Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 10 stocks rising, 13 declining as 33 securities changed hands, ending in 9,407,399 units trading, valued at $83,136,775, with 4 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high, in all market segments.
The JSE Market Index lost 787.71 points to 98,401.83, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 880.45 points to close at 108,925.75 and the JSE combined index dropped by 631.19 points to end at 100,937.41.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower. The indication is for fluidity in price movements on Thursday and the likelihood of declining stocks out numbering advancing ones.
In trading, Berger Paints traded 71,289 units at $3, Caribbean Cement had 201,560 units trading at $5 after dropping 10 cents. Interestingly, even as Cable & Wireless posted a large loss after taking a $7 billion one off extra ordinary expense hit, the stock traded 649,000 units between 50 cents and the closing price of 48 cents, the same as on Tuesday. Carreras traded 483,380 units at $50, after falling $1.50, Gleaner Company had 219,403 shares trading at $1, Hardware & Lumber closed with 38,638 shares trading unchanged at $18, Jamaica Broilers having 2,428,147 units trading with the price holding at $5.18 after slipping from $5.50 earlier in the day, to end the day down 7 cents. JMMB Group lost 79 cents while it traded 1,130,033 units as the price closed at $7.71, following poor profit results in the final quarter of the fiscal year to March.
Mayberry Investments had 1,099,821 units trading 4 cents lower at $3.05. One million units of the stock were sold by JMMB Securities and Mayberry bought them for in house purposes. National Commercial Bank ended with 81,153 units changing hands 35 cents down at $29.55, Pan Jamaican Investment traded 4,078 units 2 cents higher for a new 52 weeks’ high of $60.52. Sagicor Group had 1,199,248 shares trading at $12, after slipping 5 cents, Scotia Group had 315,085 units changing hands to end 250 cents higher at $25.50 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference shares closed with 295,000 units trading to end at $2.11.
Declining stocks outpace advancers
4 stocks up 2 down on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 13 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 2 declined and 7 traded firm with a total of 65,604 units, valued at $678,230.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.76 points to close at 1,160.71, the All T&T Index rose by just 0.36 points to close at 1,969.22 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.16 points to end at 46.22.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, National Commercial Bank contributing 8,937 shares, 5 cents higher at $1.75, National Flour Mills with 17,958 shares changing hands, to close with a gain of 10 cents at $1.95, for a new 52 weeks’ high. One Caribbean Media gaining 11 cents to end the day at $22.41 with just 100 shares trading and Sagicor Financial Corporation traded 870 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent at $6.05.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Guardian Holdings ended with 6,400 shares trading and closing at $14.14 for a loss of 1 cent and JMMB Group with a volume of 10,300 shares being traded 3 cents lower at 50 cents.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings trading 44 units at $13.90, First Citizens Bank trading 7,998 shares valued at $286,328 to close at $35.80. Guardian Media with 546 shares closed at $19.76, National Enterprises with 5,540 shares closed at $17.20, Prestige Holdings ended with just 10 shares changing hands at $9.90, Scotiabank traded 1,984 units at $62.54 and Scotia Investments traded 4,917 shares to close at $1.47. Scotia Investments will be reporting second quarter results on Thursday after trading.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
J$ mostly stable on Tuesday
Purchase of all currencies by dealers, amounted to the equivalent of US$29,566,209 on Tuesday compared with US$47,377,158, on Monday. Dealers sold the equivalent of US$34,947,602 versus US$47,123,153 previously, as the Jamaican was fairly stable at the end of trading.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$24,221,951 compared to US$43,312,675 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 5 cents at $115.53 and US$32,246,014 was sold versus US$44,182,307 on Monday, the selling rate fell 1 cent to $116.12. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 4 cents to $91.43 with dealers buying C$1,356,807 and selling C$890,766, at an average rate that inched down 20 cents to $92.82. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 1.95 to $175.89 for the purchase of £2,293,954, while £899,414, was sold, at an average rate that climbed 86 cents to $177.13. At the end of trading it took J$126.55 to purchase the Euro, 76 cents less than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$124.06 for 82 cents down from Monday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$777,967, while the equivalent of US$617,682, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, remained unchanged at $116.30, the lowest buying rate dropped $5.63 to $89.35, the highest selling rates rose 27 cents to and $121.98. 
