The rate of exchange to buy the US dollar by the public, increased on Friday to $126.83 as dealers sold US$38.30 million in the US dollars compared to US$34.63 million, at an average rate of $126.75 on Thursday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$31.29 million on Friday, at an average rate of $125.65 compared to Thursday, with US$39.10 million at $126.95.
Dealers purchased US$39.92 million, versus US$53.58 million on Thursday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$45.92 million compared with US$47.74 million of all currencies sold previously.
For the week a total of US$257 million was bought by dealers and they sold $240 million, but trades in US dollar resulted in dealers buying $204 million and the sale of $200 million..
At Midday, dealers bought US$13.16 million at J$126.89 and sold US$10.5 million at J$126.81 compared to the purchase of US$15.6 million at J$126.33 and selling of US$15.1 million at J$126.81.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$100.20 from J$100.03 at the close on Thursday. The selling rate for the British Pound slipped to J$166.14 versus J$166.19 on Thursday and the euro rose in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$148.62 to buy the European common currency, versus J$146.18 previously.
Jamaican$ value slips moderately – Friday
JSE main market inched higher
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with 22 securities changing hands, 6 advanced, 8 declined and 8 traded firm with 5,777,201 units valued at $107,680,730 compared to 2,566,192 units valued at $67,621,781 on Thursday.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 102.47 points to close at 320,729.33, the JSE Index advanced by 93.36 points to close at 292,220.70. The US dollar Equity market lost 6.54 points to close at 169.09 as two securities traded resulting in 29,583 units valued at US$19,957.
Trading ended with an average of 262,600 units for an average of $4,894,579 in contrast to 128,310 units for an average of $3,381,089 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 207,395 units valued at $3,425.086 and previously, 199,991 units valued at $3,227,959. 
In contrast, October closed with average of 1,185,251 units at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
JMMB Group traded at a 52 weeks’ high and ended $1 up to $30.50 after trading as high as $30.70. Caribbean Cement finished with a loss of $1.99, NCB Financial rose $1.15 to $108, and Seprod climbed $1.99 to $30 while Jamaica Producers traded just over 4 million shares.
Jamaican$ improves to $126.75 to US$ – Thursday
The rate of exchange for to buy the US dollar by the public slipped further on Thursday to $126.75 as dealers sold US$34.63 million of the US dollar, compared to US$35.83 million at an average rate of $126.90 on Wednesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$39.10 million on Thursday, at an average rate of $125.95 compared to Wednesday, with US$37.17 million at $126.06.
Dealers purchased US$53.58 million, versus US$47.42 million on Wednesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$47.74 million compared with US$45.70 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$15.6 million at J$126.32 and sold US$15.1 million at J$126.81 compared to the purchase of US$13.2 million at J$126.51 and selling of US$6.66 million at J$126.81.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$100.03 from J$99.65 at the close on Wednesday. The selling rate for the British Pound rose to J$166.19 versus J$166.02 on Wednesday and the euro fell in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$146.18 to buy the European common currency, versus J$149.02 previously.
Jamaican$ trades at $126.90 – Wednesday
The rate of exchange for to buy the US dollar by the public slipped further on Wednesday to $126.90 as dealers sold US$35.83 million of the US dollar, compared to US$49.57 million at an average rate of $126.91 on Tuesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$37.17 million on Wednesday, at an average rate of $126.11 compared to Tuesday, with US$48.22 million at $126.02.
Dealers purchased US$47.42 million, versus US$52.58 million on Tuesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$45.70 million compared with US$52.88 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$13.2 million at J$126.51 and sold US$6.66 million at J$126.81 compared to the purchase of US$11.5 million at J$126.14 and selling of US$10.8 million at J$126.82.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$99.65 from J$99.38 at the close on Tuesday. The selling rate for the British Pound dropped to J$166.02 versus J$165.76 on Tuesday and the euro gained in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$149.02 to buy the European common currency, versus J$148.23 previously.
Jamaican$ trades below $127 – Tuesday
The rate of exchange for to buy the US dollar by the public dipped below the $127 mark to settle on Tuesday at $126.91 as dealers sold US$49.57 million of the US dollar, compared to US$41.28 million at an average rate of $127.03 on Monday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$48.22 million on Tuesday, at an average rate of $126.11 compared to Monday, with US$48.09 million at $126.02.
Dealers purchased US$52.58 million, versus US$63.31 million on Monday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$52.88 million compared with US$48.01 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$11.5 million at J$126.14 and sold US$10.8 million at J$126.82 compared to the purchase of US$24.1 million at J$126.52 and selling of US$15.6 million at J$127.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar slipped to J$99.38 from J$99.65 at the close on Monday. The selling rate for the British Pound rose to J$166.76 versus J$165.04 on Monday and the euro gained in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$148.23 to buy the European common currency, versus J$146.98 previously.
Jamaican$ up in value on – Monday
Trading in the foreign market on Monday resulted in a modest rise in the value of the Jamaican dollar against the US dollar as US$41.28 million of the US dollar was sold by dealers at an average rate of $127.03 to the US dollar, compared to US$42.5 million at an average rate of $127.11 on Friday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$48.09 million on Monday, at an average rate of $126.02 compared to Friday, with US$44.48 million at $126.29.
