Inflows of foreign currency into the forex market fell to normal at this time of the year on Friday, but the Jamaican dollar held ground against the US dollar and gained versus the pound. The equivalent of US$28,906,392 was bought by dealers, compared with US$63,879,976 on Thursday, while they sold the equivalent of US$23,735,150 versus US$60,651,066 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$25,241,490 compared to US$61,389,986 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 37 cents to $118.94 and US$22,798,959 was sold versus US$58,673,239 on Thursday, the selling rate remained unchanged at $119.59.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 3 cents to end at $89.30 with dealers buying C$923,140 and selling C$599,587, at an average rate that rose 26 cents to $92.26. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 67 cents to $181.65 for the purchase of £1,856,083, while £251,805 was sold, at an average rate that declined $2.20 to $181.50. At the end of trading, it took J$136.18 to purchase the Euro, with a fall of 55 cents from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.82 for a fall of 5 cents on Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$137,268 being bought, while US91,463 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest and lowest buying rates for the US dollar ended unchanged at $119.90 and $98.11 respectively, but the highest selling rate ended 6 cents higher at $125.78 and lowest selling rate dropped sharply by $9.17 to $88.95. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 24 cents to $93.74, the lowest buying rate climbed 96 cents to $73.75, the highest selling rate added 22 cents to end at $94.83 and the lowest selling rate jumped 50 cents to $88. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 35 cents to end at $184.50. The lowest buying rate rose 42 cents to $148.74, the highest selling rate rose 12 cents to $189.06 and the lowest selling rate closed $2.32 higher to end at $176.50.
Forex trading volumes fall back – Friday
3 new record close on Friday
The JSE Main Index recorded an all-time high at the close of Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange of 120,592.56 points, the first time since April 26, 2005 with the then all-time high of 120,385.49 points. The newer JSE Combined Index and the JSE Select Index also recorded all-time highs at 125,132.75 points and 4,024.14 points respectively at the markets close on Friday.
The JSE Select Index enjoyed the record high from as far back as January 24, 2005, with a close of 3,714.71, the same day as the all Jamaica Composite Index. The junior market ended at a new closing record high of 1,262.69 on Friday but traded just over the 1,300 points level during trading on Tuesday October 13, to have hit the highest point in the history of that market.
In the process of scaling the new highs the JSE Select Index has gained 81 percent for the year to date and the JSE main Index put on 58 in 2015 to date. The junior market is up by 84 percent for this year has scaled a number of records this year on its way to today’s record close.
This now leaves the All Jamaican Composite index to scale the record high of 138,917.59 reached on 24th of January 2005 which is just over 5,000 points away. The market could face some resistance around 150,000 points on the all Jamaica composite Index.
JSE gained 13% for week
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with an increase of 2,717.47 points, on the JSE All Jamaican Composite index to end at 133,725.27, to cap the week with a huge 13 percent increase. The sharp move is due to the price of Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) jumping with a gain of 130 percent to add several thousand points, to the main market indices. The All Jamaican Index is now just over 5,000 points away from the old record of 138,917.59, reached on 24th of January 2005.
A total of 16 stocks rose, with 3 declining as 23 securities, totaling 2,743,449 units valued at $51,084,948 changing hands, in all market segments. A total of 4 stocks ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs. 
The JSE Market Index shot up by 2,431.62 points to 120,592.56, and the JSE combined index jumped 2,568.39 points to end at 125,132.75.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a loss of 1 cent as 81,600 shares changed hands to be at 51 cents, the stock ended with the bid at 57 cents to buy 204,500 shares. Caribbean Cement closed at $12 with 28,000 shares changing hands, Carreras traded 316,500 shares to close at $52.05 to gain 25 cents, D&G closed with 273,694 units changing hands to close at $30 with a gain of 33 cents. Gleaner traded 23,000 shares at $1.73 to gain 3 cents, Jamaica Broilers traded 31,243 shares to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $8 with a gain of 85 cents,
Jamaica Stock Exchange had 36,200 shares trading at $8.60, for a rise of 65 cents as the company stands to see increased income, if trading continues to be bullish. JMMB Group traded 35,096 shares closing 50 cents higher at $9. National Commercial Bank closed with a loss of 50 cents with 24,100 shares trading to close at $31.99, Sagicor Group with 11,200 shares closed 50 cents higher at $14.50 for a 52 weeks’ closing high, Scotia Group ended with 114,012 shares trading at $25.20 after gaining 75 cents, Scotia Investments ended at $27.50 with 720,000 shares traded and Seprod traded 30,288 shares at $15 with a 5 cents gain.
