Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market ended at a another record close, with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increasing by 763.78 points in a record closing high of 326,087.70 and the JSE Index gaining 695.89 points to a record closing high of 297,102.76.
At the close with only 28 securities traded versus 29 on Thursday. Trading ended with the prices of 7 stocks rising, 12 falling and 9 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to end at $48, Kingston Wharves declined by $1 to $39, Palace Amusement dropped $150 on top of the $200 fall on Thursday to end the week at $750 and Scotia Group fell $1.50 to $52.
Main market activity ended with 5,136,325 units valued at over $124,111,209 compared to 11,332,892 units valued at over $423,780,603. JMMB Group closed trading with 1,575,126 units accounting for 30.67 percent of the overall market volume followed by Carreras with 819,568 units or 15.96 percent of total volume traded and Jamaica Broilers Group with 550,887 units with 10.73 of traded volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 190,234 shares valued at $4,596,711, for each security traded, compared to 419,737 shares valued at $15,695,578 on Thursday. The average for the month to date is 1,240,308 shares with a value of $6,425,698 and previously 1,510,327 shares with a value of $7,058,809. In contrast, March closed with an average of 626,526 units with an average value at $20,492,207 for each security traded.
The US dollar market closed on Thursday with 109 units valued at just US$24 as Proven Investments was the sole stock traded and ended unchanged at 22 US cents, leaving the market index unchanged at the close at 173.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – JSE trading levels fall on Friday
JSE trading levels fall on Friday
Trading levels dipped sharply lower on Friday, compared to Thursday with a volume of 5,136,325 units valued at $124,111,209, down from the 11,332,892 units traded for $423,780,603 on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The main market closed with 27 securities changed hands, with 7 rising, 12 falling and 8 trading firm leading to the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 763.78 points to a record close of 326,087.70. The JSE Index rose 695.89 points to a record closing high of 297,102.76.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $9, with 4,191 shares trading, Berger Paints ended trading 84 cents higher at $17.95 with 1,818 stock units changing hands, Cable & Wireless concluded trading after gaining 5 cents, to end at $1.25 with 233,216 units, Carreras finished with a loss of 10 cents at $10.70, with 819,568 shares. Caribbean Cement lost 10 cents to end at $37.90, with 8,132 shares, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to close at $48, with 63,016 stock units, Jamaica Broilers closed at $20, trading 550,887 shares, Jamaica Producers finished trading with a loss of 20 cents at $15.30, in exchanging 4,241 units. JMMB Group fell 50 cents to $26, trading 1,575,126 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading at $7, with 196,327 stock units, Kingston Properties ended market activity at $6.64, with 1,360 shares. Kingston Wharves concluded trading with a loss of $1 at $39, with 3,100 shares, NCB Financial Group settled 40 cents higher at $97.50, with 277,542 units, 1834 Investments ended trading at $1.20, with 489,668 shares, 138 Student Living finished at $5.50, with 1,630 stock units, Palace Amusement traded with a loss of $150 at $750, with 252 shares. PanJam Investment closed trading at $43, with 3,559 shares, Pulse Investments ended at $1.70, with 2,300 units, Radio Jamaica concluded trading at $1.05, with 22,798 shares,
Sagicor Group finished 60 cents higher at $37.60, with 46,511 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 2 cents to $15.28, with 11,296 units. Scotia Group ended trading with a loss of $1.50 at $52, while exchanging 436,897 stock units, Seprod traded 80 cents higher at $35, with 12,757 units, Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 40 cents at $11.50, after 30,705 shares changed hands, Victoria Mutual Investments ended 37 cents higher at $4.38, with 151,100 shares. Wisynco Group concluded trading with a loss of 16 cents at $10.20, with 158,328 stock units and in the main market preference segment, Proven Investments 8.25% traded at $5.15, with 30,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Another record close for JSE on Friday.”
Jamaican$ almost stable – Friday
The Jamaican dollar made just modest gains in the foreign exchange trading on Friday against the US dollar, with the selling rate falling by 1 cent and the buying rate declining 6 cents.
The market closed with inflows of all currencies, ending at US$49.55 million, versus US$39.41 million on Thursday and dealers sold US$49.70 million in contrast to US$40.18 million, in previous trading.
In US dollar trading, dealers sold US$40.11 million at a rate of J$125.40 at the close, compared to US$36.4 million at a rate of J$125.41 on Thursday. Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$37.09 million at an average rate of $124.08, compared to US$35.31 million at an average rate of $124.14 on Thursday.