The lowest selling rate jumped $18.32 to $113.30. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 15 cents to $93.65. The lowest buying rate fell 17 cents to $73.70, the highest selling rate rose 30 cents to $96.50 and the lowest selling rate fell 20 cents to $88.80. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, climbed 30 cents to $178.80, the lowest buying rate closed at $142.01, down 50 cents, the highest selling rate fell 92 cents to $182.80 with the lowest selling rate diving $6.70 to $165.
J$ mostly stable on Monday
Purchase of all currencies by dealers, amounted to the equivalent of US$47,377,158 on Monday compared with US$35,027,214, on Friday they sold the equivalent of US$47,123,153 versus sale of US$37,165,779 previously, as the Jamaican was fairly stable in trading.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$43,312,675 compared to US$31,693,062 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 6 cents at $115.58 and US$44,182,307 was sold versus US$35,366,192 on Friday, the selling rate inched up 1 cent to $116.13. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 47 cents to $91.39 with dealers buying C$2,246,955 and selling C$2,486,972, at an average rate that inched down 14 cents to $93.02. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $2.02 to $173.94 for the purchase of £1,345,949, while £480,987, was sold, at an average rate that declined by $1.30 to $176.27. At the end of trading it took J$127.31 to purchase the Euro, 53 cents more than on Friday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$124.88 for 56 cents more than Friday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$262,094, while the equivalent of US$218,753, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates remained unchanged at $116.30, $94.98 and $121.71 respectively. The lowest selling rate dropped $18.32 to $94.98. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 45 cents to $93.50. The lowest buying rate gained 17 cents to $73.87, the highest selling rate fell 70 cents to $96.20 and the lowest selling rate fell $1 to $89. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 5 cents to $178.50, the lowest buying rate closed at $142.51, up 8 cents, the highest selling rate climbed $2.93 to $183.72 with the lowest selling rate rising 98 cents to $171.70.
Market back to pre-crisis levels
Carreras traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $52
Stocks trading at new 52 weeks’ high in the main market are, Carreras traded of $52 to gain $2 but with only 800 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaica Broilers and Pan Jamaican.
TheJSE Market Index gained 908.09 points to 99,674.46, theJSE All Jamaican Composite index climbed 1,015.00 points to close at 110,348.21 and
the JSE combined index gained 850.26 points to end at 101,869.93. The close on Monday, places the all Jamaican index back to July 2008 levels.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower.
Cable & Wireless closed with 341,888 shares trading at 50 cents, Caribbean Cement had 61,057 shares trading at $5, to record a gain of 40 cents. Desnoes & Geddes had 15,250 units changing hands at $7.55, in putting on 12 cents, Jamaica Broilers traded 115,000 units at $5.55 with a 5 cents gain, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 10,000 units at a new high of $4.50. JMMB Group lost ground by falling 55 cents, with 22,350 shares to close at $8.45 after the investment bank posted earnings of $1.18 per share for the year to March, compared with $1.74 in 2014. The company only made $76 million in the quarter compared to reach $1.93 million compared with $1.85 million at the end of December.
Mayberry Investments traded 127,350 units at $3.10, as the price moved up 10 cents, Pan Jamaican Investment traded 6,473 shares at $60.50 to gain 50 cents, for a new 52 weeks’ high. Radio Jamaica traded 55,622 shares and gained 40 cents to close at $3, the company released results of 32 cents per share for the year to March after trading closed compared with 17 cents in 2014. Sagicor Group had 308,000 units trading at the end at $12, the company Real Estate Fund ended with 3,933,104 units trading 7 cents high at $7.58, Scotia Group traded 261,103 units at $25.30 Seprod 23,580 shares as the price slipped 95 cents to $16.55 and Supreme Ventures added 487,217 shares at $3.80.
