Monday, 22nd July 2013 | Jamaica’s central bank signaled to the forex market today “not so fast” in the movement of the Jamaican dollar against its main intervention currency, the US dollar. Our source indicates that the central bank did selective selling to some financial institutions, as such, not all dealers got the central bank’s funds. We were unable to get the amount that BOJ sold to the system but data of past trading Mondays suggest that the figure could be around US$15-20 million.

Since the start of July the amounts bought on Mondays give some indication of the likely amount sold into the system. The July purchases are as follows: Monday July 1 a little more than US$38 million; Monday July 8 nearly US$39 million and Monday July 15 the amount was less at US$30.5 million. In today’s trading, purchases amounted to US$60.4 while selling took place for $57.6 million as the US dollar moved up 19 cents for the buying rate to close at $101.44 and the selling rate slipped back by 19 cents to close at $101.81.

The central bank’s intervention may have arisen from last week’s trading in which US dollars purchased exceeded the amount sold by nearly US$10 million, while the rate kept on slipping. This would have sent a signal that traders may be building up a long position in the currency, even as the actual sale of US dollars was US$4.5 million more than the amount purchased in the week ending July 12th, which was less than the net position last week. These figures are for the US dollar currency alone and ignores surpluses of Pounds and Canadian Dollars that were purchased and may have been converted to US dollars, the currency in greatest demand.

There was buying of C$1.065 million at an average rate of $95.95 at 24 cents less than on Friday but the average selling rate rose to $98.38, up by 33 cents as C$727,200 was sold. The Pound lost value but moderately, on both ends, to close at $152.76 buying and $155.68 selling as dealers bought £2 million and sold just £460,000.

Highest & lowest rates | Except for the highest buying rate for the US dollar which just barely inched up, there were no other changes in the rates for US currency. The Canadian dollar saw dealers spending $2.10 more when buying at the highest levels and 25 cents more at the lowest buying rate. For the sell side, the highest rate put on 32 cents and the lowest 25 cents. The Pound was bought at $2.80 more for the highest buying rate and 66 cents more on the lowest rate for selling. $3.47 was added to the highest rate and just 25 cents on the lowest rate.

Friday, 19th July 2013 | In Friday’s forex trading the Pound recovered just about all that it lost on Thursday for the lowest selling rate as it put on $44.70 to close at $149.70 but the highest selling rate slipped by $2.93 to $158.53. The highest and lowest buy rates moved up by 55 cents and 67 cents respectively. The British Pound climbed 13 cents to $152.95 buying and the average selling rate moved up by 72 cents to $155.79.

The average rates moved up for the buying and selling of the US dollar by 14 cents and 17 cents respectively as the buying rate closed at $101.24 and the selling rate to $101.995. The buying rate for the Canadian dollar moved up by 55 cents to $96.19 but the selling rate declined by 17 cents to $98.06.

There was not much change to the highest and lowest rates for the US dollar with only the highest buying rate changing with a 5 cent decline to $102.50. The Canadian dollar climbed 9 cents and 8 cents respectively for the highest buying and lowest buying rates lost 5 cents in the highest selling rate and moved up 80 cents for the lowest selling rate which closed at $94.80.

A total of US$32.19 million was purchased and US$31.2 million sold for all currencies traded. US dollar buying was US$2 million more than the amount sold but there was more selling of Pound Sterling than purchases, the first this has happened for some time.

Thursday, 18th July 2013 | While the average buying and selling rates have been fluctuating around the same levels for some time the volatility in the highest and lowest rates have been much different.

In Thursday’s trading, while the Pound selling rate moved up by 49 cents over Wednesday average traded rate and the average buying rate moved up 90 cents, the lowest selling rate fell precipitously by $44.80 to $105. The highest buying rate on the other hand, fell 90 cents with little change to the lowest buying rate but the highest selling rate moved up $3.46 to $161.46.

The lowest selling rate for the US dollar has been moving between $83 and $100 for some time but in today’s trade it fell back by $14.50 closing at $83.50. There was virtually no change in the highest buying and selling rate as well as the highest buying rate for the US dollar. In fact the average rates for the US dollar are virtually exactly where they were on Wednesday. The various rates for the Canadian dollar were up and down at the end of the day. By day’s end US$24.3 million was purchased just a bit less than the US$25.2 million.

Wednesday, 17th July 2013 | Rates for buying and selling rates for the US dollar hardly changed on Wednesday as dealers bought US$22.9 million and sold US$23.6 million on a day when the overall purchases of all foreign currencies amounted to US$25.1 million and selling amounted to US$ 25.33 million. The highest and lowest rates for the US dollar remained fairly stable with no changes to the highest selling rate and the lowest buying rate.

The Jamaican dollar closed at a selling rate of $101.81 to the US dollar and authorised dealers purchased the US dollar for 101.07.

