Bank of Jamaica intervened for the second consecutive day in the foreign exchange market on Tuesday allowing the local dollar remain steady against the United States dollar, as dealers bought over $8 million more than they sold.
The foreign exchange market closed on Tuesday, with dealers buying the equivalent of US$88,926,675 and selling US$80,478,200, in contrast to US$66,689,913 purchased and US$71,064,031 sold on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$84,018,742 compared to US$63,725,324 on Friday, as the buying rate for the US dollar fell 2 cents to $124.97. A total of US$77,992,668 was sold versus US$69,202,703 on Friday with the selling rate remaining unchanged at $125.42.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 83 cents to end at $92.59 with dealers buying C$1,737,564 and selling C$1,127,018, at an average rate that climbed by 17 cents to $96.05. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 8 cents to $178.67 for the purchase of £2,408,311, while £1,085,269 was sold, with the rate falling 61 cents to $180.89. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, rose 21 cents to close at J$140.64, from Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$138.04, for a rise 65 cents on Friday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$177,430 being bought, while US$57,166 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the Jamaican dollar traded at in the foreign exchange market on Tuesday, include, a fall of $1.38 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar to end at $101.74, an increase in the highest buying rate of $1 to $96.50 for the Canadian dollar , a rise of $1 in the highest selling rate to $99.50, a rise of $11.05 in the lowest selling rate to end at $90, a fall of 86 cents in the highest selling rate for the British Pound to $187.92.
BOJ’s intervention steadies J$
Juniors suffer big drop – Tuesday
Interest is up for Caribbean Cream with bids for 300,000 units at $4.47.
At the end of trading, Caribbean Cream close with 21,000 shares changing hands at $4.46, General Accident traded at $2.15 with 299,208 shares trading but gained 5 cents, Honey Bun closed with a loss of 50 cents at $21.50, while 5,444 shares traded, Jamaican Teas traded 3,600 units and lost 5 cents to close at $3.85. Jetcon Corporation traded 90,307 shares and gained 6 cents to close at $2.81,
Key Insurance closed with a gain of 19 cents at $2.69 with 100 shares trading, Lasco Distributors fell 16 cents and closed with 265,100 units trading with the price closing at $7.20. Lasco Financial closed at $3.30 with 12,700 shares changing hands after falling 5 cents, Lasco Manufacturing gained 16 cents closed at $4.60 with 106,600 shares trading. Medical Disposables traded 12,519 shares to close unchanged at $2.95, after dropping 55 cents, Paramount Trading fell 1 cent to end with 68,200 shares changing hands at $10.99 and tTech ended with 37,750 units changing hands at $4.50.
TT$ drops 4.7% with US$ shortage
Jamaica is not the only country in the Caribbean undergoing exchange rate adjustment. Trinidad and Tobago that has had a long period of steady exchange rate versus the US dollar is now seeing its currency lose value.
At least one company, National Flour Mills speak of shortage of foreign currency to do their business.
While devaluation has been commonplace for some time in Jamaica, the country’s neighbor, Trinidad and Tobago who have had seen a steady exchange rate versus the US dollar for years, at around $6.30 has now seen a near 5 percent devaluation of their currency with the rate falling from $6.32 in October last year to $6.63 currently for a devaluation of 4.7 percent against the United States currency.
The rate could slip even more, with the price of oil on the world market below US$50 a barrel starving the country that is highly dependent on oil revenues to fuel its economy, coupled with high levels of inflation over a number of years while the exchange rate remained stable.
Jamaican dollar has lost close to 5 percent in its value this year against the United States dollar, taking the exchange rate over $125 to the US even as inflation for the year to date is negative. Since the start of 2015 the local dollar has fallen from $114.66 to the current rate of $125.43 a decline of 9.4 percent and beating the rate of inflation for the same period by 8.5 percent.
1 gained 4 fell on TTSE – Monday
First Citizens. the sole rising stock on TTSE on Monday
The Composite Index gained 0.28 points to close at 1,107.90, the All T&T Index advanced by 0.54 points to close at 1,759.01 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 60.73.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower. The indicator has been showing improving market sentiments recently but it may not mean the end of declining stocks.