Juniors up strongly on Friday with 7 gains
Lasco Financial traded at a new 52 days high high of $2.26.
The market ended with 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 5 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 6 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, Caribbean Cream closed at $3.30 with 17,895 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers traded 174,822 units to end at $3. General Accident had 27,000 units changing hands at $1.85
for an increase of 10 cents, Jamaican Teas had just 1,515 shares changing hands at $3.35, Lasco Distributors rose 3 cents with 264,325 shares changing hands and closed at $2.83. Lasco Financial closed at a new all-time high of $2.26 while 175,263 shares changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing traded 370,646 shares to end at $3.45 after trading gaining 16 cents, Medical Disposables traded 45,000 at $2.52 for a 2 cents gain and Paramount Trading had 10,000 shares trading at $6.50 for a gain of 49 cents as the company recently reported increased profit for the August quarter.
3 stocks traded higher on TTSE
Activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday ended with only 8 securities trading. At the close, there were 3 stocks closing higher, none declined and 5 remained unchanged as a total of 326,724 units traded, valued at $4,236,310.
At the close the Composite Index ending with a rise of 0.05 points at 1,146.58, the All T&T Index fell 0.05 to 1,946.25 and the Cross Listed Index is up 0,01 point to 45.52.
gains| Clico Investment Fund closed with just 91,085 shares valued at $2,050,323 changing hands 1 cent higher to end at $22.51, Guardian Holdings with 2,733 shares trading, closed at $13.13 after gaining 1 cent and Scotia Investments ended with 179,973 shares trading with a 1 cent gain to end at $1.61. the stock that has been in good demand in Trinidad with buying at $1.60 may have be close to fully being satisfied with today’s trade as the stock was offered at $1.61 at the close with a bid at $1,50 with 25,405 shares.
Firm Trades| ANSA McAL contributed 300 shares in trading, to close at $67.03, First Citizens Bank traded 50,833 shares valued at $1,779,155 and closed at $35, Massy Holdings traded 200 shares with the price ending at $62.46, Republic Bank closed with 400 shares trading for $112 and Trinidad Cement traded 1,200 units at $3.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
The JSE up strongly on Friday morning
The Jamaica stock market for the second consecutive morning, is enjoying slow trading with only 15 securities being active at 10.45 ,but the indices have so far climbed quite a bit with all main market indices up by more than 1,000 points. Jamaica Broilers trades at new 52 weeks’ high of $8. Trading accounted for a volume of 1,206,561 units with 6 stocks gaining and 5 declined.
In trading, Carreras exchanged 109,500 shares at $51.99 to gain 19 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange had 10,000 shares trading at $8.60 for a rise of 65 cents as the company stands to see increased income if trading continues to be bullish. 
JMMB Group exchanged 35,096 shares at $8.55 for a small gain, Scotia Investments had 420,000 units changing hands at $27.50, Caribbean Producers traded at $3 with 65,000 shares. Lasco Distributors 109500 shares traded at $2.79, Lasco Financial Services 105,000 shares traded at $2.25, Lasco Manufacturing 198,172 shares traded at $3.50.
The All Jamaican Composite index jumped 1,124.16 points to 132,131.96 JSE Market Index rose 1,005.91 points to 123,570.27, the JSE combined index rose 1,281.46 points to be at 123,840.64 and the junior market index rose 37.15 points to 1,269.32.
Trading volumes jump Thursday
Inflows of foreign currency into the forex market jumped sharply on Thursday, but the Jamaican dollar lost ground against the three major currencies it trades against and led to the equivalent of US$63,879,976 being bought by dealers, compared with US$28,123,813 on Wednesday, while they sold the equivalent of US$60,651,066 versus US$32,663,359 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$61,389,986 compared to US$23,950,737 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar gained 47 cents to $119.31 and US$58,673,239 was sold versus US$31,446,646 on Wednesday, the selling rate gained 3 cents to end at $119.59. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 83 cents to end at $89.27 with dealers buying C$950,168 and selling C$654,115, at an average rate that rose 76 cents to $92. 