At mid-day on Friday dealers purchased US$13.8 million at an average rate of J$124.61 and sold US$12.75 million at an average of J$125.43. At mid-day on Thursday dealers purchased US$11.12 million at an average rate of J$124.68 and sold US$10.58 million at an average of J$125.31.
For the shortened week, dealers bought US$192 million in all currencies, down from US$216 million in all currencies bought in the previous week. Dealers sold US$197 million, compared to the selling of US$237.6 million in the prior week. Actual US dollar purchases by dealers amounted to US$164 million down from US$191 million in the prior week and they sold US$172 million compared to US$215 million.
The selling rate on Friday, for the Canadian dollar, rose to J$98.33 from J$98.11 at the close on Thursday. The selling rate for the British Pound increased to J$176.53 from J$176.37 previously and the eurogained against the Jamaican dollar to J$155.54 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$154.62.
9 Junior Market stocks up 5 down – Friday
The Junior Market slipped again on Friday by 5.49 points to close at 2,952.96 even as advancing stocks beat out declining stocks by almost a 2 to 1 ratio.
At the close of market activities, more securities traded than the day before but with lower volume as 20 securities changed hands. The prices of 9 advanced, 5 declined and 6 remained unchanged, compared 17 securities changing hands on Thursday.
Trading ended with an exchange of 1,131,667 units valued at $5,121,527 compared with 2,627,003 units valued at $9,951,186.
Market activity ended with an average of 56,583 units for an average of $256,076 compared to an average of 154,530 units for an average of $585,364 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 198,056 units at $860,035 compared to 246,012 units at $1,064,766 on the prior trading day. March closed with an average of 149,999 units valued at $623,819, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows just 6 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 with lower offers, suggesting the continuation of fluidity in price changes.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended 5 cents higher at $2.05, with 41,930 stock units changing hands, CAC 2000 finished with a loss of 69 cents at $8.01, with 12,000 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded at $11, with 7,300 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading at $5, with 455,060 units, Dolphin Cove finished at $17.10, with 600 stock units trading. Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 1 cent at $3.30, with an exchange of 81,202 units after trading earlier in the session at a record high of $3.45. Express Catering traded 5 cents higher at $5.30, with 58,020 shares, FosRich Group finished trading at $2.50, with 24,058 shares, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 5 cents at $4.10, while trading 37,746 units. Key Insurance finished trading with a loss of 15 cents at $3.85, with 47,669 shares,
KLE Group closed 3 cents higher at $2.53, with 3,529 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $14, with 300 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading 5 cents higher at $4.05, with 136,039 stock units. Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 75 cents at $4.95, with 59,950 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 15 cents higher at $4.14, with 104,000 shares, Main Event ended trading at $6, with 500 shares, Medical Disposables traded 10 cents higher at $5.10, with 1,798 shares. Paramount Trading rose by 2 cents to end at $3.10, with 21,265 stock units, Stationery and Office closed 5 cents higher at $5.55, with 27,209 units and tTech concluded trading 2 cents higher at $5.99, with 11,492 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
2 rise 3 fall on TTSE –Friday
Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters
Only 2 stocks advanced, 3 declining and 7 remaining unchanged in market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Friday, as 12 securities traded against 14 on Thursday.
Trading volume remained low, resulting in more volume trading with 342,317 shares valued at $5,336,268 changing hands, compared to 293,550 shares valued at $2,488,584 on Thursday.
At close, the Composite Index lost 3.49 points on Friday to 1,260.41, the All T&T Index fell 0.11 points to 1,700.40, while the Cross Listed Index declined 0.98 points to close at 110.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with only 1 stock ended with the bid lower than their last selling price and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Scotiabank gained 9 cents and ended at $62.65, after exchanging 173 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL finished trading with a rise of 46 cents and closed at $27.71, after 12,092 shares changed hands.
Losses| Clico Investments closed with a loss of 1 cent at $20.15, with 6,327 units, NCB Financial Group fell 15 cents and completed trading at $6.25, after exchanging 10,500 shares and One Caribbean Media lost 4 cents and 
settled at $12.44, with 1,900 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| First Citizens completed trading at $32.70, after exchanging 4,561 shares, Grace Kennedy closed at $3.15, with 5,910 units trading, Guardian Holdings ended at $16, exchanging 10,587 shares, Massy Holdings settled at $47, with 55,329 stock units changing hands, National Enterprises concluded market activity at $9.75, with 1,118 units, Prestige Holdings ended at $10.01, after trading 400 shares and Sagicor Financial concluded trading at $7.80, with 233,420 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
New closing high for JSE on Thursday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market recovered from losses on Wednesday to end at a new closing record high on Thursday, with the market indices rising more than 1,000 points.
