at $2.50, with 880 units. Caribbean Cream ended trading 2 cents higher at $5.62, with 1,070 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 95 cents at $5, with 153,244 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading at $4.90, with 763,065 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing finished trading with a loss of 7 cents at $4.05, with 23,602 units. Medical Disposables traded at $5.20, with 69,250 shares, Main Event ended at $5.80, with 4,441 shares, Paramount Trading jumped 69 cents to $3.99, with 341,058 units trading, Stationery and Office finished at $5, with 21,764 stock units and tTech traded with a loss of 7 cents at $7, with 1,640 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Jamaican$ value remains steady – Tuesday
The rate of exchange to buy the US dollar by the public was unchanged on Tuesday at $126.64 as dealers sold US$48.09 million of the US dollar, compared to US$36.75 million at an average rate of $126.64 on Monday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$59.23 million on Tuesday, at an average rate of $126.15 compared to Monday with US$48.04 million at $125.77.
Dealers’ purchases climbed to US$74.79 million, versus US$53.77 million on Tuesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$61.65 million compared with US$41.69 million of all currencies sold previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar inched lower to J$100.20 from J$100.21 at the close on Monday. The selling rate for the British Pound fell to J$165.09 versus J$166.02 on Monday and the euro decline in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$147.39 to buy the European common currency, versus J$147.66 previously.
