Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market by dealers on Wednesday resulted in the value of the Jamaican dollar falling modestly in value against the US dollar.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the selling rate ending at J$128.73 from J$128.54 previously. Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$127.59, versus J$127.12 on Tuesday. Trading ended with inflows of US$39.57 million compared to US$35.07 million on Tuesday with Bank of Jamaica is entitled to approximately 25 percent of the inflows or around $10 of the intake. Outflows amounted to US$29.29 million compared to US$27.21 million of all currencies previously.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$36.43 million versus US$31.40 million on Tuesday with outflows of US$26.43 million compared to US$25.35 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$102.92 from J$102.23 at the close on Tuesday while the British Pound was less costly, with J$165.58 buying the British currency versus J$165.79 and the euro, increased in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$153.52 to buy the European common currency, versus J$152.54 previously.
Jamaican$ slips in value – Wednesday
BOJ auction rate climbs to $129.15
Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) offer of US$5 million offer of it foreign exchange auction attracted 33 bids amounting to $15.2 million with rates as high as $129.42. The average of all bids made was $128.94 but the auction cleared at $128.97 with 11 bids accepted, at an average at $129.15.
The out turn in the daily foreign exchange market resulted in the US dollar selling rate ending at J$128.73 from J$128.54 previously. Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$127.59, versus J$127.12 on Tuesday.
In the previous auction held on August 16, BOJ offer of US$10 million attracted 38 bids amounting to US$28.2 million at an average rate of $128.67. The average rate of 17 accepted bids was $128.74.
At the official start of the auctioning of foreign exchange BOJ announced that it will make US$10 million dollars available to authorized dealers and eligible cambios on Wednesdays up to August 16, totalling US$40 million. It is not clear why BOJ dropped the amount to US$5 million in the latest offer.
Construction boosting Montego Bay economy
The official data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica show that activity in the construction sector grew 0.4 percent in the December 2016 quarter and 0.2 percent in the March 2017 quarter.
New NCB Financial centre being built in Fair View Montego Bay
IC Insider.com took a tour of Jamaica’s two cities to get a glimpse of what was taking place in the sector and we have the pictures to show.
Within the Montego Bay area, the region of Jamaica that is said to be the fastest growing in the country, most buildings are taking place around the 
Fairview area that is next door to Bogue. Commercial activity continues to attract more entities to the western region and they seem to be heading to this location. Building of NCB Financial Centre for the region is in full flight and could be finished very soon, based on where the construction of building reached. Sited two blocks just south west of the Scotiabank centre the building occupies two stories.
Two new buildings going up at Farview, the one to the right is said to be a shopping cenre and a warehiouse to the left
Also going up close by was what is said to be a shopping centre, but that seems to be more like offices that should be ready for occupancy shortly, based on the painting of the exterior. And next to that building is another, that IC Insider.com was advised is a warehouse.Lands have been cleared and marled for what looks like another building or two one of which is a site for Victoria Building Society.
Other the other side of town on the way to adjoin the Pye River cemetery are two new commercial buildings,
New bidong going up at Bogue in Montgo Bay
one fairy advanced and another just going up, and across from what seems a BPO operations.
On the return leg to Kingston, IC Insider.com spotted advanced construction at what is commonly known as Puerto Seco Beach. This is said to be a Guardsman development and seems to be a resort type facility, with restaurants and cabanas in addition to the beach and represents a major upgrading of the popular
Pueto Seco Beach main building
Puerto Seco Beach facilities. This development is set to generate increased business for the Discovery Bay, a town that has been undergoing increased business activities in recent years with more commercial activities and business.
Increased activity within the sector has a number of positives, including increased employment during the construction phase for both skilled and unskilled workers and for workers who are going to be employed in the commercial entities after the constructions are completed. The wider Montego Bay economy will benefit from the business that will be conducted by the increased number of persons who will be employed. Entities such as taxis, buses, shops, restaurants and of course the government who will be collecting more taxes will all benefit for the increase economic activities to be generated.
Wider afield cement producer Caribbean Cement and paint manufactures as well as suppliers of other construction goods, will benefit from the continuing growth in the construction sectors in the region
Forex inflows drop to US$35M – Tuesday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Tuesday ended with inflows of US$35.07 million compared to US$42.09 million on Monday. Bank of Jamaica is entitled to approximately 25 percent of the inflows or around $8.77 of Tuesday’s intake.
Outflows amounted to US$27.21 million compared to US$30.70 million of all currencies previously.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$31.40 million versus US$38.96 million on Monday with outflows of US$25.35 million compared to US$27.86 million.
