Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market ended Friday with dealers buying the equivalent of US$55,187,652 and selling US$45,669,815, in stark contrast with US$71,660,961 purchased and US$66,585,264 sold on Thursday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$51,122,324 compared to US$69,317,642 on Thursday with the buying rate for the US dollar slipping by 16 cents to $120.91. A total of US$43,774,345 was sold versus US$65,470,747 on Thursday as the selling rate climbed by 3 cents to $121.37.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 25 cents to end at $83.21 with dealers buying C$1,161,158 and selling C$572,649, at an average rate that gained 11 cents to $85.73. The rate for buying the British Pound rose $1.23 to $170.79 for the purchase of £1,882,740, while £795,747 was sold, with the rate climbing $2.06 to $173.89. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, ended with a gain of 86 cents at J$132.74, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$130.46 for a rise of $1.35 on Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$606,802 being bought, while US$350,831 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the 
currencies traded at are, a rise of $1.25 in the highest buying rate for the US dollar that ended at $122 and a hike of $2 in the lowest selling rate to $118. The highest buying rate of the Canadian dollar lost $1.70 to $86.50 and highest selling rate dropped $1.62 to $88.38. The highest buying rate for the British Pound dropped $4.65 to $174.05, the lowest buying rate dived by $3.98 to $138.86, the highest selling rate dipped $4.35 to $179.80 and the lowest selling rate was down $5.55 to $165.15.
FX trading remains elevated on Friday
Juniors market up 21% to Friday
Junior market stocks had big gains in January.
The volume of 1,176,492 units changed hands, valued at $6,265,417. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid to buy and 9 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. Trading could end with a strong gain at the close on Friday with a total of 9 stocks closing with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services closed at $16.80 with 9,500 units changing hands, AMG Packaging jumped $1 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $15 with 5,514 units changing hands, Blue Power closed with only 385 units changing hands at $11, C2W Music closed with 9,935 units changing hands to close at 49 cents. Caribbean Cream ended with a loss of 15 cents as 25,562 shares changed hands to close at $4.65, Caribbean Flavours traded 43,830 units to end with a loss of 5 cents at $8.95, Caribbean Producers traded 11,000 units to gain 50 cents and closed at $5.50, Consolidated Bakeries traded 21,500 shares at $1.30. Dolphin Cove traded 5,560 units but fell 31 cents to close at $15.69,
General Accident rose 8 cents while trading 47,541 shares to close at $2.15, Honey Bun ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $9 with 28,500 units trading with a gain of 30 cents. Jamaican Teas fell 10 cents with 61,245 shares trading to close at a $4.90, KLE closed with 21,800 units changing hands at $2.22, after losing 28 cents, Knutsford express ended with 700 shares changing hands at $15.20, Lasco Distributors closed with 214,200 units trading and ended at $7.20, Lasco Financial closed at $4 with 166,857 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing ended trading 484,867 shares to close at $5 and tTech closed with a gain of 5 cents at $4.75 with 17,996 shares trading.
JSE make gains on Friday morning
The Jamaica Stock Exchange is recording gains after it retreated on Thursday but with varying price movements with declining stocks in the supremacy over advancing ones. AMG Packaging traded at a new high of $15, Caribbean Cement jumped $5 back to $30 but with only 7,500 units trading, Honey Bun trading at a new high of $9, Lasco Manufacturing was pulling back 46 cents to $4.54.
After 90 minutes of trading, the all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 954.95 points to 178,263.90, the JSE Market Index rose 854.50 points to 160,446.13, the JSE combined index gained 999.13 points to 170,879.96 and the junior market index fell 21.42 points to 2,169.12. In trading, 35 securities were active and accounted for 2,203,876 units changed hands with 11 stocks rising and 15 falling.
FX trading jumps sharply on Thursday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market ended on Thursday at levels that is usually occurs on days when the Bank of Jamaica intervenes in the market. Trading ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$71,660,961 and selling US$66,585,264, in stark contrast with US$33,911,551 purchased and US$32,180,833 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$69,317,642 compared to US$30,531,051 on Wednesday with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 50 cents to $121.07. A total of US$65,470,747 was sold versus US$28,521,777 on Wednesday as the selling rate climbed by 3 cents to $121.34. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.80 to end at $82.96 with dealers buying C$1,004,415 and selling C$661,128, 
at an average rate that fell $2.37 to $85.62. The rate for buying the British Pound slipped 82 cents to $169.56 for the purchase of £1,117,479, while £359,952 was sold, with the rate falling 29 cents to $171.83. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, ended with a gain of 38 cents at J$131.88, from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129.10 for a rise of 39 cents from Wednesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$90,020 being bought, while US$138,299 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a fall of $1.25 in the highest buying rate for the US dollar that ended at $120.75 and a hike of $16.97 in the lowest selling rate to $116. The highest buying rate of the Canadian dollar rose $1.50 to $88.20, the lowest buying rate rose $1 and ended at $68.81 and lowest selling rate climbed $1.50 to $80.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound jumped $4.80 to $178.70, the lowest buying rate jumped by $4.64 to $142.84, the highest selling rate leapt $7.16 to $184.15 and the lowest selling rate was up $5.50 to $170.70.
