At the end of trading on Wednesday the Junior Market index had its third consecutive day of rising prices, to end at a new record of 868.99, at 8.03 points ahead of Tuesday’s record close. With 10 securities trading, the market ended with 707,451 units changing hands valued at $2,938,261. The JSE Junior Market close with the price of 5 stocks advancing and 1 declining including 1 closing at a 52 weeks’ high.
At the close, there were 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with a lower offer, this is an early sign that investors may be cooling their aggressive stance in picking up stocks. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Cargo Handlers having 10,000 shares trading to close at $22.08, Caribbean Cream closed with 1,495,613 shares trading at $1.05, Caribbean Producers with 147,200 shares trading at $2.88, General Accident Insurance concluded trading with 86,000 shares changing hands to close 10 cents higher at a new 
52 weeks’ high of $2.15. Honey Bun ended with 10,800 shares changing hands to close higher by 20 cents at $2.90, Jamaican Teas ended trading with 5,000 shares after adding 15 cents to end at $2.90, Lasco Distributors finished trading with 11,219 shares to closed at $1.70, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 89,336 units, the price rose 8 cents to $1.45. There was dealing in 212,781 Lasco Manufacturing’s shares, the stock traded lower by 5 cents to $1.35 and Medical Disposables contributed 31,415 shares with the price remaining unchanged at $1.80.
Juniors a new record on Wednesday
Jamaican stocks prices are still cruising on a high with the junior market hitting 
new high for the third day in a row and the main market continuing to move away from resistance heading towards 115,000 point, the next major level to cross.
The junior market has so far traded 10 securities and the main market 19 securities trading and resulted in 4.58 million units changing hands. A total of 18 stocks rose in price and 2 declined so far.
National Commercial Bank with 1,249,594 shares trading up to $31 is the big trade of the day so far, Jamaica Broilers Group traded 76,652 units up $5.5o for a 52 weeks’ high.
Healthy flows but J$ slips Tuesday
On Tuesday, the Jamaican dollar slipped slightly against the US dollar and aggressively against the British pound and Canadian dollar as purchases of all currencies by dealers amounted to the equivalent of US$37,319,246 compared with US$51,284,150, on Monday and selling of the equivalent of US$36,844,761 versus sale of US$40,876,396, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$32,364,099 compared to US$46,738,177 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 10 cents to $115.46 and US$33,685,585 was sold versus US$38,332,897 on Monday, the selling rate was up 6 cents to $115.92. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose $1.22 to $95.20 with dealers buying C$2,449,582 and selling C$2,136,624, at an average rate that rose 49 cents to $95.85. 
The rate for buying the British Pound increased $2.43 to $177.76 for the purchase of £1,333,135, while £480,156, was sold, at an average rate that rose $1.79 to $180.15. At the end of trading it took J$129.20 to purchase the Euro, 77 cents less than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.71 for a fall of 71 cents from Monday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$882,881, while the equivalent of US$646,260, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 2 cents to $116.12. The lowest buying rate dropped $4.11 to $90.50 and highest selling rate remained at $121.44, while the lowest selling rate declined $18.69 to $94.61.
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 90 cents to $96.65. The lowest buying rate was unmoved at $75.86, the highest selling rate dropped 62 cents $98.14 and the lowest selling rate climbed 30 cents to $91.70. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, climbed $1.35 to $182, the lowest buying rate remained at $141.10, the highest selling rate rose $2.17 to $185.39 with the lowest selling rate rising $3.50 to $173.50.
J$ declined moderately on Monday
On Monday, the Jamaican dollar slipped slightly against the US dollar and the British pound and gained against Canadian dollar as purchases of all currencies by dealers amounted to the equivalent of US$51,284,150 compared with US$30,912,231, on Friday and selling of the equivalent of US$40,876,396 versus sale of US$25,107,740, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$46,738,177 compared to US$26,664,183 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 4 cents to $115.36 and US$38,332,897 was sold versus US$22,768,790 on Friday, the selling rate was up 1 cent to $115.86. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 51 cents to $93.98 with dealers buying C$1,976,566 and selling C$1,296,743, at an average rate that fell 33 cents to $95.36 The rate for buying the British Pound declined $1.22 to $175.33 for the purchase of £1,826,519, while £578,004, was sold, at an average rate that rose 26 cents to $178.36. At the end of trading it took J$129.97 to purchase the Euro, 46 cents less than on Friday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$127.43 for a fall of 37 cents from Friday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$159,772, while the equivalent of US$586,357, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, fell 5 cents to $116.10. The lowest buying rate remained at $94.61 and highest selling rate rose 21 cents to $121.44, while the lowest selling rate jumped $19.45 to $113.30. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 21 cents to $95.75. The lowest buying rate dropped 75 cents to $75.86, the highest selling rate was unmoved at $98.76 and the lowest selling rate climbed $1.40 to $91.40. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, climbed $1.65 to $180.65, the lowest buying rate jumped $17.10 to $141.10, the highest selling rate rose $1.09 to $183.22 with the lowest selling rate rising $1 to $170.
