On January 1973 it took only 77 Jamaican cents to buy one United States dollar, roughly 43 years later it now requires an average of 119 of the local currency to purchase one US dollar. A technical assessment of the currency movement suggests that the fall in the value could be coming to an end sooner than later.
Having being trading at 77 Jamaican cents to the US dollar for a number of years, by the January 10, 1973, the Jamaican dollar was devalued by 15 percent to 91 cents to one US dollar. On the January 13, 1978 the official rate had moved to $1.05, by May 10 the rate ended at $1.55 and ended at $1.69 on the last day of the year. On May 2, 1979 the rate moved to $1.78 where it stayed until November 1983, at which stage the rate moved to $3.15. By 1985 the rate climbed to $5.50 and to $6.50 by the end of 1989, taking 365 percent more Jamaican dollars to buy the US dollar, since 1983. Ten years later in 1999, the rate reached $41.42, requiring 637 percent more local currency to but one US dollar than ten years before and by the end of 2009 it moved to $89.60, requiring just over twice the amount of Jamaican dollars for exchange for one US dollar and at the end of trading on Friday surpassed J$119 to 1 US dollar for the first time, requiring 33 percent more Jamaican dollars to purchase the US dollar, than at the end of 2009.
Trading ended Friday with the equivalent of US$32,449,484 bought by dealers, compared with US$53,172,006 on Thursday, while they sold the equivalent of US$29,004,619, versus US$58,244,225 previously. In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$30,260,875 compared to US$50,560,723 on Thursday.
The buying rate for the US dollar fell 20 cents to $118.45 and US$27,678,764 was sold versus US$56,905,545 on Thursday, the selling rate rose 4 cents to close at $119.02. The Canadian dollar buying rate added 16 cents to $86.92, with dealers buying C$849,774 and selling C$480,605, at an average rate that lost 60 cents to $88.55. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $1 to $178.09 for the purchase of £965,327, while £529,965 was sold, at an average rate that rose 64 cents to end at $181.41. At the end of trading, it took J$134.31 to purchase the Euro, with a jump of $1.73 on Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$131.93, for a rise of $2.06 from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$113,653 being bought, while US$160,542 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar dropped $1.38 on Friday to $119.12, the lowest buying rate gained 16 cents to $97.44, 
the highest selling rate ended 21 cents higher at $124.87 while the lowest selling rate dived $1.74 lower to $97.45. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 69 cents to $89.69, the lowest buying rate dipped $1.03 to $70.43, the highest selling rate climbed 13 cents to end at $91.53 and the lowest selling rate rose 50 cents to $85.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, added 12 cents to end at $181.50, the lowest buying rate slipped 12 cents to $145.46, the highest selling rate climbed $1.72 to $187.52 and the lowest selling rate dropped 40 cents to $175.
5 junior stocks rise 1 fall on Friday
The junior market ended on Friday with the index rising 5.71 points to 965.51 with indications below showing that Monday should be another day of more stocks rising than declining. A total of 5 stocks advanced, 1 declined with 6 securities trading. The market ended with 1,524,288 units, valued at $3.455 million changing hands.
The market ended with 3 securities with no bids to buy, while 9 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 9 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 4 closed with lower offers.
In trading, Caribbean Cream traded 20,000 shares and gained 9 cents to close at $1.80, Dolphin Cove traded 4,000 shares at $11.50, General Accident Insurance traded 24,000 units at $1.50 to gain 3 cents,
Lasco Financial with 85,750 shares changing hands ended at $1.80. Lasco Manufacturing with 306,414 shares trading closed at $2.05 with a gain of 9 cents, Medical Disposables traded 621,144 shares to close unchanged at $2.50 and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 463,000 shares changing hands to end at $2.23. The usual trading data was not available after the close on Friday as such the volumes on the bid and offers are for the most part those at 11 am on Friday morning.
Republic’s new low WITCO back at $126
After reopening on Friday after the stock market was closed for the public holiday on Thursday, Republic Bank traded at a new 52 weeks’ low on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday and West Indian Tobacco traded back at its earlier high of $126. The market closed with 13 securities trading with 6 stocks trading higher, 3 declining and 4 remained unchanged as a total of 506,338 units traded, valued at $23,476,582.
At the close the Composite Index ending with a modest loss of 0.68 at 1,147.48, the All T&T Index fell 2.04 to 1,949.95 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.02 points to hit 45.27.
Gains| ANSA McAL contributed 254,788 shares for a value of $17,137,041 in trading, to close 1 cent higher at $67.26, Grace Kennedy had 4,180 units changing hands at $3.64 for a 14 cents gain, Guardian Holdings with 9,724 shares valued at $287,437 changing hands closed 2 cents higher, at $13.08. Praetorian Property Mutual Fund contributed 10,500 shares with a gain of 1 cent to $3.06, Prestige Holdings with 1,500 units changing hands ended with a gain of 1 cent at $9.91 and West Indian Tobacco gained 57 cents to end at $126 while trading 1,321 units.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund closed with a loss of 1 cent as 105,171 shares valued at $2,367,355 changed hands at $22.50. National Flour Mills with a volume of 51,280 shares lost 5 cents in closing at $2 and Republic Bank suffered a loss of 90 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $112 with 2,000 shares changing hands, valued at $3,360,000.
