Trading in the foreign exchange market resulted in the Jamaican dollar making gains against the US dollar but declining versus the Pound and Canadian dollar on Tuesday. The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$64,271,438 and selling US$51,490,582, in contrast to US$35,981,243 purchased and US$43,831,621 sold on Thursday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$59,240,425 compared to US$33,415,921 on Thursday, as the buying rate for the US dollar fell 8 cents to end at $121.25. A total of US$49,386,062 was sold versus US$42,481,290 on Thursday, the selling rate dipped 6 cents to end at $121.97. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 27 cents to end at $88.84 with dealers buying C$2,153,879 and selling C$1,058,914, at an average rate that was up by 53 cents to $91.33. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed by $2.21 to $170.12 for the purchase of £2,075,842, while £552,137 was sold, as the rate rose 87 cents to $171.34. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 12 cents to close at J$136.23, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.41 for a fall of 12 cents from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$540,471 being bought, while US$535,998 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Tuesday are, a fall of $2.37 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to $99.78, the highest buying rate of the Canadian dollar rose by $2.25 to $94.50 while the lowest selling rate rose $3.80 to $87. There was a rise of $2.10 in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to $174.90 and a big drop of $17.75 in the lowest selling rate to end at $146.75.
Jamaican$ gains on US$ – Tuesday
Market up on moderate trades – Tuesday
Trading on the Jamaican Stock Exchange resulted small gains in the early morning session on Tuesday as trading remained slow with very low volumes as investors return from the long break for Easter holiday week end.
After 75 minutes of the market’s opening, the trade of note was a rise of 33 cents in the price of newly listed Jetcon Corporation to $2.58 with 16,649 shares changing hands while Blue Power shed $2.05 to $11.50, Caribbean Cream recovered 75 cents with only 5,000 shares trading to end at $4.25. 
Consolidated Bakeries is under pressure having traded down to $1.12 from $1.30 while trading 5,000 shares, there is an offer of 848,909 units on offer at $1.30 with the bid at $1.11 to buy 20,000 units. There are only six bids in the market for the stock for 290,000 units down to 85 cents while there are 27 offers to sell. Caribbean Cement gained 90 cents to $23.90 but only 13,695 shares changed hands with the bid still at $22.
Only 23 securities accounting for a mere 189,075 shares changed hands as 11 stocks gained and 6 declined.
The indices enjoyed moderate gains with the all Jamaica Composite Index rising 496.32 points to 169,413.55, the JSE Market Index gaining 444.12 points to 152,526.77 the JSE combined index ending with a 739.11 points rise to 161,133.21 but the junior market index rose 35.09 points to 1,916.62.
5 TTSE stocks close at a low – Thursday
The slide on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange continued on Wednesday as trading ended with 274,176 shares valued at $5,683,931 changing hands. A total of 12 securities traded with 8 falling, 3 gaining while 1 remained unchanged. One stock traded at a 52 weeks’ high while five stocks closed at a 52 weeks’ low.
The market closed with the Composite Index declined by 0.83 points to close at 1,129.32, the All T&T Index fell by 1.84 points to close at 1,804.14 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.03 points at 60.38.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 with offers that were lower. More telling is the fact that about a third of the listings have no bids to buy, a clear sign of a weakness.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund traded 4,281 shares to end with a gain of 5 cents at $22.60, Sagicor Financial gained 2 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.01 with 41,302 units changing hands and Trinidad and Tobago NGL gained 92 cents to close at $20 with 25,587 units valued at $508,448, changing hands.
Losses| Angostura Holdings ended with 16,959 shares changing hands to decline by 35 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $13.25, ANSA McAl added 11,400 shares valued at $712,500 but lost 35 cents $62.50, Calypso Macro Index Fund declined by 1 cent to end at a 52 weeks’ low of at $24.99 with 300 shares. JMMB group traded 9,345 shares and fell 1 cent to close at 59 cents,
National Enterprises closed with 3,253 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.99 after falling by 1 cent, Trinidad Cement closed with a loss of 8 cents at $3.60 with 3,500 shares changing hands. L.J. Williams B share traded 900 units and lost 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 96 cents and West Indian Tobacco traded 533 shares but fell 1 cent in ending at $126.27.
Firm Trades| Firstcaribbean International Bank closed at $6.50 with 146 units changing hands.
