A high percentage of the stocks listed on the junior market were active on Tuesday with 18 trading, 6 of which advanced, 4 declined, the market index was up a miniscule 6.24 points to end at 2,249.07. A total of 6 stocks closed at a new 52 weeks’ highs.
The volume of 1,840,258 units changed hands, valued at $6,617,973 with indicators showing potential for a resumption of upward price movements with the supply of stocks being reduced as indicated by the increased number of stocks without offers. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid to buy and 9 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, AMG Packaging price rose 20 cents to a new high of $11.40 with 32,190 shares changing hands, C2W Music ended at 49 cents while 27,516 units changed hands, Caribbean Cream ended with 4,000 shares changing hands at $4.94, Caribbean Flavours traded 11,353 units to close with a loss of 10 cents to end at $8.90. Caribbean Producers had 13,361 units changing hands but rose 20 cents to close at $5.50 Consolidated Bakeries closed at $1.40 with 273,000 units trading. Derrimon Trading closed at $4.15 with 33,167 shares traded, Dolphin Cove traded at $15.60 as 1,000 shares changed hands, General Accident fell 24 cents while trading 573,067 shares to close at $2.19.
Honey Bun closed at $7.60 as 104,424 shares changed hands, Jamaican Teas lost 5 cents with 400 shares trading to close at a $5.20, KLE Group ended at $2 with 127,714 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors closed with 105,295 units trading and ended unchanged at $8, Lasco Financial lost 20 cents to close at $4 with 196,579 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing traded 245,720 shares and gained 5 cents to close at $5, Medical Disposables had 30,574 shares changing hands with a rise of 55 cents to close at $3.55, Paramount Trading ended at a 52 weeks’ high by rising 5 cent to close at $10.55, but only 135 shares traded and tTech closed with a gain of 10 cents at $4.90 with 60,583 units changing hands.
Juniors rise slightly on Tuesday
Negatives remain as TTSE slips lower
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued with moderate with trading in 9 securities on Tuesday. The market closed with no stock gaining 3 declined with the prices of 6 remaining unchanged. A total of 52,161 shares changed hands valued at $1,671,277.
The Composite Index ended with a fall of 0.85 points to 1,163.80 the All T&T Index lost 1.69 points to 1,939.08 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 51.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator has turned negative with only 2 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Losses| Ansa McAl closed at a 52 weeks’ low with 95 shares traded and lost 38 cents to end at $66.25, National Flour Mills traded 14,108 units and lost 1 cents to end at $2.49 and Trinidad Cement closed with 173 shares changing hands with a loss of 4 cents to end at $3.89.
Firm Trades| Ansa Merchant Bank traded 385 shares at $38.96, Clico Investment Fund traded 15,000 shares to close at $22.75, Grace Kennedy traded 1,680 shares at $4.06, National Commercial Bank closed at $2.30 while trading 10,000 shares. Point Lisas had 400 units changing hands at $3.93, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 11,090 shares changed hands and Sagicor Financial Corporation ended with 1,000 shares changing hands at $6.50.
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Inflows of FX below norm on Monday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Monday was well below the levels expected for the first day of a week in the winter months. Dealers bought the equivalent of just US$27,603,340 and sold US$28,177,563, compared with US$58,820,996 purchased and US$48,672,598 sold on Friday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$23,407,422 compared to US$55,716,976 on Friday with the buying rate for the US dollar falling 68 cents to $119.63. A total of US$26,363,858 was sold versus US$45,573,684 on Friday as the selling rate climbed by just 2 cents to $120.80. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 28 cents to end at $80.79 with dealers buying C$2,421,519 and selling C$980,032, at an average rate that declined by $1.50 to $82.16. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $3.03 to $169.10 for the purchase of £1,645,063, while £689,638 was sold, with the rate falling 22 cents to $171.32. At the end of trading, it took J$132.28 to purchase the Euro, for a jump of $1.37 on Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129.79 for a rise of $1.53 on Friday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$235,202 being bought, while US$169,063 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a fall of $2.30 in the highest selling rate of the Canadian dollar to $86.20 and the lowest selling rate falling by $1.55 to $78.15, the British Pound, dropping $3.10 of the highest buying rate to $173.45 and an increase of $1.34 in the highest selling rate to $178.90.
Negatives remain as TTSE slips slightly
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued with moderate with trading in 10 securities on Monday. The market closed with no stock gaining 2 declined with the prices of 8 remaining unchanged. A total of 102,868 shares changed hands valued at $1,065,715.
The Composite Index ended with a fall of 017 points to 1,164.65 the All T&T Index lost 0.34 points to 1,940.77 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 51.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator has turned negative with only 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Losses| Angostura Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ low with 20,976 shares traded for a value of $285,668 and lost 3 cents to end at $13.61 and Scotiabank closed with 300 shares changing hands with a loss of 7 cents to end at $61.78.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 500 shares to close at $22.75, Grace Kennedy traded 1,680 shares at $4.06, JMMB Group traded 984 units at 55 cents. National Commercial Bank closed at $2.30 while trading 11,000 shares. 
