Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in the main market indices climbing sharply with a rise of $2 in the price of National Commercial Bank with just 1,000 shares changing hands, while junior market index inched up moderately.
A total of 22 securities traded of which 10 advanced and only 3 fell, resulting in a volume of a mere 497,348 shares changing hands carrying a value of a $2,887,938 compared with 3,513,020 shares changing hands with a value of $22,530,339 on Thursday at 11:30 AM. The average number of shares traded, amount to 22,607units versus 26,142 units on Thursday.
At 10:45 am the all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 1,480.50 points to 194,907.23 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 1,323.83 points to 178,343.83, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index surged 1,288.80 points to close at 190,099.49 and the junior market index rose5.95 points to end at 2,404.92.
In trading Cable & Wireless had 185,639 units changing hands at 75 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 34,094 shares at $5.50, Radio Jamaica had 102,700 units changing hands at $1.35 and 138 Student Living Jamaica had 60,400 units trading at $5.
JSE climbs sharply in morning session
Police in covert activity on motorists
New leg of Highway 2000
The operations have been successful particularly in Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine, netting traffic tickets for driving offences including improper overtaking, exceeding the speed limit, and sometimes when motorists are stopped there are accompanying charges, such as defective vehicles or failure to wear seat belts. Since the start of the year, a total of 388,811 tickets have been issued on the island’s roads.
“Covert operations target certain areas where indiscipline and bad driving are rampant. We have done a number of operations and you never know where we might be next. Motorists found in breach will be dealt with,” warned Acting SSP Courtney Coubrie, Head of the Police Traffic Division.
The covert operations are done with police officers using unmarked vehicles, with a marked vehicle in close proximity to assist in apprehending offenders where necessary. “We frequent areas where there is a high level of indiscipline and lawlessness. In the past what usually happens is that the marked vehicle is easily seen from a distance as we are normally on long stretches of roads. If the officers tried to respond to those who commit a violation, on seeing the marked vehicles, motorists tend to divert in an attempt to evade the police,” explained DSP Errol Adams, Operations Officer, Police Traffic Division.
Another challenge is that on the highways, once a marked vehicle is in position to do speed checks, if a motorist realizes, there is the usual communication with the flashing of the headlights. However, in a covert operation, because the vehicle is unmarked, the police are able to detect numerous breaches before persons are aware of their presence.
TCL pushes JSE cross listed index up 290%
Trinidad Cement shares jumped sharply by 190 percent to close at $58.50 and pushed the Jamaica Stock Exchange Cross Listed Index by a massive 290 percent to 1,946.35 points up from 499.06 previously. The move also pushed the combined Index and the JSE market index to new record levels.
Trinidad Cement has not traded in Jamaica since May 25, 2015 when it closed at $15. The stock had 18,557 units trading in recording today’s trade and now brings the price in line with the price in Trinidad.
At the close of trading the All Jamaica Composite Index fell 62.68 points to end at a new closing high of 193,426.73 with the year to date gains at 16 percent. The JSE Market Index surged 2,964.27 points to finish at a new record closing high of 177,020.00, a new closing high and the JSE combined index leapt 2,637.80 points to end at a record closing high of 188,810.69 with a gain for the year to date of 19 percent.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 42 securities trading as the prices of 16 gained while 14 declined in the overall market, including 2 stocks rising and 8 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 6,296,810 units valued at $50,570,213 changed hands, compared to 7,868,310 units valued at $46,934,147 changing hands on Wednesday. The junior market accounted for 1,016,439 units changing hands, valued at $5,281,239 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 188,585 and 223,372 units month to date. On Wednesday, an average of 285,892 units traded and for the month to date, 258,159 units, in comparison the average for the October was 220,811 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 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita climbed 10 cents in trading 57,300 shares, to end at $5.10, Berger Paints traded 16,268 units at $5.60, Cable & Wireless gained 1 cent to close at 71 cents, with 71,618 units trading, Caribbean Cement rose $2 in exchanging 24,635 shares at $28. Trading in 1834 Investments resulted in a fall of 21 cents to close with 330,620 shares trading at $1.18, Grace Kennedy ended trading 25,163 units at $40.10. Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents and closed at $14.60 with 134,040 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers rose 12 cents and closed at $8.62 with 169,631 shares changing owners. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 240,343 shares and lost 11 cents to end at $5.50, JMMB Group closed trading with 71,611 shares to end at $13.69,
Mayberry Investments traded 850,736 shares to close at $3.66 after rising 1 cent, National Commercial Bank ended at $50 with 194,061 shares trading. 138 Student Living ordinary share, traded at $5 with 46,550 units changing hands, PAN JAM Investments traded 188,115 shares to end at $24, Sagicor Group had 427,445 shares changing hands and rose 48 cents to close at $25.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 282,800 units with the price rising 28 cents to $10.53. Scotia Group traded 48,250 shares to close at $31.56, after gaining 35 cents, Supreme Ventures lost 10 cents and closed at $4.70 with 52,984 shares changing hands, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 1 cent and traded at $1.07 with 1,956,000 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share rose 1 cent and closed at $2.11 with 50,000 units changing hands.
