The selloff of US dollars continued in forex market activities on Wednesday.
It cost dealers on average, 9 cents less in buying the US dollar than on Tuesday.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market that rose to US$53.87 million on Wednesday, up from US$48.99 million on Tuesday. Dealers sold US$52.24 million versus US$51.71 million, previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$47.72 million on Wednesday at an average rate of $127.89 compared to Tuesday at US$40.33 million at $127.98. Dealers sold US$47.28 million at an average rate of J$128.58 versus J$128.87 for US$43.46 million previously. The selling rate for the US dollar is coming off from a peak of $131.31 on September 15, with the Jamaican dollar recovering 2 percent of its value since.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$103.43 from J$103.25 at the close on Tuesday. The British Pound climbed to J$168.53 for buying the British currency versus J$168.13 on Tuesday and the euro just rose in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$153.48 to buy the European common currency, versus J$151.18 previously.
J$ revalues to $128.58 vs US$ – Wednesday
Sell off of US$ continues – Tuesday
The selloff of US dollars continued in forex market activities on Tuesday. While dealers raised the average buying price by $1.26 to $127.92 for the US dollar, up from $126.72 on Monday, the rate was still lower than the J$128.42 they paid on Friday.
While US currency purchases, accounted for only US$15.82 million on Monday it climbed to US$40.33 million on Tuesday. Dealers sold US$43.46 million at an average rate of J$128.87 versus J$129.06 for US$30.04 million previously.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market that slipped to only US$20.95 million on Monday rose to US$48.99 million, while dealers sold US$51.71 million versus US$33.91 million, previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar dipped to J$103.25 from J$103.78 at the close on Monday. The British Pound slipped to J$168.13 for buying the British currency versus J$169.55 on Monday and the euro just inched lower in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$151.18 to buy the European common currency, versus J$151.19 previously.
Dealers back off buying US$ – Monday
The strong signs of the selloff of US dollars are visible in forex market activities on Monday. Dealers dropped their buying price nearly $2 lower than on Friday, to $126.72 for the US dollar down from $128.42 on Friday.
US currency purchases, accounted for only US$15.82 million, up from total inflows US$46.71 million on Friday. Dealers sold US$30.04 million at an average rate of J$129.06 versus J$129.09 for US$47.73 million previously.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market slipped to only US$20.95 million compared to US$55.46 million on Friday, while dealers sold US$33.91 million versus US$53.50 million, previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$103.78 from J$103.22 at the close on Friday. The British Pound rose to J$169.55 for buying the British currency versus J$168.61 previously and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$151.19 to buy the European common currency, versus J$152.05, previously.
Stinking Berger behaviour
There are some strange and shocking developments regarding the offer by Ansa Coatings International to purchase the minority shares in Berger Paints Jamaica.
First the directors in recommending that shareholders accept the offer made critical claims that are not back up by facts and they offer no information to support same. Secondly, the shares have been suspended in questionable manner and without adequate reasons.
The directors in recommending that shareholders accept the offer said,” in your directors view, it is highly likely that acceptance of the offer will take the aggregate holdings of ACI beyond 80 percent. Under the rules of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, where one shareholder either individually or collectively with concert parties holds more than 80 percent of the listed shares of a company, the stock exchange has the right to de-list such company. In fact the offeror has made it clear its intention to delist the Berger Shares.” The directors’ recommendation goes on to quote ACI statement that they will seek delisting if they acquire an additional 29 percent of the shares. “It is therefore clear that Berger Jamaica shares will in all probability be delisted from the JSE,” the directors’ statement concluded.
According to the directors, Ansa Coatings International controls 51.01 percent of the issued Berger Jamaica’s shares and as a result of this Offer, its holding will most likely exceed 75 percent.
It seems that for the recommendation to shareholders to be substantially based on the “highly likely that acceptance” taking the holdings of ACI beyond 80 percent and most likely exceed 75 percent, is highly flawed. Where did the directors get that information from and why did they not disclose the source in the recommendation. Why they did not think it appropriate to disclose the interim results figures up to August in the report?
At $10.88 per share, Berger is priced at 5 times the current years’ earnings against more than 13 for the main market, on what basis could it be regarded as a fair price?
The situation gets more curious and raises a huge question, is someone is trying to manipulate shareholders in giving away their shares at less than a fair price? That is the only conclusion to be arrived at, when without notice, the shares of Berger were without notice, suspended by the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, October 5, 2017 and is to remain suspended to Friday, October 13, 2017. According to a release late on Thursday, “this is to facilitate the processing of the transaction in respect to shareholders of the Company who have agreed to sell their shares to Asna Coating, as a part of their Takeover Bid of Berger.” That of course is a load of crap. Trading shares of Desnoes and Geddes a much bigger company was never suspended when Heineken acquired the minority shares in 2016, Hardware and Lumber shares were never suspended either, nor was Scotia Investments’ in Scotia Group’s recent acquisition of the minority shares. Why is there a need to prevent Berger shareholders who want to trade the shares if they so desire? Worse why is there need to suspend it beyond Monday?
The capital market cannot prosper as well as it should if the above abuses continue to take place without corrective action being taken. The Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Financial Services Commission should have intervened when the directors’ recommendation included information that was not backed up by facts and should have intervened and prevented the unwarranted suspension of trading in the company’s shares.
Sagicor out C&W in TOP 10
JMMB Group Traded at a new high of $27.99 on Friday.
