The volumes and value of stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange picked up a bit on Friday with 1,918,263 units valued at $33,610,338, up from $15,554,439, changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks trading in all market segments, the junior market accounted for 509,115 units, valued at $9,086,931.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index had a sizable gain of 2,004.55 points to end at 159,309.36. The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 2,241.78 points to close at 176,997.90 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,666.47 points, to end at 170,692.00 as the junior market gained strongly, thus negating some of the main market fall.
At the close of the market prices of 26 securities gained out of a total of 41 that traded, with 10 declining in the overall market, including 10 stocks rising and 2 falling, in the junior market. Three junior market stocks and main market, Kingston Wharves to close trading at 52 weeks’ highs with Kingston Wharves closed with 2,707 shares and gained 81 cents to end at $17.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paint closed with a gain of 25 cents to trade at $5.25 with 6,400 units changing hands, Cable & Wireless traded 160,508 shares and closed unchanged at $1.01, Caribbean Cement traded 10,500 shares and gained 1 cent to close at $26.21, Carreras gained 45 cents, while trading 8,730 shares to end at $66.45. Trading in 1834 Investments resulted in 82,623 shares changing hands, with a gain of 3 cents to end at $1.29, Grace Kennedy added 10 cents to end at $43.50 with 143,736 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers had 352,955 shares changing hands, to end with a loss of 5 cents at $14.60. Jamaica Producers fell 15 cents to end at $8.35 with 25,000 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 25 cents with 1,000 units changing hands to close at $21.25,
National Commercial Bank had 4,505 units changing hands to close at $40. Pan Jamaican Investments gained 39 cents to close at $24.99, after trading only 3,505 shares, Radio Jamaica lost 14 cents in trading 4,218 shares, to end at $1.56, Sagicor Group jumped $1 while 377,750 shares changed hands, at $22, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 500 shares and gained 20 cents, to close at $10. Scotia Group gained 42 cents to close at $29.50 with 4,972 shares changing hands, Scotia Investments had 36,320 units changing hands at $25.50 for a rise of 50 cents, Seprod traded 13,078 shares and gained 50 cents to close at $20, Proven Investments traded 48,695 ordinary shares at 20 US cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 97,000 units to close at $2.10.
Eppley jumps by $85 on Friday
Eppley jumped $85 to close at $735
The stocks trading at new highs are, Cargo Handlers climbing 98 cents to $76.01 with 3,470 shares changing hands, Eppley closing at $735 with 9,000 units traded and Knutsford Express Services jumping $1.75 to close at $25 as just 190 units of the company’s shares traded.
The standoff between buyers and sellers as the market continues to consolidate with volumes being offered slowly
falling remains in place at the market’s close leaving a number of stocks short on supply to meet any meaningful demand. Trading ended with 5 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 ending with lower offers.At the close, CAC 2000 gained 40 cents in trading 81,096 shares, to end at $6.40, Caribbean Cream closed with 55,718 shares changing hands at $7, Caribbean Flavours traded 2,791 units to end at $7, Caribbean Producers rose 15 cents in trading 91,336 units at $3.55, Dolphin Cove ended at $15.61 with 2,000 shares trading, to gain 11 cents.
Honey Bun rose 45 cents with 9,140 shares changing hands, to close at $5.55, Iron Rock with 3,697 units changing hands, ended at $3.30, KLE Group ended at $1.40 with 86,818 shares changing hands after falling by 3 cents. Lasco Distributors ended with 15,875 shares changing hands at $7, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.55 with 111,727 shares trading, after falling 35 cents. Medical Disposables ended with a rise of 3 cents as 28,207 shares changed hands at $3.09, Sweet River Abattoir with 6,000 units trading rose 1 cent to end at $3.85 and Derrimon Trading preference share gained 12 cents ended with 2,050 units changing hands to close at $2.20.
JSE majors in big drop on Thursday
The volumes and value of stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell even lower on Thursday, than on Wednesday, with only 1,511,668 units valued at $15,554,439, down from $23,078,589 changing hands on Wednesday. Of the stocks trading in all market segments, the junior market accounted for 318,651 units, valued at $1,661,887.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index suffered a sizable fall of 1,122.82 points to end at 157,304.81. The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 1,255.70 points to close at 174,756.12 and the JSE combined index had a fall of 502.71 points, to end at 169,025.53 as the junior market gained strongly, thus negating some of the main market fall.
At the close of the market prices of 12 securities gained out of a total of 26 that traded, with 10 declining in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 1 falling, in the junior market. Kingston Wharves traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $17.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed with a gain of 20 cents to trade at $3 with 7,060 units changing hands, Cable & Wireless traded 757,633 shares and closed at $1.01 after falling by 6 cents, Carreras lost 45 cents, while trading just 2,000 shares to end at $66. Grace Kennedy added 90 cents to end at $43.40 with 146,082 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers had 3.404 shares changing hands, to end with a gain of 5 cents at $14.65. 
