Trading in the foreign exchange trading on Thursday declined sharply from Wednesday’s levels by more than 50 percent as just US$25 million flowed into the market and US$27 million was sold of all currencies.
The flows are by far the lowest amounts for November to date, with the previous low being Friday the 10th with inflows of US$40 million and outflows of US$46 million.
On Thursday the Jamaican dollar decline in value in the foreign exchange trading, with the rate of exchange to buy the US dollar by the public, inching higher to $126.54 as dealers sold US$25.95 million of the US dollar, compared to US$39.17 million at an average rate of $126.52 on Wednesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$23.03 million on Thursday, at an average rate of $125.27 compared to Wednesday, with US$39.23 million at $125.58.
Dealers’ purchased US$24.92 million, versus US$51.30 million on Wednesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$26.96 million compared with US$50.64 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought just US$4.5 million at J$125.50 and sold US$2.9 million at J$126.45 compared to the purchase of US$18 million at J$126.07 and selling of US$10.9 million at J$126.44.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar slipped to J$99.41 from J$99.63 at the close on Wednesday. The selling rate for the British Pound rose to J$168.40 versus J$167.19 on Wednesday and the euro gained value against the Jamaican dollar, rising to J$151.68 to buy the European common currency, versus J$149.50 previously.
Forex trading drops sharply on Thursday
6 TTSE stocks rose in weak market
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday resulted in 13 securities changing hands compared to 8 on Wednesday. At the close, 6 stocks advanced, 3 declined and 4 were unchanged.
The Composite Index advanced 0.88 points to 1,274.51, the All T&T Index lost 0.58 points to 1,740.90 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.32 points to close at 108.93.
Market activity ended with 80,674 shares traded at a value of $2,224,568 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 74,546 valued at $1,870,096.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of securities rising on Thursday are, Clico Investment that gained 50 cents in closing at $20.50, with 30,278 shares valued at $632,166 trading. First Citizens ended with gains of 12 cents, to settle at $31.97 after exchanging 1,771 shares while First Caribbean International closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.30, by gaining 5 cents with 1,000 units traded. Guardian Holdings advanced 10 cents to $15.70 in exchanging 1,075 units, Sagicor Financial gained 1 cent, in closing at $7.81 with 1,200 shares and 
Scotiabank traded 25 cents higher, ending at $58.75 with just 100 units changing hands.
Losses| The last traded prices of securities declining are JMMB Group with a loss of 2 cents, closed at $2.18 with 9,063 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings declining by 92 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $48 trading 7,041 share valued at $338,989 and National Enterprises that ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.70, after losing 5 cents with 232 units.
Firm Trades| Securities with the last traded prices unchanged at the close are, Angostura Holdings that ended at $15.05 with 400 units, Ansa McAL closed at $63.03 trading 17,014 shares valued at $1,072,392, National Flour Mills remained at $1.90 in exchanging 10,000 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL held firm at $24 with 1,500 shares.
14 million SVL shares trade on JSE
Supreme Ventures Traded the most shares on the JSE on Tuesday.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 646.61 points to close at 314,205.01 and the JSE Index declined by 589.13 points to close at 286,276.31 as NCB Financial drops $3.50 trading 5.4 million shares and Supreme Ventures traded 14 million units.
The US dollar market index rose 6.40 points to 168.30 as just 1 security traded in this market with a volume of 51,366 units valued at US$11,060.
Trading on the Main Market and the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading on with 24 securities changing hands, with 10 advancing, 8 declining and 5 traded firm.
In the main activity, 
Barita Investments concluded trading with a loss of $1 at $8, with 3,078 units, Berger Paints finished 50 cents higher at $16.50, with 1,680 shares, Cable & Wireless settled with a loss of 7 cents at $1, with 469,227 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of $2.92 at $32.08, with 91,341 stock units. Carreras traded with a loss of $1.18 cents at $10.02, with 206,700 units, Ciboney Group finished trading at 27 cents, with 466,000 shares, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 10 cents at $43, with 6,997 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 10 cents higher at $18.90, with 10,480 stock units changing hands. Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 50 cents at $15, with 33,650 units, JMMB Group settled with a loss of 90 cents at $28.50, with 36,774 shares,
Kingston Wharves traded with a loss of 10 cents at $32.90, with 10,210 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading 10 cents higher at $5.30, with 424,589 shares. NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of $3.50 at $99.50, with 5,452,901 shares traded, 1834 Investments ended at $1.30, with 4,761 stock units, Portland JSX finished at $9.10, with 1,273 shares, Pulse Investments settled at $1.80, with 12,000 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading at $1.10, with 62,500 stock units. Sagicor Group traded $1.90 higher at $37.50, with 530,438 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 50 cents higher at $15, with 61,620 shares, Scotia Group ended 27 cents higher at $52.27, with 127,574 stock units, Seprod concluded trading 1 cent higher at $32, with 9,358 units and Supreme Ventures settled 25 cents higher at $11.05, with 13,895,672 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share rose 5 cents and ended at $1.05, with 6,272,469 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
12 stocks fall 7 advanced on JSE – Wednesday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with 27 securities changing hands, of which 7 advanced, 12 declined and 8 traded firm leading to 4,352,178 units valued at $47,081,186 changing hands.
