Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session, saw stocks rising and just inching out declining ones but with moderate trading taking place.
Trading had all major indices rising, with the main market indices gaining over 1,000 points each and the junior market index climbing 2.24 percent after 75 minutes of trading, on Monday. The average volume traded amounts to 71,293 units per active stock, compared to an average of 59,318 units traded in the mid-morning session on Friday.
A total of 26 securities accounting for 1,853,606 shares changed hands at 10.45 am. A total of 9 stocks gained and 7 declined with Palace Amusement climbing to a $95, with a gain of $9.99 as 402 shares changed hands.
402The market saw the all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,293.41 points to 166,114.09, the JSE Market Index gained 1,156.52 points to 149,577.55, the JSE combined index ended with a rise of 1,557.65 points to 160,919.46 and the junior market index rose 47.28 points to 2,161.36.
JSE indices jump in early trading – Monday
Jamaican$ ended mixed – Friday
Trading in the foreign exchange market on Friday resulted in the Jamaican dollar declining slightly against the US dollar holding firm versus Canadian and slipping compared to the closing rate on Thursday for the pound. The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$33,234,559 and selling US$36,327,045, in contrast to US$32,674,699 purchased and US$31,565,070 sold on Thursday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$30,697,232 compared to US$29,806,276 on Thursday, as the buying rate for the US dollar remained unchanged at $121.98.
A total of US$33,977,802 was sold versus US$26,974,270 on Thursday, the selling rate rose 3 cents to $122.67. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $2 to end at $92.93 with dealers buying C$816,887 and selling C$1,804,263, at an average rate that remained at $97.65. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 2 cents to $172.25 for the purchase of £1,153,927, while only £484,850 was sold, as the rate rose $2 to $175.03.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 43 cents to close at J$138.45, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$135.65 for a fall of 40 cents from Thursday’s rate.
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$285,474 being bought, while US$221,219 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the currencies on Friday are, a jump of $15.73 in the lowest buying rate of the US dollar to end at $99.99 and a fall of $18.13 in the lowest selling rate to $99.87, a rise of $1 in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to $177.20 and an increase of $2.50 in the lowest selling rate to $168.50.
JSE ends week with gains – Friday
Carib Cement jumped $4.66 to close at $24.66 on Friday after posting strong profit.
A total of 40 securities changed hands, in all market segments, with 19 stocks rising while 8 declined. Trading amounted to 16,161,211 units valued at $141,833,561, in all markets, with the junior market accounting for 2,723,962 units valued at $12,229,768.
The JSE Market Index gained 282.48 points to end at 148,421.03, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 315.92 points to 164,820.68 and the JSE combined index jumped 1,900.09 points, to close at 159,361.81 as junior market stocks contributed much to the rise.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Cable & Wireless rose 5 cents to close at $1.35, in trading 5,142,218 units, Carreras ended trading with a loss of 49 cents while trading 2,030 shares, to close at $64.50, 1,834 Investments traded 246,750 shares at $1.13, Jamaica Broilers had 8,350 units changing hands, to close with a gain of 45 cents at $14.50. Jamaica Producers jumped $2.93 to end at $34.93 but only 1,000 shares traded. JMMB Group had 30,236 shares changing hands with a loss of 52 cents to end at $9, Kingston Wharves traded 5,000 shares to close at $11.50 after rising 20 cents,
National Commercial Bank traded 24,476 shares to close at $40, Pulse Investments traded 12,996 units as the price slipped by 50 cents to $2.50. Radio Jamaica traded 1,895,681 shares to gain 7 cents to close at $1.20, Sagicor Group fell 15 cents in ending with 76,203 shares changing hands to close at $22.30 Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 23,300 shares to close at $10 after losing 20 cents, Scotia Group closed unchanged at $30 with 125,253 units changing hands. Scotia Investments ended at $27.50 with 49,431 shares trading, Supreme Ventures gained 50 cents with 1,007,250 shares trading to end at $5.50. Proven Investments ordinary share traded 43,000 units to gain 2 US cents to close at 19 us cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference shares traded 91,582 units at $1.05.
Juniors jump 8% on – Friday
Cargo Handlers traded at a new high of $45.
The junior market index jumped sharply by 159.72 points or 8 percent on top of the 72.93 points it gained on Thursday to end at 2,114.08 on Friday. As was the case on Thursday Lasco Distributors and Manufacturing made big impression on the market index. The volume traded ended with 2,723,962 units valued at $12,229,768, changing hands. The market closed with 16 active securities, 9 of which advanced and 3 declined while one stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high.