The value of the Jamaican dollar fell modestly in value against the US dollar, with the selling rate ending at J$128.54 from J$128.45 previously. Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$127.12, versus J$127.18 on Monday.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar inched to J$102.23 from J$102.12 at the close on Monday while the British Pound was more costly, with J$165.79 buying the British currency versus J$164.90 and the euro, slipped in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$152.54 to buy the European common currency, versus J$152.95 previously.
Trading levels drop sharply on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday sank sharply resulting from 9 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Monday with just 38,695 shares traded at a value of $452,716.
Tuesday’s trading contrast with that on Monday’s of 538,622 units valued at $3,830,623. The market closed with 1 stock advancing, 2 declining and 6 holding firm as
The Composite Index declined 0.60 points to 1,228.05, the All T&T Index gained 0.04 points to 1,792.29 and the Cross Listed Index declined 0.17 points to 89.06 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Scotiabank is the only security closed trading with the price higher than the previous day with a rise of a mere 1 cent, to close at $58.03 with 932 shares.
Losses| Stocks trading with the last prices falling and volumes changing hands are 
Clico Investment with a loss of 10 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.90 with 1,671 shares and Sagicor Financial declined 20 cents to $8.30 with 2,040 shares.
Firm Trades| Stocks changing hands with the price of the last trade remaining unchanged are, Bourse Brazil Latin Fund exchanged 5,000 shares at $8.08, First Citizens traded 1,800 shares at $31.67, JMMB Group closed at $1.20 with 22,163 shares. National Enterprises ended at $10.48 with 4,000 shares, Republic Financial Holdings with trades of 1,000 shares, closed at $101.90 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL held firm at $23.45 with 5,089 shares.
JSE main market rises on Tuesday
Trading closed on main market stocks of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with gains in the indices up to 1,000 points but with the stocks rising equalling those declining at on Tuesday.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 1,030.80 points to close at 277,166.52, the JSE Market Index gained 939.17 points to 252,530.09 and the JSE US dollar market index declined 0.98 points to 177.52.
At the close of trading, 22 securities changed hands in the main market with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 9 stocks advancing and 9 declining. The main market ended with 1,806,656 units valued at $31,094,257 changing hands compared to 2,163,104 units valued at $46,639,859 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 104,517 units valued at US$24,043 bringing the total of all trades to J$34,171,703.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 82,121 units valued at $1,413,375 for each security traded compared to an average of 83,196 units valued at $1,793,841. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at $174,635 units with an average value of $3,532,680 compared with an average of 181,752 units with an average value of $3,695,704 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
The last price at close of the market and the volume of securities traded are, Barita Investments declining 15 cents to $11.10 with 7,675 shares, Berger Paints closing 95 cents lower to $16 with 6,159 units, Cable and Wireless lost 7 cents to close at $1.20 with 102,613 shares, Caribbean Cement ended at $28.95 with 15,949 stock units,Carreras held firm at $108 with 37,181 shares, Grace Kennedyclimbing $2.98 higher to $41.99 with 6,361 units. Jamaica Broilers with a loss of 50 cents, to $17 with 433,797 shares, Jamaica Producers declined 98 cents to $14 with 55,760 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $6.47 with 2,957 stock units, 
JMMB Group closing with a loss of 30 cents to $21.30 with 109,395 shares. Kingston Wharves ended at $29.50 with 340 shares, Mayberry Investments gained 3 cents to $4.09 with 192,037 shares, NCB Financial Group declined 10 cents to $89 with 58,746 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $1.40 to $33 with 9,000 shares and Portland JSX closed at $9.30 with 10,600 shares. Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents to close at $1.35 with 2,240 shares, Sagicor Group traded 50 cents higher to $31.50 with 33,696 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with a 1 cent gain to $12.06 exchanging 41,250 shares, Scotia Group climbed 97 cents to $46 with 33,173 shares, Seprod gained 16 cents to close at $30 with 165 shares, Sterling Investments traded 70 cents higher to $14 with 22,100 shares, Supreme Ventures ended with a loss of 20 cents to $8.80 with 624,922 shares. Proven Investments US ordinary shares lost US 1 cent and closed at 23 US cents with 104,517 units.
12 Junior stocks rose as 6 fall
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with 20 securities changing hands, 12 advanced, 6 declined and 3 traded firm with 2,495,496 units valued at $13,050,346 compared to 4,968,253 units valued at $16,371,552 on Monday.