The Canadian dollar closed at a selling rate of $97.98 some 28 cents less than on Tuesday. Authorised dealers purchased the Maple leaf currency for $95.90, up 15 cents for the day. The Pound sterling closed at a selling rate of $154.58 to a pound, slipping 39 cents while buying took place by authorised dealers at $151.92, down $1.35 at the end of trading.

Highest rates traded in buying currencies were for the US dollar $102.50, for the Canadian $98.70 and for the Pound sterling $156 while the lowest buying rates were the US dollar $83.50, for the Canadian $78.60 and the Pound sterling $124.29.

Highest rates traded in selling the currencies were for the US dollar $107 no change from the day before, Canadian $101.33 down 16 cents, Pound sterling $158 a decline of $2.23 and the lowest selling rates were the US dollar $98 up 20 cents, Canadian $94.70 an increase of $1.20 and the Pound sterling $ 149.80 up 60 cents.

Tuesday, 16th July 2013 | The British Pound made a big move on Tuesday as it closed up by $2.74 on average when dealers bought the currency, pushing the buying rate at the end of trading to $153.27. The selling rate climbed by $1.30 to close the day at $154.97. Authorised dealers bought £2.88 million and sold just £1.47 million. The Pound was bought as high as$156.72 which was $2.82 higher than on Monday and as low as $126.33 or $2 less than Monday’s low. Selling of the British currency took place as high as $160.23, just 6 cents less than Monday and as low as $149.20, the same as Monday. The major rate change for the Pound relates to an increase in the value of the Pound against the US dollar on Tuesday and could rise further on Wednesday as the published minutes coming out of the UK central bank’s meeting to discuss monetary policy helped pushed the British pound up against major currencies.

There was an 8 cent upward movement on both the average buying and selling rates for the US dollar. The highest and lowest buying rate for the US currency hardly changed while the highest selling rate slipped by 21 cents and the lowest climbed back by $14.30 to $97.80.  The amount of US dollar purchased amounted to US$25.37 million and US$21.98 million was sold.

The Canadian dollar closed at a selling rate of $98.26 down 36 cents from Monday and authorised dealers purchased the Canadian dollar for $95.75, which is 39 cents more than on Monday. The highest rate was $98.80, the same rate as the previous trade and lowest buying rate $78.73, just a 5 cent increase. Both the highest and lowest selling rates declined with the lowest down $1.20 to $93.50.

The total amount of currency traded was US$31.6 million while $26.5 million was sold.

Monday, 15th July 2013 | In today’s forex trading, the Jamaican dollar closed at a selling rate of $101.71 to the US dollar, down 9 cents and authorised dealers purchased the US dollar for $100.99, an increase of 22 cents. The Canadian dollar closed at a selling rate of $98.62, an increase of 47 cents. Authorised dealers purchased the Canadian dollar for $95.37, $1.21 less than on Friday. The Pound sterling closed at a selling rate of J$153.67 up 2 cents, while buying took place by authorised dealers at J$150.53 for a decline of 83 cents.

The total amount of currency bought was US$34.1 million while $29.74 million was sold. While there was US$5.4 million more US dollars purchased than sold, more Canadian dollars sold than was purchased as sales jumped to C$2.79 million versus only C$1.34 million bought.

There was little change in the highest and lowest rates for US dollar but the rate climbed by 50 cents for the highest buying rate which ended at $98.80 and 66 cents for the lowest buying rate which closed at $78.68. The highest selling rate for the Canadian dollar moved up by $1.02 in closing at $101.60 and the lowest selling rate rose by $1.20 to $94.70.

Highest rates traded in Pound sterling was $153.90 buying reflecting a 60 cents fall, while the buying rate declined by just 5 cent. The lowest selling rate climbed $1.40 to $149.20 and highest selling rates increased by $1.39 to $160.29.

Friday, 12th July 2013 | Buying of forex on Friday was greater than amounts sold by $3.5 million as $27 million in US dollar equivalents was purchased by authorised dealers, US$2.7 million more than on Thursday. The equivalent of US$23.5 million was sold to end users, slightly more than the US$23.3 million sold on Thursday. The amount of US dollar currency purchased, was US$22.4 million while US$21.5 million was sold. There was moderately more Canadian dollars and a lot more Pound Sterling purchased than sold. In fact £1.87 million was purchased and only £349,000 was sold.

The selling rate for the US dollar inched up 3 cents to close at $101.80. At the same time the buying rate edged up by 1 cent, closing at $100.97. The highest buying rate for the US dollar fell by 80 cents to close at $102.40. There was no change in the highest selling rate nor the lowest buying rate, but the lowest selling rate decreased by $15.55, the same as the increase the day before and fell back to $83.50.