At the close of trading 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and just 4 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading in a market with price gains dominated by the Lasco companies, AMG Packaging closed with a loss of 2 cents in trading 5,540 units to end at $12, CAC 2000 traded 1,400 shares 40 cents higher to close at $6.90. Cargo Handlers ended with 100 shares changing hands for a gain of $1.49 and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $45, Caribbean Cream traded 233,322 units at $4, Caribbean Producers traded 100,000 units to end at $4, Consolidated Bakeries gained 11 cents in trading 7,870 shares to close at $1.21, Dolphin Cove traded 714 shares to close at $13. Iron Rock Insurance 28,000 units on the bid at $3.50, 
ISP Finance had 20,719 units changing hands but lost 5 cents to close at $2.45, Jetcon Corporation had 575,835 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents at $2.50, Key Insurance rose by 5 cents to close at $2.55 after 30,114 shares changed hands, Lasco Distributors jumped $1.29 to end at $7.50 with 528,460 units trading, Lasco Financial gained 4 cents to close at $3.03, with 117,447 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing gained 56 cents with 977,026 shares changing hands to close at $4.70, Medical Disposables closed at $3.10 with 50,000 shares trading with a loss of 5 cents, tTech ended with 47,415 shares changing hands with a gain of 1 cent at $4.18.
5 stocks rose 3 fell on TTSE – Friday
Republic Financial Holdings dropped in Friday’s trading
Quotes for Massy Holdings and Scotiabank remain well below their last selling price and are likely to take a bite out of the indices when next they trade.
The Composite Index declined by 0.90 points to close at 1,130.07, the All T&T Index fell 2.38 points to close at 1,805.43 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.08 points at 60.40.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund rose by 4 cents in closing at $22.60 with 45,378 shares valued at $1,025,453 changing hands, Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 1,000 shares with a gain of 2 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.52. Guardian Holdings gained 10 cents with 303,726 shares with a value of $3,948,438 changing hands to end at $13, National Enterprises closed 7 cents higher with 6,000 shares changing hands at $11.35 and One Caribbean Media rose 1 cent with 195,000 shares with a value of $4,192,500, trading to close at $21.50.
Losses| Angostura Holdings lost 10 cents in trading 1,848 units $12.90 and Republic Financial Holdings finally traded, the price dropped $1 to $109 but only 75 shares traded, at a new 52 weeks’ low and Trinidad and Tobago NGL fell 1 cent to $19.52 and closed with 5,699 shares trading.
Firm Trades| JMMB Group had 545,590 units for a value of $316,531 changing hands at 58 cents, Praetorian Property Mutual Fund traded 6,000 units at $2.70 and Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 2,000 shares changing hands, to end at $7.25.
JSE rise in early trading – Friday
Caribbean Cement climbed to $25 up $4.50 on the back of big jump in first quarter earnings of 98 cents per share. The stock now has a bid at $25 and is offered at $29. Stocks gaining the Junior market resulted in a big 5 percent rise in index as all three Lasco listed companies recorded gains. The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange had a nice bounce with the rise in Caribbean Cement share price.
The leading trades are Jetcon Corporation traded 575,835 shares at $2.50, Lasco Distributors with 190,500 units at $7.20, Lasco Manufacturing with 112,366 shares at $4.80. Cargo Handlers traded at a new high of $45.
After 75 minutes of trading on Friday, the market had an average of 59,318 units per active stock traded, compared to an average of 83,005 units traded in the mid-morning session on Thursday.
A total of only 22 securities accounting for 1,304,985 shares changed hands at 10.45 am as 8 stocks gained and 2 declined.
The market saw the all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,144.38 points to 165,649.14, the JSE Market Index gained 1,023.26 points to 149,161.81, the JSE combined index ended with a rise of 2,056.93 points to 159,518.65 and the junior market index rose 108.01 points to 2,057.22.