Jamaican$ mostly falls on Thursday
Trading resulted in the Jamaican dollar mostly falling in value on Thursday as the market ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$35,981,243 and selling US$43,831,621, in contrast to US$40,064,336 purchased and US$40,071,060 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$33,415,921 compared to US$36,342,749 on Wednesday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 1 cent to end at $121.33. A total of US$42,481,290 was sold versus US$39,008,262 on Wednesday, the selling rate rose 2 cents to end at $122.03.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 77 cents to end at $88.57 with dealers buying C$1,219,151 and selling C$540,138, at an average rate that dropped 74 cents to $90.80. The rate for buying the British Pound fell by $4.30 to $167.91 for the purchase of £891,507, while £291,971 was sold, as the rate rose 47 cents to $170.47. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 61 cents to close at J$136.35, from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.54 for a fall of 63 cents from Wednesday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$441,574 being bought, while US$540,551 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Thursday are, a fall of $1.05 in the highest buying rate of the US dollar to $122.25, a fall of $1.80 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar to $83.20. There was a drop of $3.10 in the highest buying rate to $172.80 for
Junior stocks soften – Wednesday
At the end of trading on Wednesday, the junior market index ended with a loss of 24.89 points to close at 1,905.84. The market ended with 14 active securities, 5 of which declined and 3 advanced as mere 157,151 units changed hands, valued at only $774,391.
At the close, 1 security ended with no bid and 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. There were only 2 stocks closing with bids that were higher than their last selling prices and 5 ended with lower offers.
In trading, AMG Packaging ended with 4,548 units changing hands to close with a loss of 43 cents at $10.57, Blue Power had 8,000 shares trading but rose 32 cents to end at $11.50. CAC 2000 traded 1,000 shares with a loss of 10 cents to end at $7.40, Caribbean Cream rose 30 cents with 5,000 shares changing hands to end at $4.Producers lost 17 cents in trading 32,327 shares at $4, Caribbean Consolidated Bakeries had 13,019 units trading firm at $1.30, 
Iron Rock Insurance traded 13,000 shares and closed unchanged at $4, Honey Bun traded 2,151 units at $13, Jamaican Teas closed at $4.49 after trading 500 units for the loss of 50 cents. Knutsford Express closed with 312 units changing hands at $22, Lasco Distributors lost 38 cents with 43,440 units trading to end at $5.51, Lasco Financial ended at $3.03 with 8,254 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing ended with 24,600 shares changing hands to close at $3.56 with a rise of 6 cents and Paramount Trading closed with 1,000 shares trading at $11.31.
The junior market will have one more listing when trading starts on Thursday when Jetcon Corporation is listed.
No end in sight for TTSE slide
Massy trades at a new low on Wednesday
The market closed with the Composite Index declined by 5.30 points to close at 1,130.15, the All T&T Index fell by 10.53 points to close at 1,805.98 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 60.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 with offers that were lower. More telling is the fact that about a third of the listings have no bids to buy, a clear sign of a weakness.
Gains| Unilever Caribbean gained 1 cent to close at $66 with 48 shares trading and West Indian Tobacco traded 350 shares and gained 1 cent in ending at $126.28.
Losses| Agostini’s traded 1,000 shares at $17.02 with a fall of 2 cent in trading at $17.01, Clico Investments Fund ended with a volume of 23,885 shares valued at $538,607 to end with a gain of 1 cent at $22.55, Guardian Holdings ended trading 10,703 shares but declined by 15 cents to close at $13.80. Massy Holdings ended with 72,398 shares valued at $3,981,164 changing hands as the price dropped $1.01 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $54.98,
National Enterprises closed with 7,388 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ low of $9 after falling by 49 cents. Republic Financial Holdings dropped 1 cent to close at $111.99 with 150 shares changing hands and Scotiabank closed with 392 shares changing hands with a loss of 6 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $57.43.Firm Trades| Firstcaribbean International Bank closed at $6.50 with 114,000 units valued at $741,000 changing hands and National Commercial Bank traded 43,862 shares to end at $2.40.
Jamaican$ mostly rose on Wednesday
Trading resulted in the Jamaican dollar mostly gaining value on Wednesday as the market ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$40,064,336 and selling US$40,071,060, in contrast to US$42,863,013 purchased and US$47,456,165 sold on Tuesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$36,342,749 compared to US$38,864,989 on Tuesday, as the buying rate for the US dollar fell 1 cent to end at $121.32. A total of US$39,008,262 was sold versus US$44,298,247 on Tuesday, the selling rate rose 2 cents to end at $122.01.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $1.23 to end at $89.34 with dealers buying C$840,296 and selling C$496,721, at an average rate that dropped $3.15 to $91.54. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed $1.05 to $172.21 for the purchase of £1,967,596, while £301,680 was sold, as the rate fell $2.70 to $170. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 33 cents to close at J$136.96, from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$134.17 for a fall of 38 cents from Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$309,670 being bought, while US$269,807 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Wednesday are, a rise of $1.15 in the highest buying rate of the US dollar to $123.30 and a rise of $1.97 in the lowest selling rate to $101.75. The highest buying rate of the Canadian dollar dropped $3.15 to $92.50 while a decline of $1.29 in the lowest buying rate took the final rate to $73. There was a rise of $1.30 in the highest buying rate to $175.90 for the British Pound while the lowest buying dipped $1.99 to $138.61.