The rate for buying the British Pound declined 43 cents to $180.98 for the purchase of £1,053,245, while £747,541 was sold, at an average rate that climbed $1.07 to $183.70. At the end of trading, it took J$136.73 to purchase the Euro, with a rise of 85 cents on Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.87 for a rise of 61 cents on Wednesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$181,485 being bought, while US$326,383 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar added 10 cents on Thursday to end at $119.90, the lowest buying and lowest selling rates remained unchanged at $98.11 and $98.12 respectively, 
the highest selling rate ended 33 cents lower at $125.72. The highest buying and the lowest buying rates for the Canadian dollar were unchanged at $93.50 and $72.79, respectively while the highest selling rate added 26 cents to end at $94.61 and the lowest selling rate jumped $1.50 to $86. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 5 cents to end at $184.85. The lowest buying rate rose 87 cents to $148.32, the highest selling rate declined 24 cents to $188.94 and the lowest selling rate closed down $1.82 to end at $174.18.
JSE closing in on the 2005 record high
Carib Cement closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $12
The big gains today, owe much to Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) share shooting up 18.5 percent or $3.87 to end at a record $29.67 with 561,514 units trading. D&G closed with just two offers at $30 for 712 units and at $32 for 149 units, the bid is at $28.51 for what appears to be undisclosed amounts. A total of 15 stocks rose, with 6 declining as 29 securities, totaling 3,400,791 units valued at $29,712,197 changing hands, in all market segments.
A total of 5 stocks ending at new 52 weeks’ closing highs. The JSE Market Index shot up by 3,345.63 points to 118,160.94, and the JSE combined index jumped 3,403.29 points to end at 122,564.36.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Berger Paints traded 10,000 shares at $2.75 and gained 25 cents, Cable and Wireless closed with a loss of 1 cent as 110,000 shares changed hands to close at 59 cents, Caribbean Cement closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $12 with 19,451 shares changing hands, as the price gained $2.
Carreras traded 7,670 shares at $51.80 to gain 80 cents, Jamaica Broilers 169,227 shares to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $7.15 with a gain of 16 cents, the price was up to $7.50 during the trading for a new intraday high.JMMB Group traded 58,858 shares at $8.50, Kingston Wharves lost 25 cents with 12,142 shares changing hands at $8.95. National Commercial Bank closed with a gain of $1.70 with 21,282 shares trading to close at $32.49, Sagicor Group with 5,650 shares closed 84 cents higher at $14 for a 52 weeks’ closing high, Scotia Group ended with 132,265 shares trading at $24.45 after gaining 60 cents and Sterling Investments ended at $13 with 15,000 shares traded.
Juniors up on Thursday with 5 gains
Caribbean Flavours traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.30.
The market ended with 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 3 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, AMG Packaging gained 8 cents to close at $3.88, with 1,072,687 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream fell 8 cents to $3.30 with 2,000 shares changing hands, Caribbean Flavours added 22 cents in trading 10,000 units at an all-time high of $3.30,
Caribbean Producers traded 51,678 units and gained of 20 cents to end at $3. Consolidated Bakeries had 169,000 units changing hands at $1.18, Derrimon Trading had 635,700 shares changing hands at $2.30, KLE Group traded 10,000 units at 43 cents. Lasco Distributors rose 29 cents with 20,000 shares changing hands and closed at $2.80, Lasco Financial closed at $2.25 while 156,219 shares changed hands and Lasco Manufacturing traded 100018 shares to end at $3.29 after trading gaining 28 cents.
Only 16K shares traded on TTSE
Activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday ended with 12 securities trading. At the close there were 2 stocks closing higher, 2 declined and 8 remained unchanged as a total of 16,155 units traded, valued at $362,011.
At the close the Composite Index ending with a decline of 0.04 points at 1,146.53, the All T&T Index fell 0.14 to 1,946.20 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 45.51.
gains| Ansa Merchant Bank traded 1,369 units to close 1 cent higher at $38.95 and Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 181 shares changing hands, to end 1 cents higher at $6.
Losses| Massy Holdings traded 1,360 shares with the price ending at $62.46, after losing 1 cent and National Enterprises with 23 shares changing hands to end 1 cent lower at $16.72, to close at a 52 weeks’ low
Firm Trades| Berger Paints with 200 shares changing hands, closed at $3.66, ANSA McAL contributed 850 shares in trading, to close at $67.03, First Citizens Bank traded 2,546 shares and closed at $35. Guardian Holdings with 2,026 shares trading, closed at $13.12, National Flour closed with 400 shares trading for $1.96, Point Lisas traded 1,000 shares to close at $3.95, Trinidad Cement traded 6,000 units at $3.16 and West Indian Tobacco traded just 200 shares to closed at $126.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