Moderate TTSE trading on Thursday
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued to reflect moderate trading with 10 securities being active on Thursday. The market closed with 1 stock gaining, 2 declining with the prices of 7 remaining unchanged. A total of 214,069 shares changed hands valued at $1,814,892.
The Composite Index closed unchanged at 1,162.44, the All T&T Index lost 0.01 points to 1,933.38 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 51.63.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator has turned negative with only 6 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings had 760 units changing hands and gained 1 cent to close at $14.18.
Losses| Angostura Holdings ended with 110 shares changing hands but lost 2 cents to end at $13.60 and National Flour lost 2 cents to end with 100 shares changing hands at $2.33.
Firm Trades| Calypso Macro Index Fund had 1,207,633 shares changing hands for a value of $30,190,825 to close at $25, Clico Investment Fund traded 15,450 shares to close at $22.51. JMMB Group with 308,559 shares changing hands, closed at 55 cents, Massy Holdings ended with 20,000 shares changing hands to close at $59.89, Prestige Holdings contributed 147,379 shares with a value of $1,501,792 while closing at $10.19. Sagicor Financial Corporation added 41,290 shares valued at $268,385 and closed at $6.50 and West Indian Tobacco traded 100 units to close at $126.
Juniors down 5% as JSE retreats
The Jamaica Stock market retreated in the morning session on Thursday but the junior market fell sharply by more than 5 percent as Lasco Manufacturing was pulled back $1.10 to $3.90. Lasco Distributors traded 1,035,826 while dropping 60 cents to $7.20 which would have pulled down the index by a sizable amount while Caribbean Producers that traded 140,190 units slipped by 50 cents to $5.
The juniors are not the only one to suffer a fall as the major fell close to 900 points and the combined market by more than 2,200 points. After 90 minutes of trading, the all Jamaica Composite Index fell 1,393.59 points to 178,641.56, the JSE Market Index dropped 1,247.00 points to 160,784.07, the JSE combined index dived 2,205.87 points to 170,851.08 and the junior market index fell 114.04 points to 2,130.64. In trading, 33 securities were active and accounted for 3,272,579 units changed hands with 14 stocks rising and 8 falling.
Scotia Group traded 7,160 units with the price falling by $1 to $31, Proven Investments ordinary shares climbed back from 20 us cents to 22.98 US cents in trading 645,989 units and Jamaica Broilers traded at with 153,671 shares but dropped $2.05 to end at $13.50. Mayberry Investments have put up 20 million Radio Jamaica shares for sale at $5 each.
Ground lost on TTSE – Wednesday
Grace Kennedy closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued to reflect a negative tone with moderate trading with 13 securities being active on Wednesday. The market closed with 2 stocks gaining, 4 declining with the prices of 7 remaining unchanged while 2 securities closed at 52 weeks’ low and 1 at a 52 weeks’ high. A total of 954,766 shares changed hands valued at $19,909,947.
The Composite Index slipped 0.06 points to 1,162.44, the All T&T Index lost 0.25 points to 1,933.39 and the Cross Listed Index remained rose 0.02 to close at 51.63.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator remains with a high degree of negativity with only 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks or 22.5 percent of listings with offers that were lower.
Gains| Grace Kennedy traded 170,732 units valued at $703,415, to close with a rise of 2 cents at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.12 and Guardian Holdings had 8,857 units changing hands and gained 2 cents to close at $14.17
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 416,690 shares valued at $9,378,525 but lost 9 cents to close at $22.51, Massy Holdings lost 1 cent to end with 25 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.89. National Flour lost 3 cents to close at $2.35 with 25,000 shares trading at $2.35 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL contributed 1,828 shares but lost 11 cents, in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $19.99.
Firm Trades| Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 197 units at $25, First Citizens had 528 shares to end at $35, JMMB Group contributed 72,361 shares at 55 cents, National Commercial Bank traded 43,315 shares changing hands to end at $2.28, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 18,250 shares valued at $2,044,000 changed hands. Sagicor Financial ended with 93,983 shares with a value of $610,890 changing hands at $6.50 and Unilever Caribbean ended with 100,000 shares valued at $6,782,000 changing hands at $67.82.
