J$

Sterling Investments

The Jamaica Central Securities Depository (JCSD) finds itself in another fiasco regarding the issue of new shares, following the mess up of the recent Seprod share issue where amounts originally allocated to investors were changed.
The latest mess is the documentation and their dispatch for the rights issue of Sterling Investments shares. The notice for the issue that opened on January 4 and closes on January 11, was only posted on January 3, clearly late for some investors.
The lateness of course is a problem the company could easily fix by extending the deadline date. So far, no official position to extend the deadline date, has been taken. The latest bit of information reaching IC Insider.com, suggests that the date will have to be pushed back.
Two documents were sent to shareholders. A cover letter, describing the issue and mentioning that shareholders can apply for excess shares over their allotment. The application forms sent did not include the page for shareholders to

The Jamaica Stock Exchnage subsidiary

apply for excess shares (page 4). That of course is not the only problem with the forms. In addition, part of page 1 with instructions is missing, also cut off are sections of pages 2 and 5. In short, the application forms included reflects a level of sloppiness in its execution and does not reflect well on those responsible for the job.
It unclear how the company and the JCSD will deal with the matter, but it appears that the proper way would be the sending of the corrected forms to shareholders and extend the deadline date.
The capital market needs to clean up its act if it is not loose credibility.

J$ just 2 cents from $117 to US$1

Tuesday’s trading in foreign currencies in Jamaican closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$34,883,289 in contrast to US$44,006,677 on Monday, while they sold the equivalent of US$38,197,799 versus US$45,314,596 previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$27,766,608 compared to US$40,659,188 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 6 cents to $116.35 and US$35,932,831 was sold versus US$42,723,695 on Monday, the selling rate fell 1 cent to $116.98. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 58 cents to $92.56 with dealers buying C$1,573,168 and selling C$889,991, at an average rate that declined 46 cents to $93.84. The rate for buying the British Pound increased $1.99 cents to $182.25 for the purchase of £3,643,918, while £869,965 was sold, at an average rate that fell 10 cents to $183.78. At the end of trading, it took J$130.45 to purchase the Euro, 20 cents more than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$127.72 for 36 cents less than Monday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$157,210, while the equivalent of US$184,358 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar rose 3 cents to $117.10, the lowest buying rate dropped $4.61 to $91, the highest selling rates put on 26 cents $122.78, while the lowest selling rate remained at $95.61. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar jumped $2.58 to $96.88, the lowest buying rate gained 4 cents at $75.03. The highest selling rate dipped $1.37 to $96.73 and the lowest selling rate lost 35 cent to $90. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, fell 45 cents to $183.90, the lowest buying rate remained at $147.82, with the highest selling rate diving $3.19 to $187.38 and the lowest selling rate fell $1.40 to $176.70.