At the end of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,135.75 points to record close of 325,323.92 and the JSE Index rose 1,034.80 points to record closing high of 296,406.87.
At the close with only 29 securities traded versus 25 on Wednesday. Trading resulted in the prices of 9 stocks rising, 12 falling and 8 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
Securities closing with sizable price changes include, NCB Financial Group trading down $2.15 to $97.10,
Grace traded nearly 7.8 million shares on Thursday.
Palace Amusement dropped $200 to $900, Sagicor Group lost $2 to $37 and Scotia Group finished with a rise of $2.50 to $53.50.
Main market activity ended with 11,332,892 units valued at over $423,780,603 compared to 2,346,923 units valued at $42,062,008 changing hands on Wednesday. Grace Kennedy trade 7,778,385 units valued at $$380 million, accounting for 68.64 percent of the overall market volume. Carreras with 1,133,057 units and 10 percent of total volume traded and Victoria Mutual Investments closed with 657,398 units changing hands.
Trading resulted in an average of 419,737 shares valued at $15,695,578, for each security traded, compared to 97,788 shares valued at $1,752,584 on Wednesday. The average for the month to date is 1,510,327 shares with a value of $7,058,809 and previously 2,887,284 shares with a value of $2,486,402. In contrast, March closed with an average of 626,526 units with an average value at $20,492,207 for each security traded.
The US dollar market closed on Thursday with 11,628 units valued at US$2,565 as Margaritaville traded 237 units to gain 5 US cents to 25 US cents and Proven Investments traded 11,391 units closing with a gain of 2 US cents to end at 22 US cents and pushing the market index up by 11.85 points to close at 173.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – Grace Kennedy top traded stock on JSE
Grace Kennedy top traded JSE stock
Grace Kennedy traded 7.8 million shares for $380 million accounting for 69 percent of the overall market volume of 11,332,892 units for $423,780,603 on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday.
The main market closed with 27 securities changed hands, with 7 rising, 12 falling and 8 trading firm leading to the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 1,135.75 points to a record close of 325,323.92. The JSE Index rose 1,034.80 points to a record closing high of 296,406.87.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed with a loss of 50 cents at $9, with 42,553 shares, Berger Paints ended 1 cent higher at $17.11, with 20,000 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading at $1.20, with 52,210 units as trading winds down with the shares scheduled for delisting on April 11. Carreras finished with a loss of 10 cents at $10.80, with 1,133,057 shares, Caribbean Cement settled with a loss of 50 cents at $38, with 9,810 shares. Grace Kennedy traded 50 cents higher at $49, with 7,778,385 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading at $20.50, with 4,320 units, Jamaica Producers closed with a loss of 15 cents at $15.50, with 22,722 shares, shares of Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 2 cents higher at $6.97, with 64,250 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading at $26.50, with 223,718 shares, Kingston Properties finished 24 cents higher at $6.64, with 13,000 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled at $40, with 4,077 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a loss of 5 cents at $6, with 41,007 shares. NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of $2.15 at $97.10, with 73,521 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $200 to $900, with 200 stock units, PanJam Investment ended at $43, with 48,145 units, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 9 cents at $1.70, with 45,700 shares. 
Radio Jamaica settled 1 cent higher at $1.05, with 92,144 shares, 
Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of $2 at $37, with 32,881 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading at $15.30, with 1,000 shares. Scotia Group finished trading $2.50 higher at $53.50, with 19,086 shares, Seprod closed 20 cents higher at $34.20, with 6,422 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading at $11.90, with 148,640 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished with a loss of 39 cents at $4.01, with 657,398 units, Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 3 cents at $10.36, with 389,901 shares and In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% closed at $1, with 8,500 shares, Proven Investments 8.25% settled with a loss of 75 cents at $5.15, with 400,245 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “New closing high for JSE on Thursday.”
Jamaican$ makes more gains – Thursday
The Jamaican dollar made further gains in the foreign exchange trading on Thursday against the US dollar, with the selling rate falling by 15 cents and the buying rate declining 16 cents.
