Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market saw dealers selling US$7 million more in US currency than they purchased on Tuesday, with the rate of the local dollar continuing to be eroded against the critical US dollar. But the Jamaican dollar gained against the Pound and the Canadian dollar.
The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$35,269,451 and selling US$41,196,078, in contrast to US$55,574,036 purchased and US$47,693,027 sold on Monday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$32,440,716 compared to US$52,708,850 on Monday, as the buying rate for the US dollar fell 11 cents to close at $122.46. 
A total of US$39,691,937 was sold versus US$44,797,667 on Monday with the selling rate rising 22 cents to $123.40. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped 21 cents to end at $93.96 with dealers buying C$670,778 and selling C$452,944, at an average rate that slipped 12 cents to $97.36. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 35 cents to $175.60 for the purchase of £1,505,483, while £620,723 was sold, as the rate fell 49 cents to $179.06.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, climbed 78 cents to close at J$141.83, from Monday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$141.12 for a rise of 96 cents from Monday’s rate.
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$155,229 being bought, while US$246,143 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the Jamaican dollar against the main currencies on Tuesday are, a rise of $4.81 in the lowest buying rate of the Canadian dollar to end at $77.81 and a fall of $2.10 in the lowest selling rate to $87.20, a rise of 70 cents in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to end at $181 and a rise in the highest selling rate of 81 cents to $187.38.
US$7m more FX sold than bought – Tuesday
Another big jump for Eppley on Tuesday
New high for Eppley
The trade took place as the company announced that up to 487,703 new ordinary shares priced at $650 each will be made available to ordinary stockholders on the record date for the issue, on Friday 6 May 2016. On Monday Eppley climbed 15 percent for a gain of $75.76 to close at $580.76. At the close, there were two 52 weeks’ highs with 14 active securities trading, as 6 advanced and 4 declined as the junior market index slipped 0.77 points, to end at 2,158.56. A total of 1,253,040 shares valued at $109,112,009 traded. 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading in a market, Caribbean Cream traded 2,450 units and rose 30 cents to end at $4.50, Caribbean Producers had 1,000 shares changing hands at $4.01, General Accident gained 5 cents in trading 3,600 shares to close at $2.70, Honey Bun fell 95 cents to end at $17 with 37,988 shares trading.
Jamaican Teas traded 8,900 shares and lost 9 cents to end at $3.91, Jetcon Corporation ended at $2.90 while 608,524 units traded. Key Insurance traded 25,121 shares to end at $2.80, Knutsford Express had 2,900 shares trading unchanged at $16.80. Lasco Distributors gained 10 cents and ended at $7.60 with 130,860 shares trading, Lasco Financial gained 10 cents to close at $3.50 with 120,661 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing lost 1 cent to close at $4.59 with 78,836 shares trading, Medical Disposables traded 1,200 shares to close 22 cents higher at $3.42 and Paramount Trading fell 15 cents to end with 71,000 shares changing hands at $10.85.
4 new lows on TTSE – Tuesday
Trading ended with 4 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ lows and 1 at a 52 weeks’ high as demand for stocks remain low on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange. The market close with 15 active securities changing hands on Tuesday with only 2 stocks gaining, 7 declining while 6 remained unchanged as trading as selling pressure continues in the market.
Trading ended with 459,414 shares valued at $5,306,087 changing hands. The Composite Index declined by 5.36 points to close at 1,119.31, the All T&T Index eased 10.31 points to close at 1,787.58 and the Cross Listed Index declined by 0.05 points to 59.92.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Trinidad and Tobago NGL gained 7 cents, to close at $19.62 with 4,461 shares trading and West Indian Tobacco traded 20,130 shares valued at $2,543,626 to close at 52 weeks’ high of $126.36 after rising 1 cent.
Losses| ANSA McAL lost 49 cents in trading 50 to close at 52 weeks’ low of $62.49, Firstcaribbean International Bank fell 1 cent to close at $6.51 with 965 shares, Massy Holdings lost $1.01 to close at 52 weeks’ low of $49.99 with 22,080 shares valued at $1,103,975 changing hands. National Enterprises contributed 26,828 shares with a value of $301,542 but lost 15 cents in closing at $11.20. One Caribbean Media lost 2 cents to close at $21.48 while trading 100 shares, 
Republic Financial fell to a 52 weeks’ low of $108.95 with a loss of 4 cents as 800 units changed hands and Scotiabank had 2,000 shares trading at $55 after falling $1.43 for a 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 4,800 units at $22.60, Grace Kennedy closed at $5.15 with 160,000 shares traded, for a valued of $824,000, JMMB Group closed at 58 cents with 216,000 shares changing hands. National Flour Mills traded 100 shares at $2.30, Praetorian Property Mutual Fund traded 1,000 at $2.70 and Trinidad Cement traded 100 shares to end at $3.35.