Jamaican$ continues sliding- Thursday
Trading in the foreign exchange market on Thursday resulted in the Jamaican dollar declining in value for the fourth time this week. The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$32,674,699 and selling US$31,565,070, in contrast to US$33,990,180 purchased and US$38,856,139 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$29,806,276 compared to US$30,872,138 on Wednesday, as the buying rate for the US dollar added 11 cents to end at $121.98. A total of US$26,974,270 was sold versus US$36,566,568 on Wednesday, the selling rate rose 9 cents to $122.64. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 25 cents to end at $94.93 with dealers buying C$1,587,124 and selling C$5,087,645, at an average rate that was up 74 cents to $97.65. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 4 cents to $172.27 for the purchase of £1,109,310, while only £337,379 was sold, as the rate fell $1.84 to $173.03. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 42 cents to close at J$138.89, from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$136.05 for a fall of 13 cents on Wednesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$66,687 being bought, while US$63,768 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the currencies on Thursday are, a fall of $15.61 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to $84.26, a rise of $1 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar to $88, a decline of $1.30 in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to $176.20 and an increase of $1 in the lowest selling rate to $166.
Volumes up prices down on JSE – Thursday
SVL trades over 20 million shares on Thursday.
Supreme Ventures was the leading trade on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday with 20 million shares changing hands. The main market indices gave up more ground at the close as the number of active declined from recent trading levels. The all Jamaica Composite and the JSE index dropped just under 1,000 points on Thursday.
A total of 28 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 8 stocks rising while 12 declined. Trading amounted to 31,536,849 units valued at $201,190,464 changing hands, in all markets, 
the junior market accounting for 8,096,759 units valued at $8,096,759.
The JSE Market Index fell 868.35 points to end at 148,138.55, the all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 971.13 points to 164,504.76 and the JSE combined index declined 57.60 points, to close at 157,461.72.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Cable & Wireless rose by 2 cents to close at $1.30, in trading 117,468 units.
Caribbean Cement rose 89 cents to close at $20 with 2,812 shares changing hands, Carreras ended trading with a loss of $1.01 while trading 103,826 shares, to close at $64.99, Jamaica Broilers had 9,631 units changing hands, to close with a gain of 35 cents at $14.05. JMMB Group had 2,030,315 shares changing hands with a loss of 8 cents to end at $9.52, Kingston Wharves traded 52,190 shares to close at $11.30 after falling 5 cents, Pan Jamaican Investments traded 100,000 units as the price slipped by 58 cents to $89.42. Sagicor Group fell 5 cents in ending with 1,004,310 shares changing hands to close at $22.45 and Supreme Ventures fell 10 cents with 20,005,000 shares trading to end at $5.
Juniors jump on – Thursday
Lasco Distributors dominated trading on the junior market on Thursday.
At the close of trading 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and just 5 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading, AMG Packaging closed with a loss of 98 cents in trading 960 units to end at $12.02, Caribbean Cream traded 74,315 units at $4, the stock is encountering more selling than buying. Caribbean Producers traded 2,400 units to end at $4, General Accident traded 1,150,656 shares to close at $2.65, ISP Finance had 7,500 units changing hands at $2.50.
Iron Rock Insurance still has 5,003,000 units on the bid at $3.10, while the stock last traded at $3.50. Key Insurance closed at $2.50 after 7,500 shares changed hands, KLE Group traded 155,115 units at $1.40 for a 3 cents loss, Knutsford Express traded 9,415 shares unchanged at $19, Lasco Distributors gained 41 cents to end at $6.21 with 5,469,528 units trading, Lasco Financial gained 4 cents to close at $2.99, with 4,000 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing gained 42 cents with 952,192 shares changing hands to close at $4.14, tTech ended with 9,829 shares changing hands at $4.17 as 2 cents were added and Eppley 10 percent preference share traded 34,120 units at $6.10.
Just 6 stocks traded on TTSE – Thursday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange more losses on Thursday but the total value of trading climbed with 280,282 shares valued at $10,304,944 changing hands. The market closed with a mere 6 securities trading, as weakness in the overall market continues. At the close, 2 stocks rose, 2 declined, while 2 remained unchanged.
Quotes for Republic Holdings, Massy Holdings and Scotiabank remain well below their last selling price and are likely to take a big bite out of the indices when next they trade.
The Composite Index declined by 0.27 points to close at 1,130.97, the All T&T Index fell 0.52 points to close at 1,807.81 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 60.32.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund rose by 1 cent in closing at $22.56 with 129,520 shares valued at $2,921,971 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL rose 2 cents to $19.53 and closed with 27,964 shares trading for a value of $545,720.
Losses| ANSA McAL closed with a loss of 3 cents while 106,653 shares changed hands for a value of $6,716,975 at $62.79, Guardian Holdings had 5,995 shares changing hands to end at $12.90 after losing 10 cents.
Firm Trades| National Commercial Bank had 10,000 units changing hands at $2.40 and West Indian Tobacco closed at $126.28 as 150 units changed hands.