Trading on the Main Market resulted in JSE All Jamaican Composite Index diving 2,437.39 points to close at 311,767.62 and the JSE Index plunging by 2,220.74 points to close at 284,055.57.
In main market activity, Berger Paints finished 50 cents higher at $17, with 82,690 shares, Cable & Wireless settled at $1, with 20,426 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of 7 cents at $32.01, with 24,991 stock units. Carreras traded $1.48 higher at $11.50, with 195,612 units, Ciboney Group finished trading with a loss of 1 cent at 26 cents, with 1,205,302 shares, Grace Kennedy closed at $43, with 38,847 shares, Jamaica Broilers fell 50 cents to $18.40, with 1,141,656 stock units. Jamaica Producers concluded trading at $15, with 103,005 units, 
Jamaica Stock Exchange finished 2 cents higher at $7.02, with 1,952 shares, JMMB Group settled with a loss of 45 cents at $28.05, with 88,942 shares, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 30 cents at $5, with 142,076 shares. NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of $2 at $97.50, with 48,675 shares, 1834 Investments ended at $1.30, with 13,000 stock units, 138 Student Living closed 5 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.05, with 1,500 shares, PanJam Investment concluded trading with a loss of 49 cents at $41.50, with 21,728 units, Pulse Investments settled at $1.80, with 126,800 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading with a loss of 1 cent at $1.09, with 52,970 stock units. 
Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $1 at $36.50, with 13,678 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell $1 to $14, with 29,497 shares, Salada Foods jumped $2.30 to $10.80, with 16,250 shares, Scotia Group gained 23 cents to end at $52.50, with 8,897 stock units and Supreme Ventures settled with a loss of 55 cents at $10.50, with 745,984 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB 7.25% traded just 500 units to close at $2.49, JMMB Group 7.25% ended at $1.50 with only 200 units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended trading at $1.10, with 50,000 stock units, Proven Investments 8.25% preference share traded 177,000 units and rose 30 cents to $5.50. Proven Investments traded 750 ordinary shares in the US dollar market at 20 US cents after slipping 4 cents.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE main market in big fall – Wednesday
NCB Financial Group dropped another $2 on the JSE on Wednesday.
Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index diving 2,437.39 points to close at 311,767.62 and the JSE Index plunging by 2,220.74 points to 284,055.57.
The market closed with 27 securities changing hands, 7 advanced, 12 declined and 8 traded firm with 4,352,178 units valued at $47,081,186 compared to 28,191,292 units valued at $755,323,320 on Tuesday. US dollar market index rose 6.40 points to 168.30 as 1 security traded with a gain in this market with a volume of 51,366 units valued at US$11,060.
Trading ended with an average of 167,391 units for an average of $1,810,815 in contrast to 1,225,708 units for an average of $32,840,144 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 356,050 units valued at $5,84,915 and previously 346,613 units valued at $5,296,046. 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 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Major movements took place, in Ciboney Traded at a 52 weeks’ high of 30 cents as investors appear to be responding to reports that the company struck a deal with the Butch Stewart group to purchase the property owned by the company and located a short distant from the White house hotel, for a sum of US$2 million and 138 Student Living traded at $6.05 a new 52 weeks’ high. Carreras gained $1.48, NCB Financial Group lost $2, Sagiocr Group fell and the X Fund both fell by $1, but Salada Foods jumped $2.30.
Junior Market jumps 63 points
Lasco Distributors rose by 44 cents to drive Junior Market index sharply higher on Wednesday.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the market Index jumping by 62.85 points to close at 3,066.53 arising from the prices of 4 securities advancing, 9 declining while 5 remained unchanged.
Market activities closed with 18 securities changing hands, up from 17 on Tuesday resulting in an exchange of 726,097 units valued at $5,040,854 compared to 1,885,937 units valued at $9,218,166 from 17 securities changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 40,339 units for an average of $280,047 in contrast to 110,937 units for an average of $542,245 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 118,172 units valued at $580,065 and previously 122,969 units valued at $598,559. 