Gains| First Citizens Bank rose 50 cents to close at $30 as 39,065 units valued at $1,161,312 changed hands.
Losses| Ansa McAL lost 1 cent in trading 250 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $62.48, Clico Investment Fund traded 3,000 shares to close 1 cent down at $22.60. Massy Holdings lost 1 cent in trading 13,000 shares valued
at $623,740, at a 52 weeks’ low of $47.98 and Scotiabank traded 2,000 shares and lost 5 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $53.86.Firm Trades| Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 4,535 shares to end at $6.56, Grace Kennedy closed with 60,431 shares for a value of $317,263 changing hands at $5.25, National Enterprises closed with 28,364 shares valued at $317,652 changing hands at $11.22. National Flour ended with 486 shares changing hands to close at $2.20, Republic Financial Holdings traded 27,964 units valued at $3,017,093 to close at $107.90 and Sagicor Financial closed with 100 units changing hands at $7.17.
BOJ intervenes but J$ still sinks
BOJ sold US dollars into the system on Monday
The foreign exchange market closed on Friday, with dealers buying the equivalent of US$66,689,913 and selling US$71,064,031, in contrast to US$29,951,569 purchased and US$32,955,410 sold on Thursday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$63,725,324 compared to US$25,380,999 on Thursday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 51 cents to $124.99.
A total of US$69,202,703 was sold versus US$28,555,052 on Thursday with the selling rate rising 9 cents to $125.42. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.10 to end at $91.76 with dealers buying C$620,487 and selling C$945,581, at an average rate that declined by 32 cents to $95.88. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $1.97 to $178.59 for the purchase of £1,620,012, while £648,114 was sold, with the rate falling 66 cents to $181.50.At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 72 cents to close at J$140.43, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$137.39, for a fall of 77 cents on Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$194,210 being bought, while US$200,617 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the Jamaican dollar traded at in the foreign exchange market on Friday, include, a fall of $1.15 in the highest buying rate of the US dollar to end at $125.85 and an increase in the lowest selling rate of $2 to $103.12, a decline of $11.05 in the lowest selling rate of Canadian dollar to end at $78.95, a fall of $1.10 in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to $183.50 and a rise of $2.20 in the lowest selling rate to $172.20.
Gains for TTSE stocks – Friday
Angostura is one of 2 stocks to gain at the close of trading on Friday
Two stocks closing at 52 weeks’ lows as a number of them try o find a bottom.
The Composite Index gained 1.30 points to close at 1,107.62, the All T&T Index advanced by 0.07 points to close at 1,758.47 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.34 points at 60.73.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower. The indicator has been showing improving market sentiments recently but it may not mean the end of declining stocks.
Gains| Angostura Holdings rose 40 cents in trading 11,779 units at $12.90 and National Commercial Bank traded 56,305 shares and gained 5 cents to end at $2.40.
Losses|$47.99 and Republic Financial Holdings lost 9 cents in trading 4,600 units valued at $496,340 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $107.90.Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 2,162 shares to close at $22.61, Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 245,765 shares with a value of $1,612,218 to end at $6.56, First Citizens Bank closed at $29.50 as 21,928 units valued at $646,874 changed hands, One Caribbean Media traded 34,852 shares valued at $741,999 and closed at $21.29. Praetorian Property Mutual Fund contributed 22,052 shares to end at $2.70 and Sagicor Financial closed with 100 units changing hands at $7.17.
JSE volume remains low on Friday
Margaritaville Turks traded 531,220 shares at 20 US cents on friday
Trading volumes remained low on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday even as the active number of securities remain at elevated levels. The market closed with 35 securities changing hands, accounting for just 3,475,337 units valued at $40,616,397, in all market segments. The junior market had 2,388,762 shares valued at $2,388,762 trading.