Falling stocks climb on JSE – Wednesday
Trading on the Jamaican Stock Exchange made small gains in the early morning session on Wednesday was slow with just a limited number of securities changing 
hands and resulted in a low volume overall.
After 75 minutes of the market’s opening, 27 securities traded, accounting for a mere 798,315 shares changing hands as only 3 stocks gained and 15 declined.
The indices enjoyed moderate gains in the main market after suffering modest declines earlier in the session with the all Jamaica Composite Index rising 158.18 points to 170,269.19, the JSE Market Index gaining 141.54 points to 153,292.39, the JSE combined index ending with a 114.52 points rise to 161,963.29 but the junior market index lost only 2.06 points to 1,928.67.
In Trading, Grace Kennedy lost $1.90 to with 36,282 shares trading down to $80.10, Sagicor Group had 300,000 shares changing hands at $23.80 to gain 20 cents in the process and Scotia Group traded 231,710 units but lost 51 cents to trade at $30.39.
Gains for Jamaican$ on Monday
Trading resulted in the Jamaican dollar gaining in value on Monday as the market ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$51,988,256 and selling US$42,767,826, in contrast to US$33,506,151 purchased and US$31,293,513 sold on Friday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$47,140,812 compared to US$29,939,202 on Friday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 3 cents to end at $121.32. A total of US$41,056,525 was sold versus US$29,104,944 on Friday, the selling rate fell 5 cents to end at $121.93. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $1.63 to end at $90.26 with dealers buying C$1,998,221 and selling C$1,323,713, at an average rate that dropped 72 cents to $93.35. The rate for buying the British Pound dipped by 73 cents to $171.70 for the purchase of £2,264,195, while £315,739 was sold, on Friday, as the rate slipped by $2.43 to $172.48. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 34 cents to close at J$137.74, from Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European 
common currency at J$134.90 for a fall of 30 cents from Friday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$156,460 being bought, while US$251,228 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Monday are, a big drop in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar of $18.22 to $99.78. A decline of $1.90 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar to close at $86.
Gains for JSE on Monday
Sagicor Group closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Monday
For the overall market, 32 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 11 rising and 10 declining while 1 closed at a 52 weeks’ closing high and one at an intraday record high. The market closed with 4,459,879 units valued at $105,773,180 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 935,672 units changing hands, valued at $3,901,047.
The JSE Market Index garnered 498.31 points to end at 153,581.38, the all Jamaica Composite Index added 556.89 points to end at 170,592.15 and the JSE combined index gained 199.09 points to close at 162,360.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with lower offers. At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless traded 239,100 units to close with a gain of 2 cents at $1.39, Caribbean Cement ended at $22.65 with just 2,246 shares trading, after declining by 65 cents, Carreras traded 4,806 shares to end at $65, Gleaner closed at $2.09 with 105,736 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy closed with 176,230 shares trading with a loss of 99 cents at $82, still well below the $97 equivalent, it last traded at in Trinidad. Jamaica Broilers declined by 9 cents in trading 5,375 units to close at $14, Jamaica Producers closed with a gain of $2 at $33 while trading 1,264,675 shares, down from 2,261,978 units traded on Friday. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose by 90 cents in trading 25,254 units to close at $22.90, JMMB Group had 7,596 units changing hands but rose 30 cents in closing at $10.30, Kingston Wharves traded 1,000 shares to close at $11.45, Mayberry Investments traded 20,680 shares to end at $4.45.
National Commercial Bank gained $1.03 with 330,105 shares changing hands to close at $41.03, Pan Jamaican investment fell 2 cents to close at $93 with 48,996 shares, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 138,420 units at 21 US cents. Sagicor Group gained 74 cents with 935,313 shares changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $23.74, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 2,000 shares to close at $10.90, Scotia Group gained 39 cents with 69,377 shares changing hands to close at $30.90. Seprod traded 30,000 shares to close at $18.51, Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 50 cents at $4.50 with 81,308 units changing hands and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 35,990 units but recovered 5 cents to end at $2.15.