Jamaica Stock Exchange had 1,300 units changing hands to close at $21.50, National Commercial Bank had 35,206 units changing hands but lost 79 cents to close at $40. Pan Jamaican Investments lost 40 cents to close at $24.60, after trading only 125 shares, Radio Jamaica rose 15 cents in trading 15,601 shares, to end at $1.70, Sagicor Group lost 8 cents while 18,118 shares changed hands, at $21, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 12,672 shares and gained 30 cents, to close at $9.80. Scotia Group dropped 98 cents to close at $29.08 with 139,902 shares changing hands, Scotia Investments had 20,000 units changing hands at $25 for a fall of $1, Supreme Ventures lost 5 cents while 5,000 shares changed hands at $4.75 and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 21,514 units and rose 7 cents to close at $1.07.
More inflows in Ja. FX market
As authorized dealers bought another $7.3 million more than they sold on Thursday bringing the net inflows since the end of June, to US$228 million. In Thursday’s trading, dealers bought US$42,116,500 and sold US$34,757,990 compared to US$48,991,761 purchased and US$30,732,595 sold on Wednesday, of all currencies.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$38,450,163 compared to US$46,332,966 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar was unchanged at $126.82. A total of US$32,644,249 was sold versus US$28,655,368 on Wednesday, with the selling rate rising 6 cents to end at $127.31.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 12 cents to at $95.61, with dealers buying C$976,528 and selling C$516,412 at an average rate that fell 86 cents to $97.96. The average rate for buying the British Pound dropped 74 cents to $164.34 for the purchase of £2,007,388, while £1,030,002 was sold with the rate climbing $1.19 to end at $168.27.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for the Euro, fell 83 cents to close at J$143.57 from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.72 for a rise of $1.49 from the rate on Wednesday. The US dollar equivalent of other 
currencies traded amounts to US$328,758 being bought, while US$354,975, was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates, for the Jamaican dollar in the foreign exchange market on Thursday, include a jump of $3.24 in the highest selling rate for the US dollar to $137.54, a decline of $1.15 in the highest buying rate of Canadian Dollar to close at $99.50. Trading in the British Pound resulted in a rise of $1.96 in the highest selling rate to $176.58 and a fall of $1.50 in the lowest selling rate to close of $161.
Juniors recover lost ground – Thursday
The junior market closed on Thursday with just 7 securities trading, leading the junior market index, to close with a gain of 52.50 points at 2,252.77, thus reversing almost all of the fall of the previous two days. At the end, 318,651 units, valued at $1,661,887 traded.
While the number of units trading were low, there appears a stand off between buyers and sellers as the market continues to consolidate with volumes being offered slowly falling, leaving a number of stocks short on supply to meet any meaningful demand. Trading ended with 5 stocks that rose while only 1 declined as 7 closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $1.45 in trading 500 shares, to end at $17.50, Honey Bun rose 2 cents with 44,900 shares changing hands, to close at $5.10, Jetcon Corporation rose by 30 cents with 35,000 units changing hands to end at $3.15. Lasco Distributors ended with 81,400 shares changing hands at $7, Lasco Financial gained 25 cents in trading 13,351 units to close at $3.50, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.90 with 139,500 shares trading, after rising 40 cents and Medical Disposables ended with a loss of 9 cents as 4,000 shares changed hands at $3.06.
TTSE trades mostly steady – Thursday
Trading activity on the Trinidad and Tobago stock market continued with relatively low volumes at the close on Thursday. A total of 11 securities changed hands, resulting in 126,060 shares valued at just $1,731,714 traded, 1 stocks rose, 2 declined and 8 remained unchanged, leading to declines in two of the market’s indices.
The Composite Index declined by 0.04 points to close at 1,158.49, the All T&T Index fell 0.07 points to close at 1,820.31 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 66.33.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Prestige Holdings gained 10 cents with 26,200 shares changing hands at $10.90.
Losses| Massy Holdings ended with a I cent loss as 200 shares changed hands at $54.94 and Point Lisas traded just 60 units but fell 9 cents to $3.51.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund ended at $22.66 with 16,983 shares valued at $384,667 trading, First Citizens traded 790 units at $35, Guardian Holdings with 50,000 shares valued of $678,500 changing hands and ended at $13.57, National Enterprises closed with 27,666 shares changing hands at $10.50. National Flour ended with 2,011 shares changing hands at $2.32, One Caribbean Media ended with 50 shares changing hands to close at $20.80, Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 100 shares changing hands at $6.90 and Tobago Trinidad and NGL with 2,000 shares changing hands to close at $23.76.
FX market numbers not adding up
BOJ sold US dollars into the system on Monday
While these inflows suggest that banks have more than enough foreign exchange to fund the market, reports are that the Central bank sold US$55 million to the market last week. The sale does not square with the net inflows coming in and residing with the banking system. Data from the BOJ indicates that the net inflows are mostly accounted for by the country’s two largest banks but not confined to them alone. The evidence seeping through, is that Bank of Jamaica who mandated the dealers to surrender 25 percent of the daily take to the central bank must be buying most of not all of the surplus inflows.