FX levels rise but J$ falls Friday
Image courtesy of Marcus/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$26,664,183 compared to US$21,139,764 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 11 cents to $115.32 and US$22,768,790 was sold versus US$22,178,470 on Thursday, the selling rate was up 4 cents to $115.85. The Canadian dollar buying rate jumped $1.42 to $94.49 with dealers buying C$1,775,802 and selling C$912,584, at an average rate that fell 29 cents to $95.69. The rate for buying the British Pound jumped $3.70 to $176.54 for the purchase of £1,673,900, while £929,356, was sold, at an average rate that rose $2.62 to $178.10.
At the end of trading it took J$130.42 to purchase the Euro, $1.06 less than on Thursday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$127.80 for a fall of $1.05 on Thursday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$230,328, while the equivalent of US$156,522, was sold.Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 10 cents to $116.15.
The lowest buying and highest selling rates remained at $94.61 and $121.23 respectively, while the lowest selling rate dropped 76 cents to $93.85. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 4 cents to $95.96. The lowest buying rate rose 25 cents to $76.61, the highest selling rate fell 2 cents to $98.76 and the lowest selling rate dropped $2 to $90. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, climbed $2.50 to $179, the lowest buying rate plunged $16.69 to $124, the highest selling rate rose 76 cents to $182.13 with the lowest selling rate falling 50 cents to $169.
No stock fell on TTSE Wednesday
Guardian Gained in trading on Wednesday but the stock could benefit in the future from the take over of large blocks of shares.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.17 points to close at 1,153.41, the All T&T Index rose 0.34 points to close at 1,968.83 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 44.32.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Ansa Mcal trading 1,500 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent at $67.02, Guardian Holdings trading 1,180 shares closed with a gain of 7 cents to end at $14.26. Proven Investments and National Commercial Bank are slated to take a major stake in the ownership in Guardian that once was majority owned by Jamaica Mutual Life.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 715 units at $13.90, Clico Investment Fund closed at $2.55 with 1,300 units, First Citizens Bank trading 1,875 shares to close at $35.78, Guardian Media trading 912 shares at $19.76, JMMB Group contributing 185,655 shares at 50 cents. Massy Holdings traded just 6 shares to close at $63.43, National Enterprises
with 1,000 shares closed at $17.30, One Caribbean Media ended trading with 876 units at $22.30, Prestige Holdings had 662,100 units changing hands at $10 with a value of $6,621,000. Republic Bank had 2,650 shares trading with a value of $304,750 to close unchanged at $115, Scotiabank traded 5,600 units to close at $62.50 carrying a value of $350,000.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with the offer that is lower.
Juniors gain with 5 stocks rising
Cargo Handlers closed at an all time high of $21
An indicator of the state of the market at the close, can be seen by the number of stocks with bids versus offers, as well as the numbers that close with bids being higher or lower than the last sale price. AT the close there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with a lower. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Blue Power trading 6,000 units and gained $1.30 to end at $8.81.
Caribbean Cream had 11,000 units changing hands and ending 16 cents higher at 81 cents, Caribbean Producers had 80,935 shares trading at $2.99 with a loss of 11 cents. Cargo Handlers closing at an all-time high of $21, while trading 10,000 units, to gain 89 cents. Honey Bun gained 2 cents, in trading 1,500 shares to end at $1.90, up 8 cents, Jamaican Teas had 12,422 units changing hands at $2.55, Knutsford Express closed with 7,016 units changing hands at $6, Lasco Distributors had 523,076 shares trading to close at $1.45 with no stock on offer at the close. Lasco Financial Services had 3,500 units changing hands traded at the close at $1.30, Lasco Manufacturing traded 821,444 shares and closed at $1.35 and Medical Disposables ended with 300,000 trading at $1.70.