7 stocks up 2 down on TTSE
National Flour closed at a 52 weeks high on Friday of $1.77.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 6.01 points to close at 1,159.92, the All T&T Index rose by just 0.10 points to close at 1,968.67 and the Cross Listed Index fell 1.62 points to end at 46.08.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Grace Kennedy with 97,780 shares trading for $349,075 and gaining 1 cent, in closing at $3.57. IC Insider Buy Rated National Flour Mills, gained 4 cents to end the day at a new 52 weeks’ high of $1.77, with only 120 shares trading as investors continue to respond to increased profits for the company, followed by Sagicor Financial Corporation in contributing 27,400 shares with a value of $165,246, to gain of 2 cents to $6.04. Scotiabank with 677 shares trading, closed with a gain of 1 cent at $62.54. Scotia Investments traded 1,000 shares, to gain 2 cents to close at $1.49, Unilever Caribbean with 100 shares changing hands closed with an increase of 1 cent to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $66.15 and West Indian Tobacco ended with 194 units trading at $125.31 with a 3 cents increase.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal with 149 shares trading ended at $67.054 having lost 1 cent and Prestige Holding traded 550 shares to close with a loss of 9 cents at $9.90.Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Ansa Merchant Bank contributed 940 shares with the price closing unchanged at $38.92. Clico Investment Fund with 1,019,235 shares valued at $22,983,749 and remained at $22.55 while First Citizens Bank added 12,072 shares valued at $432,178 to close at $35.80. National Enterprises traded 1,200 units to close at $17.20, National Commercial Bank with 152,500 shares changing hands for a value of $260,050 closed at $1.90 but traded as low as $1.70 and Massy Holdings traded 5,048 shares valued at $323,577 to close at $64.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with a lower offer.
J$ mostly stable on Friday
Purchase of all currencies by dealers, amounted to the equivalent of US$35,027,214 on Friday compared with US$35,830,645, on Thursday they sold the equivalent of US$37,165,779 versus sale of US$40,929,461 previously, as the Jamaican was fairly stable in trading.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$31,693,062 compared to US$31,357,331 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar is up 4 cents at $115.64 and US$35,366,192 was sold versus US$37,143,967 on Thursday, the selling rate is unchanged at $116.12. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $1.25 to $90.92 with dealers buying C$1,102,498 and selling C$1,073,281, at an average rate that inched down 1 cent to $93.16. 
The rate for buying the British Pound dropped 75 cents to $175.96 for the purchase of £1,481,732, while £446,276, was sold, at an average rate that rose 16 cents to $177.57. At the end of trading it took J$126.78 to purchase the Euro, 51 cents more than on Thursday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$124.33 for 49 cents more than Thursday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$212,700, while the equivalent of US$256,063, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, remained at $116.30 and so did the lowest buying rate that traded at $94.98 and the highest selling rate that remained unchanged at $121.71. The lowest selling rate jumped $21.80 to $113.30. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 20 cents to $93.05. 
The lowest buying rate declined 21 cents to $73.70, the highest selling rate rose 40 cents to $96.90 and the lowest selling rate gained 70 cents to $90. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 49 cents to $178.55, the lowest buying rate closed at $142.43, down 50 cents, the highest selling rate dropped $3.31 to $180.79 with the lowest selling rate falling 28 cents to $170.72.
Lasco Financial at new high
Mayberry buys more Lasco Financial shares on Thursday as the stock traded at an all-time high of $1.68.
Trading ended on the Junior Market with 9 securities changing hands, and ended with a total of 1,913,100 units valued at $2,968,161. The JSE Junior Market Index gained 1.68 points to close at 870.40, with the price of 3 stocks advancing and 3 declining and 1 closing at 52 weeks’ high.