Dealers purchased US$63.31 million, versus US$57.4 million on Friday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$48.01 million compared with US$73.4 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$24.1 million at J$126.52 and sold US$15.6 million at J$127 compared to the purchase of US$14.4 million at J$126.66 and selling of US$17.1 million at J$127.12.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$99.65 from J$99.92 at the close on Friday. The selling rate for the British Pound dropped to J$165.27 versus J$165.27 on Friday and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$146.98 to buy the European common currency, versus J$147 previously.
Main market drops 1,314 points – Monday
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday closed with the market indices falling with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropping 1,314.00 points to 318,833.12 and the JSE Index declining 1,197.20 points to close at 290,493.04.
Trading resulted in 24 securities changing hands, 7 advanced, 8 declined and 9 traded firm with 894,417 units valued at $17,805,863 compared to 4,118,253 units valued at $67,698,071 on Friday. There were no security trading in the US dollar market, resulting in with the index remaining at 180.67.
Trading ended with an average of 37,267 units for an average of $741,911 in contrast to 164,730 units for an average of $2,707,923 on Friday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 159,395 units valued at $2,804,887 and previously, 200,104 units valued at $3,492,546. In contrast, October closed with average of 1,185,251 units at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the main and US dollar market shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Stationery & Office Supplies back in TOP 10
Stationery & Office Supplies back in IC Insider.com TOP 10
There is just one change in and out of the IC Insider.com TOP 10. Lasco Distributors dropped out, resulting from the Judge’s ruling in their claim against Pfizer, suggesting that damages will be substantially lower than the amount claimed.
Lasco is replaced by Stationery and Office Supplies returning after just one week out of the top list. The company should report results for the nine months during the coming week. BUY RATED Caribbean Cement that was expected to exit the top list during the past week remains with the price retreating to close the week at $31 as investors failed to follow through on the pick up in price in the prior week in response to the third quarter results to September. Berger Paints also slipped back, with the price falling from $17 last week to end at $14 this past week, 
but it traded during the week as high as $18.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks is at 8.4 and a PE at 7.3 for the main market TOP 10. The average PE for the overall main market At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 43 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 48 percent for the main market.
Market Watch| Investors should keep a keen eye for, Cable & Wireless that is expected to post improved profit in the latest quarter from increasing revenues, 
NCB Financial, Berger Paints that should release September results early this week, Jamaica Broilers, JMMB Group, Access Financial, General Accident that is expected to benefit from a rise in premium rates, Paramount Trading after the company announced new expansion into chlorine and bleach production and Stationery and Office with September results early this week.
Paramount adds chlorine & bleach
Paramount Trading expanding into Chlorine and bleach processing.
Paramount Trading is expanding its operations by offering chlorine and bleach products for contract manufacturing, the company reported.
“The Company recently completed construction of the infrastructure required for a new chlorine and bleach plant at its 6 East Bell Road, Kingston 11 location, which will be outfitted with state of the art equipment and advanced technology.
The Company plans to commence operation of the plant in February 2018,” the release from the company states.
The Company also advises that on 26 October 2017 it entered into an Asset Sale Agreement to acquire bleach plant equipment and other assets from Seprod, for its new chlorine and bleach operations. This acquisition is in line with the Company’s goals to continuously strengthen its presence as a manufacturer in the chemicals market, and will complement the Company’s existing offerings.
Paramount Trading, enjoyed a big turn-around in profit for the first quarter to August this year, with an increase of 126 percent, to $34 million from a 31 percent increase in revenues to $331 million.
The directors’ report that accompanied the August quarterly results stated that they have “an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year and is very excited by the opportunities that will be realized. The construction of the blending plant and laboratory, in conjunction with Alllegheny Petroleum is slated to be complete during the next quarter.”
The stock currently trades at a PE ratio of 15 with the price at $3 on the Junior Market is in against the line with the market. What is true, is the nimbleness of management to identify new income generated opportunities that makes staying close to the stock potentially profitable.
Jamaican$ gained modestly vs US – Friday
Trading in the foreign market on Friday resulted in a slight rise in the value of the Jamaican dollar against the US dollar as US$42.5 million of the US dollar was sold by dealers at an average rate of $127.11 to the US dollar.
On Thursday, US$40.1 million was purchased at an average rate of $127.20. US currency purchases amounted to US$44.48 million on Friday, at an average rate of $126.29 compared to Thursday, with US$39.2 million at $126.31.
Dealers purchased US$57.4 million, versus US$46.3 million on Thursday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$73.4 million compared with US$46.1 million of all currencies sold previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$14.4 million at J$126.66 and sold US$17.1 million at J$127.12.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$99.92 from J$98.14 at the close on Thursday. The selling rate for the British Pound dropped to J$165.27 versus J$167.14 on Thursday and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$147 to buy the European common currency, versus J$149.42 previously.