Investors pushed the price of 13 stocks in the overall market up, 13 down, including 3 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. The JSE Market Index moved down by 192.18 points to end at 153,690.27. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 214.93 points to close at 170,713.62 and the JSE combined index slipped 54.76 points, to close at 164,532.54.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the 
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 18 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded with 4,500 shares to close at $4.38, Cable & Wireless fell 5 cents and closed at $1.28 after trading 143,757 units, Carreras dropped $1.49 with 20,051 units trading to close at $64.51, Grace Kennedy traded 100 units to gain $1 and closed at $90. Hardware and Lumber jumped $3.50 to end at $16 as 500 shares changed hands, Jamaica Broilers closed with a fall of 43 cents at $14.21 while trading 3,664 shares, Jamaica Producers traded 10,000 shares at $35, Margaritaville Turks traded 531,220 to end at 20 US cents.
National Commercial Bank traded 37,465 shares, to close with a fall of 19 cents at $39.80. Pan Jamaican Investment climbed back $1.70 to close trading at $122.70 but with just 400 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 3 cents in trading 70,612 shares at $1.30, Sagicor Group ended with 71,400 shares changing hands, fell 20 cents, to end at $22.30. Scotia Group closed with a fall of $2.70 to end at $30 while 81,365 units changed hands, Scotia Investments fell $1.09 to $25 with 12,880 shares changing hands, Sterling Investments lost 92 cents and closed at $11.98 with 24,800 shares trading. Supreme Ventures closed at $5 with 16,339 shares changing hands, after falling 29 cents and Proven Investments traded with a gain of 2 US cents to 20 US cents with 49,000 shares trading.
Advancing juniors dominate – Friday
Caribbean Flavours’ produce inputs. the stock gained $1.50 on Friday high.
At the end of trading, AMG Packaging closed at $10.51 with 3,000 units changing hands, CAC 2000 gained 9 cents and closed at $6.50 with 1,539 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rose 5 cents with 12,715 shares changing hands at $4.46, Caribbean Flavours traded 2,000,100 shares and rose $1.50 to end at $8, Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents to end at
$1.60 with 10,500 shares changing hands. General Accident traded at $2.10 with 50,000 shares trading, Honey Bun closed at $22, with 2,025 shares trading, ISP Finance traded 79,943 units and ended with a 6 cents gain to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.85, Jamaican Teas traded 5,300 units to close at $3.90. Knutsford Express closed with a loss of 50 cents at $17.50 with 4,600 shares trading, Lasco Distributors fell 4 cents and closed with 159,489 units trading with the price closing at $7.36. Lasco Financial closed at $3.35 with 17,866 shares changing hands after rising 20 cents and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.44 with 41,865 shares trading.
Sharp dip in JSE volume on Thursday
Margaritaville Turks traded at a new 52 weeks’ high on Thursday.
Investors pushed the price of 16 stocks in the overall market up, 11 down, including 3 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. The JSE Market Index moved up 13.42 points to end at 153,882.45. The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 15.01 points to close at 170,928.55 and the JSE combined index gained 44.21 points, to close at 164,532.54.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Barita Investments ended with 20,617 units trading, to close at $3.05, with a fall of 45 cents, Berger Paints rose 10 cents with 5,389 shares to close at $4.38, Cable & Wireless gained 7 cents and closed at $1.33 after trading 227,698 units, Caribbean Cement traded 3,800 shares to close at $26. Carreras jumped $1.99 with 300 units trading to close at $66, Grace Kennedy traded 18,430 units to gain 90 cents and closed at $89, the price of 1834 Investments declined by 3 cents in trading 34,839 units to close at 99 cents, Jamaica Broilers closed with a rise of 14 cents at $14.64 while trading 13,182 shares.
Jamaica Producers traded 2,000 shares at $35, Kingston Wharves loss 13 cents in trading 4,000 stock unit at $11.52, Margaritaville Turks traded just 200 shares and gained 2.5 cents to end at a record 20 US cents, National Commercial Bank traded 10,108 shares, to close with a rise of 14 cents at $39.99. Pan Jamaican Investment pulled back $3.94 to close trading at $121 with 3,969 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 15 cents in trading 33,600 shares at $1.27, Sagicor Group ended with 201,084 shares changing hands, and gained 30 cents, to end at $22.50. Scotia Group closed with a gain of $1.70 to end at $32.70 while 20,246 units changed hands, Seprod lost 50 cents and closed at $17.50 with 21,667 shares trading, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.39 with 41,000 shares changing hands after rising 59 cents and Proven Investments traded at 18 US cents with 21,329 shares.