J$ rises vs pound & Canadian
The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Friday against the US dollar but it rose against the British and the Canadian currencies, Purchases of all currencies by dealers, amounted to US$34,733,786 equivalent, compared with US$29,464,814, on Thursday and selling of the equivalent of US$32,565,352 versus US$32,319,414, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$32,036,309 compared to US$25,297,611 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 15 cents to $115.21 and US$30,771,394 was sold versus US$30,716,384 on Thursday, the selling rate increased by 9 cents to end at $115.74. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.59 to $92.82 with dealers buying only C$709,151 and selling C$563,451, at an average rate that fell 67 cents to $95.43. The rate for buying the British Pound fell $1.29 to $173.49 for the purchase of £895,063, while £403,562, was sold, at an average rate that declined by $1.87 to $176.23. At the end of trading it took J$129.59 to purchase the Euro, 76 cents more than on Thursday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.99 for a rise of 67 cents on Thursday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$778,324, while the equivalent of US$714,886, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 10 cents to $116.15. The lowest buying rate rose 17 cents to $94.36. The highest selling rate remained at $120.91 with the lowest selling rate rising 6 cents to $96.22. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 80 cents to $95.60. The lowest buying rate declined by 62 cents to $75.53, the highest selling rate dropped 80 cents to $97.37 and the lowest selling rate remaining unchanged $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined $1.50 to $177, the lowest buying rate dipped $1.25 to $141.10, the highest selling rate dropped $1.54 to $180.29 with the lowest selling rate rising $2.95 to $170.
J$ falls against US & Pound
The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Thursday against two of its main trading currencies as purchases of all currencies by dealers amounted to US$29,464,814 equivalent, compared with US$39,727,764, on Wednesday and selling of the equivalent of US$32,319,414 versus sale of US$38,332,411, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$25,297,611 compared to US$34,618,052 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 4 cents to $115.06 and US$30,716,384 was sold versus US$35,235,410 on Wednesday, the selling rate increased by 11 cents to end at $115.65. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 37 cents to $94.41 with dealers buying C$1,273,867 and selling C$596,732, at an average rate that fell 9 cents to $96.10. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 16 cents to $174.77 for the purchase of £1,977,760, while £566,872, was sold, at an average rate that was up 70 cents to $178.10. At the end of trading it took J$128.83 to purchase the Euro, $1.97 more than on Wednesday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.32 for a rise of $1.90 on Wednesday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$117,743, while the equivalent of US$234,214, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 17 cents to $116.05. The lowest buying rate remained at $94.19. The highest selling rate rose 21 cents to $120.91 with the lowest selling rate remaining unchanged at $96.16. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 15 cents to $96.40. The lowest buying rate jumped $2.15 to $76.15, the highest selling rate dropped 68 cents to $98.17 and the lowest selling rate rose 50 cents to $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 25 cents to $178.50, the lowest buying rate climbed $2.20 to $142.35, the highest selling rate climbed 76 cents to $181.83 with the lowest selling rate falling 45 cents to $167.05.
Junior market trading picks up
Activity on the Junior Market picked up on Thursday with a number on new highs recorded as investors increased their exposure to the segment of the market that has been late to the rally.
The market closed with 10 securities traded and ending with 2,839,792 units changing hands valued at $6,035,405. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 28.36 points to close at 785.93, with the price of 6 stocks advancing and 1 declining. At the close of the market, two stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high and two hit 52 weeks’ high during trading but retreated. At the end of trading there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer lower. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 10 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Access Financial traded 2,000 units and lost $1.89 to end at all-time high of $15.09. AMG Packaging price moved up in trading to $3 with 9,000 and closed with a gain of 74 cents, the stock was halted during trading for an hour and then was reopened at minutes before the close at which time it officially traded. Caribbean Producers traded 1,089,045 units between $2.75 and $3, where it closed with a gain of 25 cents. 
Dolphin Cove gained 30 cents with 1,000 shares trading, to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, of $9.50. General Accident Insurance had 1,152,419 shares trading, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2, the stock traded as low as $1.75 but closed 10 cents higher than Wednesday’s closing price, at $1.80, Lasco Distributors had 177,909 shares trading to close with a loss of 3 cents at $1.40, but traded between $1.37 and $1.43. Lasco Financial Services closed with a gain of 7 cents as 175,000 shares traded, to end at $1.20. Lasco Manufacturing trading of 212,000 as high as $1.30, a new 52 weeks’ high but ended with a closing price of $1.20, Medical Disposables traded only 2,000 shares at $1.70 after losing 10 cents and Paramount Trading had 19,419 units trading at $3.60.