Eppley adds $69 in early trading – Tuesday
Insurance premium financer, Eppley jumped again in the early morning session on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, to add $69.24 to the $75.76 gained on Monday as 160,000 units of the stock traded at $650 to record a gain of almost 29 percent in two days. The trade took place as the company announced that up to 487,703 new ordinary shares priced at $650 each will be made available to ordinary stockholders on the record date for the issue, on Friday 6 May 2016.
Eppley has 796,249 ordinary shares issued currently. The amount traded represents 20 percent of the issued shares. NCB Capital; Markets bought 41,716 units with the rest being crossed by Mayberry for clients.
Berger Paints traded 132,384 shares to gain 10 cents to $4.10 and was the only one other security trading over 100,000 shares. Honey Bun trading just 2,000 shares hit a new high of $18.
After 77 minutes of trading, on Tuesday, the average volume traded amounts to 25,536 units per active stock, compared to an average of 19,944 units in the mid-morning session on Monday. Notwithstanding the low volume, the main market indices record gains but the junior index declined.
Trading resulted in activity in 20 securities, accounting for 638,410 shares changing hands as 13 stocks gained and 6 declined.
The market saw the all Jamaica Composite Index gained 387.32 points to 170,888.73, the JSE Market Index rose 346.33 points to 153,846.84, the JSE combined index ended with a rise of 230.74 points to 164,768.46 and the junior market index eased 8.83 points to 2,150.50.
JSE sharp jump to start May – Monday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday ended with sharply reduced volumes compared the levels traded on Friday and in recent weeks and months, with 37 securities changed hands, accounting for only 1,377,118 units valued at a mere $23,284,334, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 534,047 shares valued at $3,394,975 as 15 stocks in the overall market gained, 12 declined including 8 of the stocks rising and 3 declining, from the junior market.
At the close of trading there were 2 new 52 weeks’ closing highs in the junior market.
The JSE Market Index rose sharply by 3,461.33 points to end at 153,500.51. The all Jamaica Composite Index surged 3,871.05 points to 
close at 170,501.41 and the JSE combined index jumped 4,179.76 points, to close at 164,537.72.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 3,200 shares at $4, Cable & Wireless lost 2 cents and closed at $1.35 in trading 160,020 units, Caribbean Cement traded 7,498 shares but the price fell by 6 cents to close at $26.50, Carreras fell 50 cents while trading 6,000 shares, to close at $62.50. Rebranded Gleaner Company, 1834 Investments, gained 16 cent to close at $1.15 in trading only 833 shares, Jamaica Broilers had 14,350 units changing hands, to close at $14.15. JMMB Group fell by 50 cents in trading 6,250 shares to close at $9.50, Kingston Wharves traded just 1,000 shares to close with a gain of 85 cents at $11.15,
Mayberry Investments traded 32,088 shares but gained 10 cents to close at $3.40. National Commercial Bank declined by 50 cents while 20,586 shares traded, to close at $40.50, Pan Jamaican closed at $88 with 2,616 shares changing hands. Radio Jamaica traded 34,500 shares and climbed 5 cents to close at $1.20, Sagicor Group fell 10 cents to end with 5,705 shares changing hands at $22.40, Scotia Group closed with a rise of 50 cents, to end at $30.50 while 491,344 units changed hands. Scotia Investments closed with 8,374 shares trading with a gain of 50 cents to $26, Seprod ended with 19,777 units trading with a loss of $1.30 at $15.60 and Supreme Ventures fell 6 cents and closed at $5 with 9,000 shares changing hands.
US$8m more FX bought than sold – Monday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market saw dealers purchasing US$8 million more than they sold on Monday. The rate of the local dollar continue to be eroded against the critical US dollar. The Jamaican dollar also declined against the Pound but gained against the Canadian dollar.
The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$55,574,036 and selling US$47,693,027, in contrast to US$33,671,447 purchased and US$25,438,235 sold on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$52,708,850 compared to US$30,487,529 on Friday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 20 cents to close at $122.57. A total of US$44,797,667 was sold versus US$24,056,712 on 
Friday with the selling rate rising 3 cents to $123.18. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped 99 cents to end at $94.17 with dealers buying C$1,249,836 and selling C$810,992, at an average rate that slipped 5 cents to $97.48. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 65 cents to $175.25 for the purchase of £1,251,371, while £1,451,992 was sold, as the rate jumped $2.53 to $179.55.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, climbed $1.72 to close at J$141.05, from Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$140.16 for a rise of $3.18 from Friday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$115,775 being bought, while US$137,203 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the Jamaican dollar against the main currencies on Monday are, a fall of $2.63 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to end at $100.03, a rise of $2.10 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar to $89.30 and a decline of $4.40 in the lowest selling for the British Pound to end at $167.80.
6 TTSE stocks trade – Monday
Trading ended with just 6 active securities changing hands on Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday with 1 stock gaining, 4 declining while 1 remained unchanged as trading as selling pressure continues in the market. Trading ended with 57,196 shares valued at $589,600 changing hands..