Trading volume rebounds on TTSE
Trading levels rebounded strongly on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday with 513,946 shares changing hands with a value of $9,953,673, in contrast to Wednesday’s volume of 31,204 with a value of $2,125,247.
At the close of trading, 17 securities changed hands, 2 advanced, 7 declined and 8 ended unchanged.
The Composite Index gained 0.47 points to 1,191.45 points, the All T & T Index closed 0.24 points lower to 1,804.60 points, down 7.39 percent year to date. The Cross Listed Index advanced 0.16 points to 77.31 points with year to date gains of 56.15 percent.
IC bid-offer Indicator |The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Agostini’s gained 11 cents to close at $17.51 with 300,618 shares changing hands with a value of $5,260,821 on strong fourth quarter results and Berger Paints gained one cent to close at a 52 weeks high of $4.06 with 500 shares changing hands.
< Strong> Losses|Ansa McAL lost 6 cents to close at $61.94 with 3,242 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings lost 5 cents with 5,524 shares changing hands to close at $12.90, JMMB Group lost 1 cent and closed at 90 cents with 5,650 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings lost 2 cents to close at $50.97 with 3,965 shares changing hands. Scotiabank closed at $58.70, down 2 cents with 184 shares changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 4 cents to close at $22.50 with 10,200 shares changing hands and Unilever Caribbean lost 2 cents to close at $59.85 with 1,404 shares changing hands.
Firm Trades | Clico Investment closed at $22.60 with 100,500 shares changing hands with a value of $2,270,305, First Caribbean International Bank closed at $8.50 with 2,000 shares changing hands, National Commercial Bank closed at $2.90 with 50,000 shares changing hands. National Enterprises closed at $10.60 with 11,817 shares changing hands, Point Lisas closed at $3.70 with 750 shares changing hands. Prestige Holdings closed at $11 with 12 shares changing hands, Sagicor Financial closed at $7.50 with 7,580 shares changing hands and West Indian Tobacco closed at $127 with 10,000 shares changing hands valued at $1,270,000.
FX trading volume drops – Thursday
The Jamaican dollar lost ground slightly against the US dollars and the British pound and rose in value versus the euro and Canadian dollars in foreign exchange trading on Thursday. Dealers bought the equivalent of US$23,131,959 of all currencies and sold US$18,138,969, compared to US$42,647,035 purchased and US$37,480,324 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$19,995,977 compared to US$37,980,242 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 34 cents to close at $128.15. A total of US$17,183,431 was sold versus US$32,510,365 on Wednesday, with the selling rate rising 2 cents to end at $129.07. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $3.08 to $92.30, with dealers buying C$985,313 and selling C$479,106 at an average rate that fell $1.55 to $95.40. The average rate for buying the British Pound rose by 88 cents to $157.62 for the purchase of £1,885,017 while £377,061 was sold with a gain of 11 cents to end at $160.78.