National Flour Mills traded 2,000 units at $2.50, One Caribbean Media had 14,894 units changing hands at $22, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 534 shares changed hands and Sagicor Financial Corporation ended with 50,000 shares changing hands at $6.50.
Scotia pushes JSE to 4,000 points gain
The continued seesaw movement in the price of Scotia Group continued in the morning session with the stock trading at $34.99, 
helping to push the main stock market indices up between 3,100 to just under 4,000 points. Scotia closed trading on Friday with the last trade ended at $30.09.
Supreme Ventures also rose with a gain of 35 cents to trade at $5.05, in the junior market Honey Bun traded at a new high of $7.60 with 56,000 units but, Lasco Financial fell back by 46 cents to $4.06 with 109,645 shares.
After 75 minutes of trading, the all Jamaica Composite Index jumped by 3,996.70 points to 177,597.82 the JSE Market Index climbed 3,576.27 points to 159,850.11 the JSE combined index gained 3,139.92 points to 170,963.97 and the junior market index fell 25.71 points to 2,240.63
In trading 31 securities were active and accounted for 1,469,912 units that changed hands with 16 stocks rising and 9 falling.
Jam$ gains vs Pound & Can$ – Friday
The Jamaican foreign exchange market returned to normal on Friday with gains against the Canadian dollar and the Pound sterling with dealers buying the equivalent US$58,820,996 and selling US$48,672,598, compared with US$33,372,380 purchased and US$30,923,069 sold on Thursday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$55,716,976 compared to US$28,892,317 on Thursday with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 18 cents to $120.31. A total of US$45,573,684 was sold versus US$29,140,678 on Thursday as the selling rate climbed by just 1 cent to $120.78.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 77 cents to end at $80.51 with dealers buying C$1,061,474 and selling C$2,675,194, at an average rate that declined by 65 cents to $83.65. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $1.37 to $172.13 for the purchase of £1,449,673, while £599,840 was sold, with the rate falling $1.24 to $171.54. At the end of trading, it took J$130.91 to purchase the Euro, for a fall of 8 cents on Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.26 for a fall of 9 cents from Thursday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$319,663 being bought, while US$394,128 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a fall of $16.88 in the lowest selling rate for the US dollar to $100.57, the Canadian dollar highest buying rate rising $1.39 to $85 and the highest selling rate of British Pound, dropping $2.20 to $177.56.
More decline for JSE on Friday
JPS preference share rose $76 on Friday to $1,201.
Trading levels on the Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to be buoyant with 40 securities changing hands on Friday in all market segments. At the close 17 securities in the combined markets gained and 15 declined.
Eight stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and 3 at intraday highs as 6,458,590 units valued at $100,762,294 changed hands in all markets, with the junior market accounting for 2,572,307 units that changed hands, valued at $13,732,252.
While all main market indices fell the declines were less than on Thursday, with the JSE Market Index dropping 1,351.93 points to 156,273.84, the all Jamaica Composite Index falling with 1,510.87 points to end at 173,601.12 and the JSE combined index diving 1,405.00 points to close at 167,824.05.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reached an elevated level indicating several rising prices ahead with reading of 19 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 3 with lower offers.
In trading, Barita Investments traded 134,925 shares and gained 50 cents to close at $4.40, Berger Paints closed at $3.75 as the price rose 55 cents with 18,500 units trading, Cable and Wireless ended with 257,600 units changing hands to close with a gain of 1 cent to $1.45. Caribbean Cement traded more orderly on Friday, than it did on Thursday when there were wild price swings and closed today with an increase of $2 to $24 with 4,884 shares trading. Carreras fell 5 cents to end at $60 with 60,210 units changing hands, Gleaner Company traded 7,400 shares to gain 30 cents to close at $2.70, Grace Kennedy closed at $80.21, with 20,240 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers fell $1.51 to close at $11.50 with 256,650 shares changing hands. Jamaica Producers had 3,570 shares trading as the price rose by 10 cents to $32.30, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1 and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $20 while trading 200,000 shares, JMMB Group traded 83,100 units to end with a loss of 18 cents at $11.77. Kingston Wharves traded 8,341 units to close at $11.15, Margaritaville Turks came into its own after reporting profits of US$518,134 in the six months to November last year versus $279,000 in 2014. The stock traded 1,128,920 units at 10.5 US cents each. Mayberry Investments traded 327,979 shares and lost 2 cents to end at $4.70, National Commercial Bank ended with a loss of 99 cents at $40.51 with 257,266 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investments fell 9 cents to close at $94.06 with 8,528 shares trading. 