At the close of the market, there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
The other stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Cream with 200,000 shares changing hands to close unchanged at $1.10,
Caribbean Flavours & Fragrances finished trading with 3,000 shares to close unchanged at $2, Caribbean Producers with 1,000 shares trading, ended lower by 9 cents at $2.90, General Accident Insurance traded just 100 units at $2.02 and lost 2 cents. Jamaican Teas traded with 25,000 shares changing hands to close 10 cents higher at $3.50, with results released for the company, the supply that was overhanging the market has disappear with only offers between $4 and $5.50 for a total of 50,000 shares in the market. Lasco Distributors traded 44,266 shares, unchanged at $1.60, Lasco Manufacturing traded 148,658 shares as the stock traded lower by 2 cent to $1.25 and Medical Disposables had 8,000 units changing hands at $1.95.
NCB trades at J$35 on TTSE
NCB closed in Jamaica at $30.10 but ended at the equivalent of J$35 in Trinidad on Thursday
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 4.60 points to close at 1,165.93, the All T&T Index fell 1.24 points to close at 1,968.57 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 1.40 points to end at 47.70.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, National Commercial Bank with 105,021 shares changing hands for a value of $204,641 and enjoying an increase of 20 cents to end at a new 52 weeks high of $1.95 or the equivalent of J$35, nearly $5 higher than in Jamiaca. Point Lisas Industrial Port Development traded 75,000 shares valued at $285,750, gained 1 cent and closed at $3.81, Republic Bank traded 560 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent at $115 and Scotia Investments contributed 80,500 shares with a value of $118,335 and closed with a gain of 2 cents at $1.47.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is National Enterprises with 105,000 shares being trading with a value of $1,806,000 and ended with a loss of 10 cents at a new 52 weeks’ low of $17.20.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of the market are, ANSA McAL traded 2,600 shares with a value of $174,330 to close unchanged at $67.06, Clico Investment Fund with 31,047 units carry a value of $700,110 to remain at $22.55, First Citizens Bank trading 15,243 shares valued at $545,699 to close unchanged at $35.80. Guardian Holdings with 409 shares closed at $14.15, Guardian Media 6% preference share traded just 20 units at $65.01, Prestige Holdings traded 2,406 shares and closed at $9.99 and Trinidad Cement contributing 44,863 shares to the volume traded, the price closed unchanged at $2.80.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
J$ makes gains on Wednesday
Purchase of all currencies by dealers, amounted to the equivalent of US$34,384,758 on Wednesday compared with US$37,791,833, on Tuesday and selling, the equivalent of US$41,745,870 versus sale of US$47,446,182, previously as the Jamaican gained in trading.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$30,900,997 compared to US$33,833,409 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 15 cents to $115.60 and US$39,876,181 was sold versus US$44,463,077 on Tuesday, the selling rate was unchanged at $116.11.
The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped 21 cents to $91.14 with dealers buying C$922,677 and selling C$677,514, at an average rate that fell 75 cents to $93.05. The rate for buying the British Pound fell $1.23 to $175.61 for the purchase of £1,295,130, while £463,591, was sold, at an average rate that slipped $2.06 to $177.82. At the end of trading it took J$126.54 to purchase the Euro, $1.45 less than on Tuesday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$123.92 for a fall of $1.79 on Tuesday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$788,872, while the equivalent of US$616,774, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 70 cent to $117. The lowest buying rate dropped $1.41 to $89.69, but the highest selling rate was unchanged at $121.71 and the lowest selling rate jumped $18.32 to $113.30. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 90 cents to $93.30. The lowest buying rate declined $1.12 to $74.20, the highest selling rate lost 60 cents to $96.50 and the lowest selling rate fell $1.10 to $89.40. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined $1.06 to $179.14, the lowest buying rate closed at $143.30, down $1.33, the highest selling rate dropped $1.71 to $184.74 with the lowest selling rate falling $1.35 to $172.65.