“The biggest change to stocks this coming week may well be guided by the recent cut in interest rates, with Treasury bill rates falling and Bank of Jamaica cutting its overnight rate by 25 basis points.” That was part of last week’s opening statement for the TOP 10 stocks report by IC Insider.com.
During the week main market stocks surged to record levels on 3 days with Friday closing with the third highest daily gain in the market’s history. The main market sits just below the critical 290,000 point mark and seems headed to break through that level, based on the shortage of supply for Scotia Group shares on Friday with a closing bid of $52. The cut in BOJ’s bench mark rate would translate to the all Jamaica Composite Index climbing to 298,000 points.
At the close of last week, there were no changes to the TOP 10 Junior list but two new companies swapped places in the main market with Barita Investments returning, as investors cooled on the stock following a run up in the price following news out of the company that the directors were considering a bid to acquire majority shares. Based on the third quarter results showing unrealized investment gains more than doubling the level at the end of September last year to $1.1 billion at June, the company should see major gains going forward in this area, with falling interest rates and rising stock prices. 
Salada Foods fell in price to $8.50 and along with Barita pushed out Sagicor Group and Pan Jam Investment, both of which rose in price during the week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.3 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 6.9. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.4 and 13.3 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.
US$ Demand falls sharply in Jamaica – Friday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Friday, resulted in a big difference between purchases and sales, with purchasing of all currencies ending at US$42.05 million and outflows at US$26.69 million.
Purchases by dealers on Thursday amounted to the equivalent of US$83.06 million while dealers sold US$59.28 million.
At the end of trading, the US dollar was sold at J$129.52 from J$129.65 previously while dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$128.42 versus J$128.87 on Thursday.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$38.63 million versus US$76.39 million on Thursday with outflows of US$24.41 million compared to US$53.52 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$104.30 from J$103.77 at the close on Thursday while the British Pound was more costly, with J$167.22 buying the British currency versus J$165.72 and the euro, gained in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$153.82 to buy the European common currency, versus J$153.55 previously.
JSE just below resistance at 190,000 points
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged to a new high at 12.30 pm on Friday with the all Jamaica Composite index jumping 8,505.30 points to a record 289,062.69 while the main market index rose 7,749.29 points to a record 263,368.84.
The Combined Index jumped 7,344.21 points to a record 276,121.30 as market sentiments suggest that the market may be at an early stage of a major bull run. The junior market that slipped 1.95 points at 11am is now up 18.94 to 3,117.84 while the US dollar market index that was unchnaged at 182.58 in the morning session is now up4.60 to 187.18.
Scotia Group is a mjor contributor to the big market gain with the privce jumping to $52 and only 389 units are now offered at $52. Supreme Ventures traded at a new high of $12.90 but sits at $12.50 with half an hour of trading to go.
New record for JSE main market
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged to a new high at 11 am on Friday with the all Jamaica Composite index jumping 4,315.47 points to a record 284,872.86 while the main market index rose 3,931.88 points to a record 259,551.43.
The Combined Index climbed 3,602.38 points to a record 272,379.47 as market sentiments suggest that the market may be at an early stage of a major bull run. The Junior Market slipped 1.95 points to 3,096.95 while the US dollar market index is unchanged at 182.58.
Sagicor Group traded 242,800 units valued $8 million and Lasco Distributors had 214,992 units trading valued at $1,68 million and Salada Foods had 100,000 units changing hands with a gain of 50 cents to $8.50.
Jamaica’s forex inflows jump – Thursday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Thursday resulted in a big surge in the amounts purchased and sold by dealers and a fall in the value of the local currency against the US dollar.
Trading ended with inflows of US$83.06 million compared to US$45.12 million on Wednesday. Outflows amounted to only US$59.28 million compared to US$45.80 million of all currencies on the prior trading day. Inflows for August ended at US$955 million up from US$939 million in July while outflows were almost the same in both months at US$751 million versus US$750 million in July. Interestingly while inflows for June was in the order of August and July at US$939 million outflows were far higher at US$872 million.
At the end of trading the US dollar was sold rate of J$129.65 from J$129.33 previously, even as inflows rose sharply over Wednesday’s intake. Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$128.87 versus J$128.16 on Wednesday.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$76.39 million versus US$39.70 million on Wednesday with outflows of US$53.52 million compared to US$37.91 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar rose to J$103.77 from J$103.71 at the close on Wednesday while the British Pound was less costly, with J$165.72 buying the British currency versus J$167.53 and the euro, lost value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$153.55 to buy the European common currency, versus J$157.24 previously.
Jamaican$ drops to J$129.33 to US$1
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Wednesday resulted in the Jamaican dollar declining in value against the US dollar, following Tuesday’s decline with the selling rate ending at J$129.33 from J$128.77 previously, even as inflows rose over Tuesday’s intake.
Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$128.16, versus J$127.36 on Tuesday. Trading ended with inflows of US$45.12 million compared to US$38.41 million on Tuesday with Bank of Jamaica is entitled to approximately 25 percent of the inflows or around $10 million of Wednesday’s intake. Outflows amounted to only US$45.80 million compared to US$35.70 million of all currencies on the prior trading day.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$39.70 million versus US$31.76 million on Tuesday with outflows of US$37.91 million compared to US$26.33 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar fell to J$103.71 from J$104.44 at the close on Tuesday while the British Pound was more costly, with J$167.53 buying the British currency versus J$167.23 and the euro, rose in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it jumping to J$157.24 to buy the European common currency, versus J$156.41 previously.
Jamaican$ falls again – Tuesday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Tuesday resulted in the Jamaican dollar declining in value against the US dollar, following Monday’s decline with the selling rate ending at J$128.77 from J$128.68 previously.
Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$127.36, versus J$127.23 on Monday. Trading ended with inflows of US$38.41 million compared to US$45.59 million on Monday with Bank of Jamaica is entitled to approximately 25 percent of the inflows or around $10 million of Tuesday’s intake. Outflows amounted to only US$35.70 million compared to US$30.40 million of all currencies on the prior trading day.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$ 31.76 million versus US$41.64 million on Monday with outflows of US$26.33 million compared to US$28.38 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$104.44 from J$103.82 at the close on Monday while the British Pound was more costly, with J$167.23 buying the British currency versus J$166.02 and the euro, rose in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it jumping to J$156.41 to buy the European common currency, versus J$151.81 previously.
Value slips for Jamaican$ – Monday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Monday resulted in the Jamaican dollar declining in value against the US dollar, with the selling rate ending at J$128.68 from J$128.41 previously. Dealers bought the US currency at an average of J$127.23, versus J$127.17 on Friday.
Trading ended with inflows of US$45.59 million compared to US$32.69 million on Friday with Bank of Jamaica is entitled to approximately 25 percent of the inflows or around $11.4 of Monday’s intake. Outflows amounted to only US$30.40 million compared to US$19.34 million of all currencies on the prior trading day.
In USA dollar trading, inflows ended at US$41.64 million versus US$28.37 million on Friday with outflows of US$28.38 million compared to US$16.32 million.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$103.82 from J$103.11 at the close on Friday while the British Pound was more costly, with J$166.02 buying the British currency versus J$165.59 and the euro, rose in value against the Jamaican dollar, with it taking J$151.81 to buy the European common currency, versus J$150.79 previously.
Juniors inched higher on Monday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Monday with 20 securities changing hands, 9 advanced, 9 declined and 2 traded firm as 1,303,888 units valued at $6,225,235 changed hands compared to 3,210,758 units valued at $13,020,965 on Friday.
Trading ended with an average of 65,194 units for an average of $311,262 in contrast to 145,944 units for an average of $591,862 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 258,319 units valued at $1,591,093 compared to 269,679 units valued at $1,666,377 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of “NULL” units at “NULL” for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Friday activity as 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are:
Access Financial finished trading 75 cents higher at $47 with 25,302 shares, AMG Packaging concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents to $3.45 with 25,441 stock units, Caribbean Cream ended 60 cents higher at $6.50 with 15,100 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading with a loss of 15 cents, at $3.65 with 35,300 shares, Consolidated Bakeries settled with a loss of 29 cents, at $2.01 with 750 stock units, Dolphin Cove closed 10 cents higher at $17.50 with 1,475 stocks, Express Catering finished trading with a loss of 49 cents, at $4 with 38,177 stock units, 
Honey Bun settled with a loss of 70 cents, at $4.80 with 2,000 shares, Jamaican Teas settled 10 cents higher at $5 with 20,000 units, Jetcon Corporation closed 21 cents higher at $5.21 with 50,890 shares, KLE Group settled 25 cents higher at $3 with 50,323 units, Knutsford Express finished trading with a loss of 44 cents, at $14.06 with 2,200 units, Lasco Distributors closed at $7 with 40,685 stocks, Lasco Financial completed trading with a loss of 20 cents, at $3.80 with 11,350 shares, Lasco Manufacturing traded 1 cents higher at $4.60 with 25,677 units, Main Event settled at $4.50 with 100,745 units, Medical Disposables settled 50 cents higher at $5.50 with 5,200 stocks, Stationery and Office settled 10 cents higher at $4.10 with 796,273 shares, tTech closed with a loss of 95 cents, at $6.05 with 7,000 stocks and Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 10 cents, at $2 with 50,000 shares.
Watch impact of interest rate cut
Lower interest rates make real assets more valuable than before, as such the biggest change to stocks this coming week may well be guided by the recent cut in interest rates, with Treasury bill rates falling and the Bank of Jamaica cutting its overnight rate by 25 basis points.
At the close of last week, Caribbean Cream closed at $6.20 and helped to return it to the TOP 10 list, replacing Lasco Financial with its price rising to $4 from $3.40.
There were no other change to the two listings at the close of the week, even as the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed to week at record new high. For the coming week the cut in interest rates by Bank of Jamaica as well 
as a fall in the most recent Treasury rates could well positively impact prices.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.5 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 7.3. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.6 and 13.3 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 44 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 46 percent for the main market.