Analysis of the Central Bank’s balance sheet, shows a US$250 million build up in the foreign exchange reserves of between July 27th and August 10th. The amount is more than the net inflows into the system but with the compulsory surrender it is quite conceivable that just about all of the build-up of the country’s reserves, is from the local financial system.In Wednesday’s trading, dealers bought US$48,991,761 and sold US$30,732,595 compared to US$42,680,027 purchased and US$38,124,870 sold on Tuesday, of all currencies.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$46,332,966 compared to US$39,305,076 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 6 cents to $126.82. A total of US$28,655,368 was sold versus US$36,480,180 on Tuesday, with the selling rate rising 1 cent to end at $127.25. The Canadian dollar buying rate lost $1.28 to at $94.49, with dealers buying C$962,750 and selling C$937,055 at an average rate that rose 6 cents to $98.82. The average rate for buying the British Pound climbed $1.56 to $165.08 for the purchase of £1,270,480, while £821,678 was sold with the rate falling 15 cents to end at $167.08.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for the Euro, fell 86 cents to close at J$144.40 from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$280,192 being bought, while US$270,648 was sold.Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates, for the Jamaican dollar in the foreign exchange market on Wednesday, include a drop of $6.70 in the highest selling rate for the US dollar to $134.30, a decline of 85 cents in the highest buying rate of Canadian Dollar to close at $100.65. Trading in the British Pound resulted in a fall of $2.50 in the highest buying rate to $169, a fall of $5.38 in the highest selling rate to end at $174.62, while the lowest selling rate gained by $2.50 to close of $162.50.
Falling JSE stocks beat advancers – Wednesday
Kingston Wharves traded at a new intraday high of $17 on Wednesday.
At the close of the market prices of 8 securities gained out of a total of 38 that traded, with 18 declining in the overall market, including 4 stocks rising and 7 falling, in the junior market. Kingston Wharves traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $17.
Trading closed with 7,500,411 units valued at $23,078,589 changing hands, in all market segments.
The junior market accounted for 1,886,162 units, valued at $8,593,938 of all trades.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded 72,300 shares and closed at $1.07 after rising by 3 cents, Caribbean Cement traded just 3,000 shares and fell 48 cents to close at $26.20, Carreras lost 5 cents, while trading just 19,533 shares to end at $66.45. The price of 1834 Investments fell 5 cents to close at $1.26, in trading 534,918 shares, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to end at $42.50 with 29,745 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers had 44,821 shares changing hands, to end at $14.60. Jamaica Stock Exchange had 16,950 units changing hands to close at $21.50, JMMB Group traded only 2,426 units to end with a loss of 29 cents at $9.51,
National Commercial Bank had 20,749 units changing hands and climbed 29 cents to close at $40.79. Pan Jamaican Investments lost 15 cents to close at $25, after trading 30,249 shares, Radio Jamaica traded 254,020 shares, to end at $1.55, Sagicor Group lost 72 cents while only 2,900 shares changed hands, at $21.08, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 7,328 shares and fell 50 cents, to close at $9.50. Scotia Group traded unchanged at $30.06 with 41,854 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures lost 10 cents while 527,552 shares changed hands at $4.80 and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 4 million units but fell 1 cent to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.01.
Juniors down again on Wednesday
Cargo Handlers trade at a new high of $76.10 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with 4 stocks that rose while 7 declined as 7 closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 traded 10,614 shares, to end at $6, Caribbean Cream closed with 126,756 units changing hands and fell 5 cents, to $7,
Cargo Handlers traded 7,518 shares but lost just 1 cent in closing at $75.03, after trading earlier at an intraday high of $76.10. Caribbean Flavours traded 2,791 units to end at $7. Caribbean Producers rose 9 cents in trading 4,885 units at $3.40, Consolidated Bakeries rose 5 cents with 1,353 units changing hands, to end at $2.40, Derrimon Trading traded 7,050 units to close at $3.05. Honey Bun had 44,404 shares changing hands, to close at $5.08, Iron Rock Insurance traded 24,393 units to close at $3.30, Jamaican Teas traded 13,508 units to close at $3.40, 
Jetcon Corporation fell by 15 cents with 15,098 units to end at $2.85. KLE Group gained 3 cents and ended at $1.43 with 284 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors fell 5 cents and ended with 18,002 shares changing hands at $7, Lasco Financial lost 10 cents in trading 758,513 units to close at $3.25. Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.50 with 550,005 shares trading, after falling 35 cents, Medical Disposables ended with a loss of 10 cents as 65,000 shares changed hands at $3.15 and tTech climbed 59 cents and ended at $5 with 235,988 units changing hands.