The Junior Trading ended with an average of 124,775 units for an average of $652, 517 in contrast to 225,830 units for an average of $744,161 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 301,663 units valued at $1,553,127 compared to 315,269 units valued at $1,622,404 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Wednesday’s activity, as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded prices are: Access Financial closed 5 cents higher and finished at $46.25 with 12,437 shares, 
AMG Packaging climbed 50 cents and ended at $4 with 70,000 shares, Blue Power climbed $1.50 and settled at $41.50 with 30,840 shares, Caribbean Cream rose 70 cents to $6.70 with 50,972 shares, Consolidated Bakeries traded at $2.15 with 106,223 shares, C2W Music gained 5 cents and closed at 43 cents with 10,000 shares, Dolphin Cove added 9 cents and ended at $17.50 with 4,303 shares, Express Catering with a loss of 15 cents, finished at $5.10 with 167,140 shares, General Accident closed at $2.60 with 53,470 shares, Jamaican Teas settled 15 cents higher at $5.15 with 1,753 shares, Jetcon Corporation with a loss of 29 cents, closed at $5.41 with 3,007 shares,
KLE Group ended 5 cents higher at $2.50 with 12,450 shares, Knutsford Express inched 2 cents higher to finish at $14.99 with 5,102 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents and concluded trading at $6.80 with 98,840 shares, Lasco Financial moved 5 cents higher to $4 with 210,222 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended 17 cents higher to close at $4.50 with 1,025,000 shares, Main Event with a loss of 17 cents, finished at $4.91 with 11,664 shares, Stationery and Office trimmed 20 cents and finished at $4 with 411,573 shares as some investors move for the exit after a successful public issue and strong gains in the price after listing, tTech jumped $1.44 higher to $7.44 with 190,000 shares and Derrimon Trading preference share, lost 10 cents in traded 20,500 shares at $2.10.
JMMB pretax profit up 16%
JMMB Group profits up 16% before tax to June.
JMMB Group posted a 16 percent increase in pretax profit, for the June 2017 quarter over 2016, but increased taxation left shareholders with a much smaller 4 percent increase to $617 million, as taxes climbed from $264 million to $381 million.
Net revenues jumped 19.4 percent to $4.1 billion from $3.44 billion in 2016, operating expenses rose even faster at 20.5 percent to $3.1 billion. Net interest income improved noticeably, moving from $1.55 to $1.9 billion as interest income grew to $1.96 billion, from $3.62 billion and cost fell modestly to $2.04 billion. Gains from securities trading rose to $1.54 billion from $1.1 billion but with revaluation of the Jamaican dollar, the group earned $238 million in the quarter, down from $443 million as the group also benefited from one off gains in 2016.
The Jamaican operations contributed 23 percent to growth in operating revenues, putting it at 75 percent of overall group revenues while Trinidad with its economic challenges, remained flat with just a one percent increase and Dominican Republic generated an increase of 18 percent.
Growth in managing pension funds, unit trust and money market funds, with assets under management moving from $89.5 billion in June 2016 to $114.75 billion helped in moving fee income up from $298 million to $364 million over the same period.
The group gained commercial banking license approval in Jamaica, in the September quarter, started to convert some branches to accommodate the new thrust and were also preparing for the roll out of their pension fund management in the Dominican Republic.
Total assets grew from $252 billion to $268 billion between March this year and June, shareholders’ equity moved from $25.9 billion to $26.8 billion including $2 billion in investment revaluation reserves at June this year, lending was almost static at $48 billion versus $47 at March. Investment in resale agreements stood at $173.8 billion versus March’s $172.5 billion. Customers’ deposits rose to $50.87 billion from $49 billion in March, while securities sold under repurchase agreements stood at $169.5 billion, up from $156.6 billion as of March, representing a fairly significant increase of $14 billion in just one quarter.
On Monday, JMMB Group closed at $21.50 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and TT$1.20 (J$22.80) in Trinidad on Monday. IC Insider.com projects earnings of $3 for 2017 up from $2.03 as of March this year, putting the PE at 7 times the March 2018 earnings. The stock continues to be IC Insider.com BUY RATED.
Supreme Ventures profit jumps 41%
Supreme Ventures’ profit rose sharply for the 2017 half year.
Investors responded to strong increase in profit for the six months to June, for Supreme Ventures, by pushing the stock to a record high of $9 on Monday.
Profit surged 41 percent, from $649 million to $918 million after tax, with second quarter profit jumping by a lesser 34 percent to $502 million, from $374 million in 2016. The results translate to earnings per share of 35 cents for the half year and 19 cents for the quarter. The numbers suggest full year earnings of 75 cents, with the stock trading on Monday at $9, it now parades a PE of 12, sitting at the middle of main market listings, but just below the market’s average of 13. Cash flow generated from operations, amounted to just over $1.3 billion for the six months from which $607 million in dividend was paid. $356 million was paid for acquisition of fixed assets after the receipt loan funding of $380 million.