The buying rate of the Canadian moved up by 9 cents to $96.57 and the selling rate moved up by 55 cents closing at $98.15. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar climbed by 15 cents to close at $98.30 and the highest selling rate remained as it was on Thursday. The lowest buying rate moved up by 8 cents to $78.02 and the lowest selling rate move up by 10 cents to close at $93.50.

The buying rate of the Pound fell by 37 cents on the day to $151.36 and the selling rate rose by 7 cents to close at $151.66. The highest buying rate for the British Pound increased by 50 cents to close at $154.50. The lowest buying rate increased by $1.46 to $124.38, the highest selling rate moved up by 43 cents to $158.90 and the lowest selling rates increased by $1.00 to $147.80.

July and August are months for increased inflows as the number of tourists into the country rise well above the numbers for May and June. The likely increased inflows could impact the rates.

Thursday, 11th July 2013 |  There was $24.3 million in US dollar equivalent purchased by authorised dealers on Thursday and they sold the equivalent of US$23.3 million to end users, well down on the US$31.6 million sold on Wednesday. The amount of US dollar currency purchased was US$20.2 million and US$19.6 million was sold. There was moderately more Canadian dollars and Pound Sterling purchased than sold.

The selling rate for the US dollar fell 2 cents from to close at $101.77. At the same time the buying rate edged down by 5 cents, closing at $100.95. The highest buying rate for the US dollar climbed by $1 to close at $103.20. There was no change in the highest selling rate nor the lowest buying rate, but the lowest selling rate increased by $15.55 to $99.05.

The US dollar fell against most currencies in light of the Fed in the USA indicating that they intent to keep interest rates low until possibly 2015. The change in value affected the conversion rates of the Jamaican currency against the Pound and the Canadian dollar in Thursday’s trading.

Buying of the Canadian jumped $2.04 to $96.48 and the selling rate moved up by 59 cents while closing at $97.59. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar climbed by 65 cents to close at $98.15 and the highest selling rate moved up 11 cents. The lowest buying rate remained the same as for Wednesday at $77.94 and the lowest selling rates move up by 40 cents to close at $93.40.

The buying rate of the Pound went up by $1.23 on the day to $151.73 and the selling rate rose by $1.69 cents to close at $151.89. The highest buying rate for the British Pound increased by $1.60 to close at $154, the lowest buying rate increased by 41 cents to $122.92. The highest selling rate moved down by $3.69 to $158.47 and the lowest selling rates decreased by $1.70 to $146.80.

Wednesday 10th July 2013 | There was $24.7 million in US dollar equivalent purchased by authorised dealers on Wednesday and they sold the equivalent of US$31.58 million to end users. The amount of US dollar currency purchased was less than the amount sold by US$7.2 million as US$22 million was purchased and US$29.3 million sold. There was moderately more Canadian dollars and Pound Sterling purchased than sold.

The selling rate for the US dollar fell 10 cents from Tuesday’s rate to close at $101.80, at the same time the buying rate edged up by 5 cents, closing at $101.00. The highest buying rate for the US dollar fell by $1 to close at $102.20. There was no change in the highest selling rate, while the lowest buying rate increased by 17 cents and the lowest selling rate increased by 83 cents to $83.50.

Buying of the Canadian went down by 47 cents to $94.45 and the selling rate fell by 15 cents while closing at $97.00. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar climbed by $1.05 to close at $97.50 and the highest selling rate moved up 16 cents. The lowest buying rate remained the same as for Tuesday at $93.

The buying rate of the Pound went down by 31 cents on the day to $150.50 and the selling rose by 53 cents to close at $151.89. The highest buying rate for the British Pound fell $1.60 to close at $152.40. The highest selling rate moved down by $3.85 to $154.79 and the lowest selling rates increased by 95 cents to $148.50.

Tuesday, 9th July 2013 | There was $30.17 million in US dollar equivalents purchased by authorised dealers on Tuesday and they sold the equivalent of US$33 million to end users. The amount of US dollar currency purchased was less than the amount sold by US$3.5 million as only US$26.11 million was purchased.

The selling rate for the US dollar climbed 18 cents on Tuesday to close at $101.90. At the same time the buying rate slipped back by 10 cents closing at $101.95, yet the highest buying rate for the US dollar climbed by 40 cents to close at 103.20 and the highest selling rate moved up by 21 cents but there were no changes to the lowest buying and selling rates.

Buying of the Canadian went up by 25 cents to $94.92 and the selling climbed 93 cents while closing at $97.15. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar climbed by a mere 5 cents to close at $96.45 and the highest selling rate moved up down by 22 cents and the lowest buying rate moved up by $1.

Buying of the Pound went up by $1.42 to $150.81 and the selling fell by $1.07 closing at $151.36. The highest buying rate for the British Pound fell 70 cents to close at $154 and the highest selling rate moved down by $1.27 to $158.64 and the lowest selling rates increased by 55 cents to $147.55.