In a week when Jamaica Stock Exchange main market closed at record high each day, JMMB Group that IC Insider.com said was itching to rise, surged to an intraday high of $27.99 and ended at a record close of $25.11 but still remains in the TOP 10 Main market stocks.
Cable and Wireless is the only new entrant to the listings, just edging out Sagicor Group in the main market, there were no new change to the Junior Market list. With the company now clearly in the profit lane things should be getting even better in 2018 making it a long term investment proposition. Barita Investments came in for increased selling in late September and still remains under pressure with limited buying interest, as investors await details of the offer from Cornerstone, to acquire majority shares in the company. This could be a case of investors missing the bus by waiting, with the net asset value at $7 as of June this year and the price just 10 percent above.
Trading in shares of Berger Paints was suspended on Thursday with resumption scheduled for October 17, the stock has been trading ahead of the price of $10.88 offered by Ansa Coatings and should be trading in the $20 region, and is clearly one for the future with growth taking place in the construction sector. 
All indications suggest that very few shareholders will take up the offer when it closes at the end of Monday.
Investors appear to have switched attention from Junior Market to main market stocks, with the latter seemingly set to break through short term resistance around 300,000 points on the all Jamaica Index on the way to the next major resistance at 365,000 point range.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.7 and a PE at 7.1f or the main market TOP 10. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.6 and 13.2 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.
Dealers dumping US$
The Jamaican dollar made further gains on Friday and for the week sitting just above $129 to the US in forex trading, as dealers sold off US$28 million more than they purchased during the week.
For the week US$237 million was purchased by dealers while they sold $265 million as inflows remain very buoyant with dealers selling US$47.73 million at an average rate of J$129.07 versus J$129.34 for US$39.07 million previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$46.71 million at an average rate of JS$128.42 up from total inflows US$33.93 million on Thursday at an average rate of J$128.35.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market jumped to US$55.46 million compared to US$41.15 million on Thursday, while dealers sold US$53.50 million versus US$46.03 million, previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar slipped to J$ 103.22 from J$104.11 at the close on Thursday. The British Pound declined to J$168.61 for buying the British currency versus J$171.45 previously and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$152.05 to buy the European common currency, versus J$153.03, previously.
J$ revaluation continues – Thursday
The Jamaican dollar made gains on Thursday in Jamaican forex market as dealers sold US$39.07 million at an average rate of J$129.34 versus J$129.45 for US$56.74 million previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$33.93 million at an average rate of JS$128.35 compared in total inflows US$38.54 million on Wednesday, at an average rate of J$128.55.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market ended at US$41.15 million compared to US$44.76 million on Wednesday, while dealers sold US$46.03 million, well down on the US$62.53 million, previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar slipped to J$104.11 from J$104.14 at the close on Wednesday. The British Pound declined to J$171.45 for buying the British currency versus J$172.35 previously and the euro lost value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$153.03 to buy the European common currency, versus J$154.41, previously.
Big US$ sell off by dealers – Wednesday
Dealers in Jamaican forex market, sold off US dollars on Wednesday with the selling rate falling below Tuesday’s rate of JS$129.57 to the US and ending at J$129.46 on Wednesday as selling exceeded buying by a wide margin.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market ended down, at US$44.76 million compared to US$48.33 million on Tuesday, while dealers sold US$62.53 million versus US$49.45 million, previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$38.54 million of total inflows, at an average rate of J$128.55 versus J$128.62 for US$40.80 million on Tuesday, while dealers sold US$56.74 million compared to US$43.61 million previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$104.14 from J$103.94 at the close on Tuesday. The British Pound rose to J$172.35 for buying the British currency versus J$170.96 previously and the euro gained in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$154.41 to buy the European common currency, versus J$152.57, previously.
JS$ inched lower in value vs US – Tuesday
The Jamaican dollar marginally lost value on Tuesday, with the rate against the US dollar that dealers sold at, inching to $129.57 from JS$129.56 on Monday and as slightly more funds were sold than bought.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market ended on Tuesday at US$48.33 million compared to Monday’s US$46.95 million, while dealers sold US$49.45 million versus US$53.91 million, previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$40.80 million of the total inflows, at an average of J$128.62 versus J$128.48 for US$43.78 million on Monday, while dealers sold US$43.61 million compared to US$52.12 million previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$103.94 from J$102.48 at the close on Monday. The British Pound dropped to J$170.96 for buying the British currency versus J$171.50 previously and the euro gained in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$152.57 to buy the European common currency, versus J$151.84, previously.
JS$ gains more ground on Monday
The Jamaican dollar recovered more value on Monday, with the rate against the US dollar that dealers sold at, falling to $129.56 from JS$129.91 on Friday and as more funds were sold than bought.
Inflows of all currencies into Jamaica’s forex market ended on Monday at US$46.95 million compared to Friday’s US$37.34 million, while dealers sold US$ 53.91 million versus US$37.23 million, previously.
US currency purchases, accounted for US$43.78 million of the total inflows, at an average of J$128.48 versus J$128.49 for US$28.65 million on Friday, while dealers sold US$52.12 million compared to US$30.35 million previously.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar dropped to J$102.48 from J$105.10 at the close on Friday. The British Pound dropped to J$171.50 for buying the British currency versus J$173.88 previously and the euro declined in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$151.84 to buy the European common currency, versus J$152.45, previously.