Jamaican$ loses value all round – Wednesday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market ended on Wednesday with dealers buying the equivalent of US$33,911,551 and selling US$32,180,833, compared with US$27,137,018 purchased and US$31,241,564 sold on Tuesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$30,531,051 compared to US$24,325,109 on Tuesday with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 12 cents to $120.57. A total of US$28,521,777 was sold versus US$28,696,289 on Tuesday as the selling rate climbed by 10 cents to $121.31. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate jumped $2.58 to end at $84.76 with dealers buying C$1,794,316 and selling C$3,612,350, at an average rate that rose $1.25 to $87.99. The rate for buying the British Pound rose $1.29 to $170.38 for the purchase of £1,419,888, while £557,702 was sold, with the rate gaining 61 cents to $172.12. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, ended with a gain of 31 cents at J$131.50, from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.71 for a rise of 22 cents from Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$112,633 being bought, while US$247,666 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a fall of $1.91 in the lowest selling rate for the US dollar that ended at $99.03. The highest selling rise of the Canadian dollar rose $2.14 to $90, the lowest selling rate fell $1.55 and ended at $79 and Highest selling rate for the British Pound fell $1.17 to $176.99 and the lowest selling rate jumped by $7.20 to $165.20.
Juniors inched up on Wednesday
Honey Bun closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday
The junior market closed on Wednesday with 16 securities trading, 6 of which advanced, 4 declined. The market index gained 14.58 points to end at 2,244.68 and a total of 2 stocks closed at a new 52 weeks’ highs and 1 at an intraday high.
The volume of 920,944 units changed hands, valued at $5,787,289. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid to buy and 7 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services gained 30 cents to close at $16.80 with 200 units changing hands, AMG Packaging fell by 10 cents to close at $2.90 with 1,434 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 7,267 shares at $11, Caribbean Cream ended with 17,800 shares changing hands with a rise of 15 cents, to close at $4.80. Caribbean Flavours traded 42,656 units to end at $9, Caribbean Producers traded 55,096 units to close at $5.50, Dolphin Cove closed with a rise of 25 cents to close at $16 with 14,200 shares changing hands, General Accident lost 25 cents while trading 84,631 shares to close at $2.05.
Honey Bun ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.50 with 3,400 units trading with a gain of 30 cents. Knutsford Express closed with 84,617 units changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.20, to record a 20 cents rise, Lasco Distributors closed with 92,771 units trading and ended at $7.80, Lasco Financial closed at $4 with 67,025 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing ended trading 285,652 shares to close at $5, Medical Disposables rose 35 cents and closed at $3.50 with 57,034 shares trading, Paramount Trading lost 5 cents to end with 15,000 shares changing hands at $11.45 and tTech declined 28 cents to close at $4.70 with 92,161 shares trading.
3 new lows on TTSE – Tuesday
Scotiabank closed at a 52 weeks’ low on TTSE on Friday
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued to reflect a negative tone with moderate trading with 16 securities being active on Tuesday. The market closed with 2 stocks gaining, 4 declining with the prices of 10 remaining unchanged while 3 securities closed at 52 weeks’ low. A total of 442,470 shares changed hands valued at $11,853,292.
The Composite Index slipped 2.06 points to 1,162.50, the All T&T Index lost 4.11 points to 1,933.64 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged to close at 51.61.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator remains with a high degree of negativity with only 2 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 10 stocks or 25 percent of listings with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings had 7,643 units changing hands and gained 4 cents to close at $14.15 and Unilever Caribbean ended with 80,000 shares valued at $5,425,600 changing hands with a gain of 2 cents at $67.82.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 42,892 shares valued at $969,213 but lost 13 cents to close at $22.60, Massy Holdings lost 4 cents to end with 50 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.90. Scotiabank traded 2,000 shares but fell 69 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $61 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL contributed 66,011 shares with a value of $1,326,933 but lost 69 cents, in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.10.
Firm Trades| ANSA McAL contributed 10,005 shares at $66.25 for a value of $662,831,
Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 122 units at $25, First Citizens had 17,714 shares valued at $619,990 trading to end at $35, Grace Kennedy traded 7,500 units, to close at $4.10. National Commercial Bank traded 133,554 shares changing hands for a value of $304,710 to end at $2.28, One Caribbean Media added 55,895 shares valued at $1,229,690 to close at $22, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 8,970 shares valued at $1,004,640 changed hands. Sagicor Financial ended with 500 shares changing hands at $6.50, Scotia Investments ended with 9,419 units changing hands at $1.58 and West Indian Tobacco traded 195 units to close at $126.30.