In contrast, October closed with 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 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 7 cents at $3, with 5,418 stock units, CAC 2000 finished 7 cents higher at $6.57, with 28,000 shares, Caribbean Producers traded with a loss of 3 cents at $4.05, with 56,540 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries finished with a loss of 1 cent at $2.05, with 8,280 shares, Dolphin Cove finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at $17.50, with 91,344 shares, Derrimon Trading closed at $8, with 2,730 shares. 
Express Catering ended with a loss of 20 cents at $4.40, with 39,707 stock units, Honey Bun settled at $4.80, with 4,843 shares, Iron Rock settled 1 cent higher at $2.81, with 1,040 shares, Jamaican Teas traded with a loss of 25 cents at $3.80, with 102,819 units, Jetcon Corporation finished trading with a loss of 14 cents at $4.60, with 14,689 shares. Knutsford Express closed at $13.50, with 5,100 shares, Caribbean Cream finished at $5.60, with 100 shares, Lasco Distributors climbed 40 cents higher to $5.90, with 9,000 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading at $6.50, with 222,751 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing traded with a loss of 3 cents at $4.17, with 14,000 units, Main Event closed with a loss of 44 cents at $5.51, with 10,000 shares and Stationery and Office ended trading 5 cents higher at $5.20, with 109,736 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Jamaican$ fairly stable on Wednesday
The Jamaican dollar rose in value in the foreign exchange trading on Wednesday, with the rate of exchange to buy the US dollar by the public, declining to $126.52 as dealers sold US$39.17 million of the US dollar, compared to US$43.27 million at an average rate of $126.54 on Tuesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$39.23 million on Wednesday, at an average rate of $125.58 compared to Tuesday, with US$39.31 million at $125.59.
Dealers’ purchased US$51.30 million, versus US$54.28 million on Tuesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$50.64 million compared with US$59.20 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$18 million at J$126.07 and sold US$10.9 million at J$126.44 compared to the purchase of US$12.9 million at US$10.5 million at J$126.62.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar slipped to J$99.63 from J$99.70 at the close on Tuesday. The selling rate for the British Pound edged to J$167.19 versus J$167.18 on Tuesday and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, rose to J$149.50 to buy the European common currency, versus J$149.72 previously.
Early Christmas at Palace this week
Daddy’s Home 2 -From Left, Academy Award® winner Mel Gibson, Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg, Golden Globe nominee® Will Ferrell, and Academy Award® nominee John Lithgow, in Daddy’s Home 2.
With the Christmas holidays looming, the Jamaica Stock Exchange listed movie company, Palace Amusement is bringing the joy and bliss of the holiday season to the screens this week.
Celebrate the delight of family with the comedic-drama; Daddy’s Home 2. In Daddy’s Home 2, stepfather-Brad (Golden Globe nominee® Will Ferrell) and biological father-Dusty (Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg), have finally mastered the art of co-existing. Things are finally going well at home and this year, it seems the kids are getting the drama-free Christmas they have been wishing for. Their holiday suddenly gets complicated by the arrival of Brad’s cuddly father (Academy Award® nominee John Lithgow) and Dusty’s hell-raising dad (Academy Award® winner Mel Gibson), who throw the festive season into a complete chaos. When the whole clan winds up in a rental house for a week, they must set aside their differences and operate as a unit — or risk ruining Christmas for everyone. WWE superstar, John Cena and Linda Cardellini co-star in this sequel to the 2015 hit comedy Daddy’s Home. Daddy’s Home 2 is released by paramount pictures and directed by Sean Anders.
Jacob Tremblay (Auggie), Oscar Award® winner- Julia Roberts (Isabel) in a scene from Wonder.
Wonder, seeks to tug the heart of the audience, with an emotional and touching plot. The film tells the inspiring tale of Auggie, who has endured 27 surgical operations, which resulted in a facial deformation. His Journey proves that he is more than a 10-year-old kid with facial disfigurements. He is a brainy, good-hearted kid with a desire to be treated like an ordinary fifth-grader. Auggie, born with Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS), which prevented him from going to a mainstream school, becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family and friends struggle with his acceptance at school, Auggie’s extraordinary journey unite them all and teaches that ‘You can’t blend in, when you are born to stand out’. Wonder is based on the New York Times bestseller- Wonder and is directed by Stephen Chbosky who also writes the screenplay with Steven Conrad. The film stars; Jacob Tremblay (Auggie), Oscar Award® winner- Julia Roberts (Isabel), Oscar Award® nominee-Owen Wilson (Nate) and Izabela Vidovic (Via).
Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.
Another exciting film releasing this week is; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Mildred Hayes is opening everyone’s eyes to several marginalized social issues in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. This sensational drama, tells the story of a mother who is relentless in the pursuit of her daughter’s murderer. After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes makes a bold move by commissioning three signs in her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby, the town’s revered chief of police. Baring the snag of her neighbours, the billboards counted a roaring success to gain the chief’s attention but started a battle between Mildred and the small town’s law enforcement. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is directed and written by Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (Bruges) and stars Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes, Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson, Abbie Cornish and Sam Rockwell.
The Met’s ‘The Exterminating Angel’ will encore this Sunday, 11:30 a.m. at Palace Cineplex. Thomas Adès’s.
The Exterminating angel surrounds a group of high-class individuals at a dinner party gone awry. As a party of aristocratic dinner guests arrive at the home of Edmundo and Lucía de Nobile, the household staff hurry to leave, offering meager excuses for their absence. Following the festivities, the attendees realize—with no legitimate explanation—that they cannot leave the room. Trapped for days, the group descends into madness, chaos, and confusion. The Exterminating Angel is an intense experience and the libretto by Tom Cairns hews closely to Luis Buñuel’s 1962 film of the same name.
Bank of Jamaica cuts interest rate
Effective November 23, the rate offered on overnight placements with the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), will be reduced to 3.25 percent from 3.50 percent, the BOJ announced today.
The adjustment to rate, used by BOJ as the policy rate, reflects the Bank’s assessment that the inflation outlook for FY2017/18 and FY2018/19 will remain within its medium term inflation target of 4 percent to 6 percent.
Amongst the factors leading to the reduction include, “the recent appreciation of the exchange rate that has attenuated the upside risks to the inflation forecast. This outlook is also reinforced by the Government’s commitment to meeting the medium term fiscal targets outlined in the Fiscal Policy Paper.”
The Bank further stated that, “Jamaica’s key macroeconomic indicators continue to reflect generally positive trends and macroeconomic stability is entrenched.
Treasury bill rates on the decline and heading to 4% soon.
Inflation expectations remain firmly in single digits, international reserves are growing, the current account of the balance of payments is projected to remain at sustainable levels, market interest rates continue to trend downwards and the fiscal accounts remain strong. This easing in monetary policy will support continued credit expansion and economic growth.”
The reduction comes against of a relative sharp fall in Treasury bill rates over the past three issues that saw the November 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. Rates on the 182 days instrument, fell 34 basis points to 5.11 percent having dived 53 basis points to 5.45 percent in September. The 91 days Treasury bill rate, fell 40 basis points from 4.98 percent in September to 4.58 percent in the latest auction.
WITCO drops $8.01 on TTSE – Wednesday
West Indian Tobacco dropped $8.01 on the TTSE on Wednesday.
West Indian Tobacco (WITCO) dropped $8.01 to a 52 weeks’ low of $112.99 trading 70 units on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The bid on the stock fell sharply from the last traded price of $121 reached on the November 2, the stock was offered at $112.99 on Tuesday after several weeks of it on offer well below the prior traded price.
WITCO’s price is coming from $125.47 from early September but dropped $1.97 on October 30 and $1.99 on November 2. The stock is still not out of the woods with an offer at $113 and a bid at $106.25 to purchase only 16 units. The collapse followed reduced earnings flowing from decline in sales volume this year as a result of increase taxes on cigarettes and a recession in Trinidad.
Market activity resulted in the two major indices declining as trading levels slumped with only 8 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Tuesday leading to 1 stock rising, 1 declining and 6 closing unchanged.
At the close, just 74,546 stock units traded at a value of $1,870,096 in contrast to Tuesday’s much larger trades of 651,650 units valued at $16,389,752.
The Composite Index declined by 6.80 points to 1,273.63, the All T&T Index dropped 13.50 points to 1,741.48 but the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 108.61 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| At the close the sole stock falling in price at the close of the market is Trinidad & Tobago NGL closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $24, with gains of 30 cents in exchanging 25,620 shares valued at $614,880.
Firm Trades| The last traded prices of securities remaining unchanged at the close of trading are First Citizens closing at $31.85 with 17,529 shares valued at $558,299, Guardian Holdings traded 22,500 shares at $15.60 valued at $351,000, Massy Holdings remained at $48.92 with 1,265 units changing hands. National Enterprises closed at $9.75 exchanging 282 units, Sagicor Financial held firm at $7.80 with 3,008 shares traded and Scotiabank settled at $58.50 with 4,272 shares changing hands