138 Student Living Jamaica traded 985 shares at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.10, after rising by 35 cents, Radio Jamaica gained 40 cents in trading 32,400 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6. Sagicor Group fell 65 cents to close at $22.80 with 365,894 units changing hands, Scotia Group dropped $4.90 with 346,798 shares changing hands to close at $30.09, Scotia Investments recovered the $3.10 it lost on Thursday to close at $29.90 after 18,469 units traded. Seprod dropped $2.49 with 83,600 shares trading and closed at $18.51, Supreme Ventures gained 4 cents to end at $4.70 with 70,820 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 40,730 units at 22 US cents, down from 22.99 US cents.
Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share traded for the first time in months, with 33,000 units valued at $39,633,000 changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1,201, for an increase of $76 and Proven Investments 8% preference shares traded 100,000 units at $5.
Juniors eased further on Friday
Paramount’s products the company’s stock close at an all-time high of $10.50 on Friday.
The junior market ended the week on a mixed note as investors continued profit taking, in continuation of Thursday declines. At the close, the junior market was down a moderate 14.42 points to end at 2,266.34 with 13 securities trading, 6 of which advanced, 5 declined with 3 closing at new 52 weeks’ highs.
The volume of 2,572,307 units changed hands, valued at $13,732,252 with indicators showing potential for a resumption of upward price movements, with the supply of stocks being reduced as indicated by the increased number of stocks without offers. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid and 11 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, AMG Packaging price rose $2 to a new high of $11.05 with only 3,000 shares changing hands in response to profits rising 87 percent in the November quarter to $29 million, C2W Music ended at 49 cents while 7,000 units changed hands, Caribbean Cream ended with a loss of 15 cents as 464,151 shares changed hands at $4.95. Caribbean Producers had 10,392 units changing hands but slipped 27 cents to close at $5.20, 
Consolidated Bakeries saw trading in 9,753 units but fell 4 cents to $1.36, General Accident rose by 13 cents with trading in 10,000 shares to close at $2.19. Honey Bun rose to a new 52 weeks’ high of $7.18 and gained of 18 cents as 11,000 shares changed hands, Lasco Distributors closed with 366,072 units trading and ended with a rise of 9 cents at $8.09, Lasco Financial lost 5 cents to close at $4.70 with 334,168 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing traded 1,028,935 shares and gained 26 cents to close at $5, Medical Disposables had 170,000 shares changing hands at $3.30, Paramount Trading closed with a gain of 40 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $10.50 while 57,575 units traded and tTech closed with a loss of 6 cents at $4.95 with 100,261 units changing hands.
Citizens dominate with $10.7m trade
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued with moderate trading with 9 active securities on Friday with First Citizens having the largest trade accounting for $10.7 million but no stock declined at the close of the market. At the close 2 stocks advanced, none declined, with the prices of 7 remaining unchanged. A total of 351,327 shares changed hands valued at $10,807,413.
The Composite Index ended with a gain of 0.68 points to 1,164.82 the All T&T Index rose 0.34 points to 1,941.11 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.14 to end at 51.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator has turned negative with only 2 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 10 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings gained 7 cents with 480 shares changing hands to close at $13.51 and Point Lisas gained 1 cent with 3,697 shares trading to close at $3.93.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 1,143 shares to close at $22.75, First Citizens had 305,826 shares changing hands for a value of $10,703,910 changing hands at $35, JMMB Group traded 27,580 units at 55 cents. National Commercial Bank closed at $2.30 while trading 4,527 shares. National Flour Mills traded 2,000 units at $2.50, Sagicor Financial Corporation ended with 2,019 shares changing hands at $6.50 and West Indian Tobacco closed at $126.29 as 29 shares changed hands.
JSE pulls back again in early trading
The stock market pulled back again on Friday with the indices falling in junior and the main markets and adding to Thursday end of day losses as volumes remained relatively light after 75 minutes of trading. 
The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 549.58 points to 174,562.41 the JSE Market Index tumbled 491.76 points to 157,134.01 the JSE combined index dropped 607.09 points to 168,621.96 and the junior market index fell 28.19 points to 2,264.88.
In trading 29 securities were active and accounted for 1,814,132 units changed hands with 12 stocks rising and 10 falling.
Scotia Group traded at $30.09 compared to nearly $34.99, the last traded price with 81,528 shares Barita Investments had 134,925 shares trading at $4.40, Margaritaville Turks came into its own after reporting profits of US$518,134 versus $279,000 in the six months to November last year, the stock traded 394,700 at 10.5 US cents, Radio Jamaica jumped to a new high of $6 with 32,400 units.
In the junior market, AMG Packaging traded at a new high of $11.05, Honey Bun is up to a new 52 weeks’ high of $7.18 and Paramount Trading at $10.50, Lasco Financial fell back to $4.20 from yesterday’s close of $4.75.