At the end of trading on Thursday, dealers sold €121,036 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a fall of 76 cents to $137.15, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €100,102 of the European common currency at $130.54 after dropping $5.11. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$5,821 being bought and selling of US$3,147.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded currencies, in the foreign exchange market on Thursday, include a jump in the lowest selling rate for the US dollar by $19.96, to $124. A fall of $2.90 in the highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar to $96.10, while the highest selling rate slipped by $1.19 to $99.25. The highest buying rate for the British Pound declined by $1 to $161, the lowest buying rate fell $1.09 to $129.07, while the lowest selling rate fell $1.50 to $154.50. The highest buying rate for the Euro fell $2.80 to $134.20, the highest selling rate gained $3.10 to $143.10 and the lowest selling rate fell by 90 cents to $131.90.
Juniors fall with 2 stocks rising – Thursday
The junior market index dropped 10.82 points to end at 2,398.97 on Thursday as the prices of 2 stocks rose and 8 declined with 4 securities trading, compared with 14 on Wednesday. The decline left the gain for the junior market index for the year to date to 34 percent.
The volume of stocks traded declining on Thursday by 15 percent from Wednesday’s level and ending with 1,016,439 units changing hands, valued at $5,281,239, up 26 percent from $7,108,043 on Wednesday.
Market activities ended with 6 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ending with lower offers.
An average of 72,603 units with an average value of $377,231 traded, compared to 133,184 units with an average value of $507,717 on the preceding trading day. 
The average for the month to date is 114,221 units for an average of $648,781 compared to 116,669 units valued at $664,754 on Wednesday and 129,138 units with an average value of $709,705 for October.
In trading activity, Access Financial Services traded 2,510 units to close at $20.50, Cargo Handlers rose 50 cents and closed with 3,000 units changing hands to close at $12.50, Caribbean Producers lost 5 cents in trading 11,500 units at $3.45, Derrimon Trading lost 12 cents in trading 42,482 shares to close at $4.88, General Accident fell by 30 cents and closed trading with 125,025 units at $2.85, Honey Bun with 222,321 shares changing hands lost 3 cents and closed at $5.60.
Iron Rock Insurance traded 11,556 shares to end at $3, Jamaican Teas traded 6,384 shares to close at $3.99, with a decline of 1 cent. Jetcon Corporation gave up 5 cents and closed with 17,188 units changing hands at $5, Knutsford Express traded 1,000 units at $20, Lasco Distributors fell by 1 cent with 271,146 shares changing hands, to close at $6.60, Lasco Financial ended with 14,900 shares changing hands at $3.15. Lasco Manufacturing lost 10 cents and closed at $4.70 with 272,227 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading gain 10 cents with 14,600 units changing hands to close at $3.10.
16 stocks fall 7 rise in early JSE trading
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
resulted in the main market and junior market falling as declining stocks beat out advancing on a 2 to 1 ratio in early Thursday morning activity.
A total of 33 securities traded of which 7 advanced and 16 fell, resulting in a volume of 3,513,020 shares changing hands carrying a value of a $22,530,339 compared with 627,417 shares changing hands with a value of $2,528,726 on Wednesday at 10.45 AM. The average number of shares traded, amount to 106,455 units versus 26,142 units on Wednesday.
At 11:30 am the all Jamaica Composite Index fell 362.17 points to 193,127.24, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index lost 323.84 points to 173,731.89, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index declined by 418.09 points to close at 185,754.80 and the junior market index fell 11.46 points to end at 2,398.33.
Jamaican$ gains vs. US$ – Wednesday
The Jamaican dollar gained moderately in foreign exchange trading on Wednesday against the United States but fell against the other three major currencies. Dealers bought the equivalent of US$42,647,035 of all currencies and sold US$37,480,324, compared to US$38,545,626 purchased and US$30,346,908 sold on Tuesday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$37,980,242 compared to US$33,256,940 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar climbed 13 cents to close at $128.49. A total of US$32,510,365 was sold versus US$26,749,165 on Tuesday, with the selling rate falling 4 cents to end at $129.05. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 14 cents to $95.38, with dealers buying C$4,351,922 and selling 
C$4,660,973 at an average rate that climbed 61 cents to $96.95. The average rate for buying the British Pound fell $1.21 to $156.74 for the purchase of £756,557 while £280,437 was sold with a gain of 80 cents to end at $160.67.