The Composite Index declined by 0.56 points to close at 1,124.67, the All T&T Index eased 1.11 points to close at 1,797.89 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 59.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 12 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Trinidad and Tobago NGL gained 1 cent, to close at $19.53 with 4,452 shares trading.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 10,500 units at $22.50 after shedding 10 cents, Guardian Holdings had 1,144 shares changing hands, to end 1 cent lower at $12.99, Massy Holdings lost 50 cents to close at 52 weeks’ low of $51 with 2,480 shares changing hands and Trinidad Cement traded 36,683 shares to end with a loss of 1 cent, at $3.35.
Firm Trades| JMMB Group closed at 58 cents with 1,937 shares changing hands.
Slow trading in morning session – Monday
Trading in the early morning session on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, after 85 minutes of trading, 
on Monday, the average volume traded amounts to 19,944 units per active stock, compared to an average of 657,664 units traded in the mid-morning session on Friday. Notwithstanding the low volume the market indices record strong gains.
By just under one and a half hour of trading a total of 28 securities accounting for 558,419 shares changed hands as 10 stocks gained and 7 declined.
The market saw the all Jamaica Composite Index gained 1,413.41 points to 168,043.77, the JSE Market Index rose 1,263.82 points to 151,303.00, the JSE combined index ended with a rise of 1,612.99 points to 161,970.95 and the junior market index gained 42.97 points to 2,107.82.
JSE ends April positively – Friday
Mayberry Investments traded 17.65m shares on the JSE on Friday.
The JSE Market Index that plummeted sharply by 2,934.82 points on Thursday, recovered just 527.92 points on Friday to end at 150,039.18. The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 590.41 points on Friday but in contrast to the drop of 3,282.21 points on Thursday as it closed at 166,630.36 and the JSE combined index that dived 2,789.11 points on Thursday enjoyed a slight increase by 94.38 points, to close at 160,357.96. The decline in the movement in the main market on Friday, breaks the four consecutive trading days that the indices gained prior to today out turn.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 21 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints gained 10 in trading 2,472 shares at $4, Cable & Wireless lost 2 cents and closed at $1.37 in trading 349,000 units, Caribbean Cement traded 83,248 shares but the price fell $1.44 to close at $26.56, Carreras rose 50 cents while trading 16,265 shares, to close at $63. Rebranded Gleaner Company, 1834 Investments, gained 1 cent to close at 99 cents in trading 101,900 shares, Jamaica Broilers had 25,000 units changing hands, to close with a loss of 35 cents at $14.15. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 5,000 units and declined by $1, to close at $21, Kingston Wharves traded 21,644 shares to close at $11.15, with a loss of 5 cents, Mayberry Investments traded 17,650,039 shares but fell 2 cents to close at $3.30.
National Commercial Bank gained $1.20 while 180,965 shares traded, to close at $41, after the company released improved results for the March quarter, Pan Jamaican lost $1 to close at $88 with 4,860 shares changing hands. Radio Jamaica traded 94,200 shares and climbed 7 cents to close at $1.15. Sagicor Group gained 45 cents to end with 12,844 shares changing hands at $22.50, Scotia Group closed with a loss of $1, to end at $30 while 10,421 units changed hands, Supreme Ventures gained 1 cent and closed at $5.06 with 160,489 shares changing hands. Proven Investments closed with 8,677 ordinary shares trading at 20 US cents and JMMB Group 6% preference share ended with 62,630 units trading with a loss of 5 cents at $1.10.
Trading picked up on TTSE – Friday
Witco traded at a new high on the TTSE.
The Composite Index declined by 1.14 points to close at 1,125.23, the All T&T Index eased 2.47 points to close at 1,799.00 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.03 points to end at 59.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 6 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Sagicor Financial Corporation gained 3 cents and closed with 33,285 shares valued at $582,378 changing hands, at $7.13, Point Lisas rose 4 cents to end at $3.94 with 212 shares changing hands. Trinidad Cement rose 1 cent to close $3.36 with 597,415 shares valued at $2,006,665 changing hands and West Indian Tobacco traded 361 shares to close at 52 weeks’ high of $126.35 after rising 5 cents.
Losses| Clico Investments Fund traded 208,749 shares and lost 10 cents, to end at $22.60, Guardian Holdings had 30,265 shares valued at $393,447 changing hands, to end 25 cents lower at $13.
Massy Holdings lost 71 cents to close at 52 weeks’ low of $51.50 with 5,083 shares changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings declined by 1 cent to close at $108.99, with 25 shares changing hands, at a 52 weeks’ low.Firm Trades| Ansa Merchant Bank traded 200 units at $39.50, Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 5,035 shares to end at $6.52, Grace Kennedy traded 9,064 shares at $5.15, National Enterprises closed with 182 shares changing hands at $11.35. Scotia Investments closed with 2,500 shares trading at $1.62 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded at $19.52 with 270,538 shares valued at $5,280,915 changing hands.