The group reported strong increase in revenues, up 27.5 percent to $14 billion for the quarter and 23.5 percent to $27.4 billion for the six months. The 2017 second quarter figures include revenues for Caymanas Park that was acquired earlier in the year.
Direct cost rose 27 percent in the June quarter, to $12.47 billion and 24 percent year to date to $24.63 billion and operating expenses moved up 29.7 percent to $842 million for the quarter as the cost of the horseracing operations impact cost and 7.3 percent to $1.5 billion for the half year.
The new Caymanas Park horseracing operations brought in revenues of $1.76 billion for the six months period and contributed a loss of $105 million. In the first quarter racing brought in revenues of $328 million and a loss of $19 million. Interestingly, the gaming operations that was a big loss maker in past years contributed $15 million in profit, up from $777,000 in 2016 but down from a profit of $21.4 million in the first quarter, while the Sports betting loss was contained to $34 million, down sharply from $115 million in 2016, but much worse than the loss of $9.5 million in quarter one.
The financial position at June saw total assets of $6.5 billion, including cash of $2.27 billion and non- current assets of $3.17 billion. Shareholders’ equity stood $4 billion and interest bearing debt at debt, at just under $500 million.
Supreme Ventures hits new high – Monday
Supreme Ventures closed at a new all-time high of $9.
Stocks rose modestly on the Jamaica Stock Exchange leading the market indices rising around 100 point continuing the much bigger rise on Friday even as Supreme Ventures closed at an all-time high of $9, after climbing 45 cents in trading 12,960 shares.
Investors were responding to strong increase in profit for the six months to June, moving from $649 million to $918 million.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 101.60 points to close at 276,135.72, the JSE Market Index gained 92.57 points to 251,590.92 and the JSE US dollar market index declined 6.86 points to 178.50.
At the close of trading, 26 securities changed hands in the main market with 3 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 10 stocks advancing and 10 declining. The main market ended with 2,163,104 units valued at $46,639,859 changing hands compared to 7,943,772 units valued at $101,876,271 at the close on Friday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 6,508 units valued at US$1,904 bringing the total of all trades to J$46,883,517.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 7 to 1 with 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 83,196 units valued at $1,793,841 for each security traded compared to an average of 294,214 units valued at $3,773,195. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 181,752 units with an average value of $3,695,704 compared with an average of 187,965 units with an average value of $3,854,192 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
At the close of the market, the last traded prices and the volume of securities changing hands are: Barita Investments with a loss of 35 cents, to end at $11.25 with 767 shares, Berger Paints closing $2.45 higher to $16.95 with 19,700 shares, Cable and Wireless gaining 7 cents to $1.27 with 549,196 shares, Caribbean Cement with gains of 45 cents, ended at $28.95 with 16,055 shares, Carreras held firm at $108 with 41,241 shares, Grace Kennedy falling $2.04 to $39.01 with 262,645 shares. Jamaica Broilers rising $1.29, to $17.50 with 247,206 shares, Jamaica Producers climbing $1.23, to $14.98 with 47,619 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closing at $6.47 with 28,865 shares. JMMB Group continues inn strong demand following the 604,000 shares traded on Friday with an exchange of 332,817 shares to finish at $21.50. In other main market activity, 
Kingston Wharves closed at $29.50, losing 50 cents with 123,007 shares trading, Mayberry Investments fell 11 cents, to $4.06 with 3,117 shares, NCB Financial Group declined $1.85 to $89.10 with 54,845 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.34 with 30,000 shares, PanJam Investment closed at $31.60, losing $1.40 with 2,100 shares and Portland JSX gained 5 cents, to end at $9.30 with 1,200 shares. Pulse Investments rose 1 cent, to $1.95 with 33,620 shares, Radio Jamaica lost 5 cents to $1.30 with 14,702 shares, Sagicor Group traded 75 cents lower, to $31 with 81,938 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $12.05, losing 1 cent in trading 10,525 shares, Salada Foods gained 50 cents to close at $10 with 250 shares, Scotia Group declined $1.96 to $45.03 with 130,119 shares, Scotia Investments traded 50 cents higher to $35.51 with 4,500 shares, Seprod gained 9 cents to close at $29.84 with 6,210 shares. Proven Investments US ordinary share gained 1 US cent to end at 24 US cents with 5,663 units, Margaritaville Turks US ordinary share lost 3 US cents, to 30 US cents with 421 units, JMMB Group US 6% preference share closed at US$1.10 with 424 units and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share closed at $1.99 with 107,900 units.