At the end of trading on Wednesday, dealers sold €941,766 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a rise of 39 cents to $137.91, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €472,871 of the European common currency at $135.65 after rising $2.24. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$14,312 being bought and selling of US$112,861.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded currencies in the foreign exchange market on Wednesday, include a rise in the highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar of $2.20 to $99. The highest buying rate for the British Pound climbed $1 to $162, the highest selling rate lost $1.02 to $167.46, while the lowest selling rate climbed $3.50 to $156. The highest buying rate for the Euro fell $1.10 to $137, the highest selling rate dropped $2.31 to $140 and the lowest selling rate rose by 80 cents to $132.80.
Trading activity drops on TTSE – Wednesday
Trading levels declined sharply on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday in contrast to much more robust activity on Tuesday when 13 securities traded. At the close, 8 securities changed hands, 2 advanced, 1 declined and 5 traded unchanged.
Trading activity closed with 31,204 shares changing hands with a value of $2,125,247, in contrast to Monday’s volume of 1,012,187 with a value of $20,846,037.
The Composite Index gained 0.16 points to 1,190.98 points, the All T & T Index closed 0.32 points higher to 1,804.84 points, but down 7.37 percent year to date. The Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 77.15 points with year to date gains of 55.83 percent.
IC bid-offer Indicator |The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
Gains| First Citizens gained 1 cent to close at $33.02 with 1,077 shares changing hands and National Enterprises advanced 5 cents to close at $10.60 and 
Losses|Guardian Holdings lost 5 cents with 1,125 shares changing hands to close at $12.95.
Firm Trades| First Caribbean International Bank closed at $8.50 with 500 shares changing hands, Guardian Media closed at $19 with 7,310 shares changing hands, Scotiabank closed at $58.72, with 5,221 shares changing hands with a value of $306,609. Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $22.54, with 376 shares changing hands and West Indian Tobacco closed at $126.80 with 12,492 shares changing hands valued at $1,584,017.
4th straight daily record close for JSE
Jamaica Producers traded 2.9 m shares on Wednesday.
At the close of trading the All Jamaica Composite Index climbed 440.60 points to end at a new closing high of 193,489.41 with the year to date gains at 16 percent. The JSE Market Index rose 393.98 points to finish at a new record closing high of 174,055.73, a new closing high and the JSE combined index gained 387.05 points to end at a closing record high of 186,172.89 with a gain for the year to date of 18 percent.
At the close with 7,868,310 units valued at $46,934,147 changed hands, compared to 7,367,774 units valued at $196,760,012 changing hands on Tuesday. The junior market accounted for 1,864,578 units trading valued at $7,108,043 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 285,892 and 258,159 units month to date. On Tuesday, an average of 376,430 units traded and for the month to date, 230,425 units, in comparison the average for the October was 220,811 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 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita climbed 5 cents in trading 60,759 shares, to end at $5 after trading most, at $5.20, Cable & Wireless lost 8 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 70 cents, with 197,375 units trading, Caribbean Cement lost $1 in exchanging 3,683 shares at $26. Trading in 1834 Investments resulted in a rise of 19 cents to close with 50,000 shares trading at $1.39, Grace Kennedy gained 4 cents and ended trading 6,129 units at $40.10. Jamaica Broilers lost 19 cents and closed at $14.80 with 5,353 shares changing hands,
Jamaica Producers rose 30 cents and closed at $8.50 with 2,867,200 shares changing owners. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 78,597 shares and lost 8 cents at $5.61, JMMB Group closed trading with 42,691 shares to end with a rise of 4 cents at $13.69, Mayberry Investments traded 2,303,629 shares to close at $3.65 after falling 25 cents, National Commercial Bank gained 80 cents to end at $50 with 16,808 shares trading. Radio Jamaica traded 70,856 shares at $1.30, Sagicor Group had 144,144 shares changing hands and rose 2 cents to close at $25.02, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 20,823 units and ended at 18.56 US cents and JMMB Group 7.2% preference share traded at $1.08 with 112,697 units changing hands.