Firm Trades| FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 2,141 shares to close at $5.02. JMMB Group added 24,463 shares at 43 cents each, Massy Holdings traded 1,010 shares at $62.50, and Trinidad Cement had 4,760 shares changing hands and ended at $3.15.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Rising JSE stocks outpace decliners Thursday
Cable & Wireless HQ – the stock traded 10.7m units on Thursday.
The main market indices enjoyed a second day of increases with the JSE Market Index gained 89.23 points to 95,827.25, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index added 99.71 points to 106,048.63 and the JSE combined index rose 167.49 points to end at 99,045.89.
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 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.
This is an indication that while there is buying interest above current prices for a large number of stocks, there are still a noticeable number of stocks that investors want to be out of, at lower prices, than the last selling price.
Stocks that particularly weak are Hardware and Lumber with a last sale of $13 now being offered at $11.50. Grace Kennedy reported earlier in the year that they were considering an offer for this subsidiary at a maximum price of $18.50 and that the deal should be closed by the end of July. To date there has been no further information on the buy out offer, even as the July deadline is long past. Sterling Investments with a last sale of $13.40, now have on offer at $13.15, 242,600 units and no bids to buy.
Trading in the main market ended with Berger Paints trading 20,000 shares at $2.28, Cable and Wireless slipped 1 cent with 10,774,000 shares changing hands, to close at 49 cents. At the close the stock had 1,122,637 units on the bid at 48 cents and 172,996 units on offer at 51 cents. Carreras traded 224,067 shares at $49.50 while gaining 50 cents, Ciboney Group with 4,365,250 shares at 9 cents, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 135,000 shares trading with a 35 cents gain to close at $6.50, Jamaica Broilers had 35,930 units trading at $6.09, JMMB Group traded at $7.63 with 10,984 shares changing ownership.
Mayberry Investments had 160,100 shares trading at $2.80, National Commercial Bank had 81,100 units changing hands and ended at $27.76 while losing just 1 cent, Sagicor Group with 80,000 shares trading, closed 1 cent higher at $12.82, Scotia Group traded 52,000 shares to close with a rise of 2 cents to $23.77. Scotia Investments traded 10,110 shares in closing at $24.53 with a gain of 1 cent, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share 313,046 units at $2 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 1,841,065 units at $2.50 fo a rise of 1 cent.
J$ racing lower vs US on Wednesday
The Jamaican dollar declined further against the US on Wednesday as trading ended with the equivalent of US$29,454,444 bought by dealers, compared with US$28,126,519 on Tuesday, while they sold the equivalent of US$38,709,609, versus US$27,742,141 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$27,318,495 compared to US$24,426,414 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 25 cents to $118.31 and US$37,086,688 was sold versus US$26,566,997 on Tuesday, the selling rate rose 14 cents to close at $118.96. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 38 cents to $87.01, with dealers buying C$987,645 and selling C$854,933, at an average rate that added 75 cents to $89.55. 
The rate for buying the British Pound fell $2.36 to $178.69 for the purchase of £882,108, while £446,384 was sold, at an average rate that dropped $1.28 to end at $181.43. At the end of trading, it took J$132.29 to purchase the Euro, with a fall by 72 cents on Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129.48, for a decline of 70 cents from Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$77,228 being bought, while US$298,488 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar jumped $1.42 cents to $120.50 on Wednesday. The lowest buying rate and the highest selling rate remained at $97.28 and $124.66 respectively and the lowest selling rate jumped $18.02 to $115.30. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar jumped $1.30 to $90.50, the lowest buying rate rose 8 cents to end at $71.46, the highest selling rate declined 96 cents to end at $92.13 and the lowest selling rate remained unchanged at $85.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, gained 80 cents to $184, the lowest buying rate slipped 92 cents to $147.24, the highest selling rate climbed $1.66 to $189.82 and the lowest selling rate dropped $2 to $175.50.
J$ loses modestly vs US on Tuesday
The Jamaican dollar loss modestly against the US on Tuesday as trading ended with the equivalent of US$28,126,519 bought by dealers, compared with US$37,071,417 on Monday, while they sold the equivalent of US$27,742,141, versus US$38,611,906 previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$24,426,414 compared to US$34,186,451 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 1 cent to $118.06 and US$26,566,997 was sold versus US$35,640,829 on Monday, the selling rate rose 1 cent to close at $118.82. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 27 cents to $86.63, with dealers buying C$756,523 and selling C$636,593, at an average rate that fell $1.63 to $88.80. 