The market closed with inflows of all currencies, ending at US$39.41 million, versus US$48.18 million on Wednesday and dealers sold US$40.18 million in contrast to US$47.92 million, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers sold US$36.4 million at a rate of J$125.41 at the close, compared to US$44.87 million at a rate of J$125.56 on Wednesday. Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$35.31 million at an average rate of $124.14, compared to US$43.69 million at an average rate of $124.30 on Wednesday.
At mid-day on Thursday dealers purchased US$11.12 million at an average rate of J$124.68 and sold US$10.58 million at an average of J$125.31. At mid-day on Wednesday dealers purchased US$14.8 million at an average rate of J$124.68 and sold US$12.06 million at an average of J$125.35.
The selling rate on Thursday, for the Canadian dollar rose to J$98.11 from J$97.79 at the close on Wednesday, the selling rate for the British Pound increased to J$176.37 from J$176.06 previously and the eurodropped against the Jamaican dollar to J$154.62 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$156.59.
4 stocks rise on TTSE 2 fall – Thursday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended Thursday, with 14 securities trading, against 15 on Wednesday, with 4 stocks advancing, 2 declining and 8 remaining unchanged.
Trading volume remained low, resulting in 293,550 shares valued at $2,488,584 changing hands, compared to 186,626 shares valued at $3,719,226 on Wednesday.
At close, the Composite Index gained 0.84 points on Thursday to 1,263.90, the All T&T Index rose 1.95 points to 1,700.29, while the Cross Listed Index shed 0.04 points to close at 111.63.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 1 stock with the bid lower than the last selling price and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investments closed with an increase of 1 cent and completed trading at $20.16, with 24,533 units, First Citizens finished 19 cents higher and concluded at a 52 weeks’ high of $32.70, after exchanging 2,000 shares, JMMB Group rose 1 cent and ended at $1.86, with 39,000 stock units changing hands and Sagicor Financial added 4 cents and completed trading at $7.80, with 47,615 units.
Losses| Ansa McAl shares fell 5 cents and completed trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.95, with 19 units changing hands and First Caribbean International Bank closed with a loss of 15 cents at $9.35, after exchanging 59,150 shares.
Firm Trades| Grace Kennedy ended trading at $3.15, with 99,926 units, Massy Holdings ended at $47, with 250 stock units changing hands, National Flour settled at $1.68, after exchanging 1,824 shares, Republic Financial Holdings ended at $101.58, with 600 stock units changing hands, Scotiabank settled at $62.56, after exchanging 3,480 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL concluded trading at $27.25, after exchanging 11,138 shares, Trinidad Cement ended at $2.60, with 4,000 stock units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco settled at $88.55, after exchanging just 15 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Fewer Junior Market companies trade – Thursday
The Junior Market slipped 8.33 points to close at 2,958.45 on Thursday as declining stocks beat advancing almost by a 2 to 1 ratio as the number of companies trading fell from Wednesday’s level.
At the close of market activities, 17 securities changed hands, the prices of 5 advanced, 9 declined and 3 remained unchanged, compared 21 securities changing hands on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an exchange of 2,627,003 units valued at $9,951,186 compared with 1,622,159 units valued at $6,560,444.
Market activity ended with an average of 154,530 units for an average of $585,364 compared to an average of 77,246 units for an average of $312,402 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 246,012 units at $1,064,766 compared to 283,041 units at $1,258,810 on the prior trading day. March closed with an average of 149,999 units valued at $623,819, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows just 5 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 15 cents at $2, trading 449,644 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded 4 cents higher at $11, with 8,288 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading at $5, with a mere 203 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 2 cents at $2, with 23,902 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled 1 cent higher at $3.31, with 238,216 units. 
Eppley ended trading 13,000 shares and rose 10 cents to $9.60, Express Catering lost 10 cents at $5.25, with 291,235 shares trading, General Accident closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.95, exchanging 22,000 stock units, GWest Corporation ended with a loss of 1 cent at $3.09, exchanging 35,475 units. Honey Bun concluded trading after falling 5 cents to $4.65, with 6,000 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading at $5.30, with 25,000 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded 10 cents higher at $4.15, with 81,862 units, Key Insurance finished trading with a loss of 65 cents at $4, after 501,651 shares changed hands. Lasco Distributors lost 5 cents to end at $4, with 853,641 stock units, Lasco Financial finished 70 cents higher at $5.70, with 24,256 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 1 cent at $3.99, with 52,230 shares and Medical Disposables traded at $5, with just 400 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