The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 32 cents to $181.05 for the purchase of £1,995,879, while £379,448 was sold, at an average rate that dropped $1.65 to end at $182.71. At the end of trading, it took J$133.01 to purchase the Euro, with a fall by $2.17 on Monday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$130.17, for a decline of $2.26 from Monday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$84,437 being bought, while US$115,923 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar 
rose 3 cents to $119.08 on Tuesday. The lowest buying rate, the highest and lowest selling rates remained at $97.28, $124.66 and $97.28 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar dropped 90 cents to $89.20, the lowest buying rate fell $1 to end at $71.38, the highest selling rate declined 21 cents to end at $93.09 and the lowest selling rate remained unchanged at $85.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, dropped $1.80 to $183.20, the lowest buying rate slipped 91 cents to $148.16, the highest selling rate dived $4.01 to $188.16 and the lowest selling rate was unchanged at $177.50.
Only 6 TTSE’s stocks trade on Tuesday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed Tuesday with only 6 securities trading. One stock traded higher and the rest remained unchanged as a total of 168,975 units, valued at $3,420,935 changed hands.
At the close all the indices remained unchanged with the Composite Index ending at 1,148.12, the All T&T Index at 1,951.90 and the Cross Listed Index at 45.17.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund closed with a volume of 127,046 shares valued at $2,859,805 changing hands 1 cents higher at $22.51.
Firm Trades| First Citizens Bank had 2,250 shares changing hands at $35, 
One Caribbean Media traded 150 shares at $22. Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 31,647 shares changing hands at $6, Trinidad Cement had 5,720 shares changing hands and ended at $3.15 and West Indian Tobacco traded 2,162 shares valued at $271,180 to close at $125.43.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
4 junior stocks gain on Tuesday
The junior market ended on Tuesday with the index falling marginally by 0.60 points to close at 950.33. A total of 4 stocks advanced, none declined with a total of 9 securities trading. The market ended with 772,681 units, valued at $1,436,470 changing hands.
The market ended with 4 securities with no bids to buy, while 7 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.
Stocks trading are, Caribbean Cream ended with 185,000 shares changing hands at $1.71, as the price rose 6 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 23,000 units to close at $2.35, General Accident trading 26,621 sharesCargo Handlers with 550 shares changing hands ended at $31, 
to end at $1.46 with a 1 cent rise. Honey Bun had 10,000 shares trading with an increase of 28 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.28, Knutsford Express had 8,000 shares changing hands at $6.10, Lasco Distributors with 115,800 shares trading, closed at $1.84 after rising by 2 cents. Lasco Financial ended with 174,000 shares changing hands for a decline of at $1.55, Lasco Manufacturing with 229,630 shares trading closed at $1.90.
TTSE slightly up on Monday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed Monday with in 12 securities trading, the same as on Friday. The price of 3 stocks rose, 2 declined and 7 traded with prices remaining unchanged as a total of 308,927 units traded, valued at $5,170,074.
At the close the Composite Index was up 0.44 points to 1,148.12, the All T&T Index added 0.21 points at 1,951.90 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.09 to 45.17.
Gains| Agostini’s traded 600 shares and added 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $18.20, Guardian Holdings with 525 shares changing hands and closed 1 cent higher at $13.02 and FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 22,763 shares and gained 2 cents to close at $5.02.
Losses| Prestige Holdings with 488 units changing hands and ended 1 cent down at $9.90 and Scotiabank traded just 50 shares and lost 2 cents to close at $62.50.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings with 30,270 shares with a value of $423,780 changing hands to close at $14, 
Clico Investment Fund closed with 201,706 shares valued at $4,540,309 changing hands at $22.50, First Citizens Bank had 38 shares changing hands to end at $35, Guardian Media traded 500 shares with the price remaining at $19.77. JMMB Group closed at 43 cents while trading 43,350 shares, Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 3,137 shares changing hands at $6 and Trinidad Cement had 5,500 shares changing hands and ended at $3.15.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Carib Producers dominates juniors – Friday
CPJ dominates junior market trading
At the close, there are signs that the supply of junior market stocks is on the decline with demand slowly rising, indicators that prices should be rising for a number of stocks while those declining should be less. The market ended with 4 securities with no bids to buy, while 8 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.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial with 1,545 shares changing hands at $12.50 while gaining 30 cents, Caribbean Cream ending with 60,000 shares changing hands at $1.67 to gain
2 cents, Caribbean Producers trading 2,169,800 units to close at $2.35, Consolidated Bakeries traded 2,000 shares at $1.20 Derrimon Trading ended with 32,000 shares changing hands, to end at $2.30. Dolphin Cove trading 6,556 units at $11.50. General Accident trading 38,054 shares to end at $1.45, Jamaican Teas with 46,241 shares trading, to close at $3.50, Lasco Financial ended with 990,914 shares changing hands for a decline of 10 cents to $1.60, Lasco Manufacturing fell 4 cents with 80,726 shares trading at $1.96 and Paramount Trading gained 25 cents in trading 200 units in ending at $6.