The foreign exchange market closed on Friday, with dealers buying the equivalent of US$35,541,148 and selling US$47,935,497, in contrast to US$34,538,580 purchased and US$28,970,535 sold on Thursday. The net amount sold includes US$4 equivalent of the Pound was sold than the amount purchased by dealers.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$32,883,247 compared to US$31,823,942 on Thursday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 13 cents to $123.78. A total of US$41,138,924 was sold versus US$26,895,108 on Thursday with the selling rate rising 21 cents to $124.57.
The Canadian dollar buying rate dipped $1.47 to end at $92.34 with dealers buying C$668,675 and selling C$415,469, at an average rate that lost $1.02 to $95.64. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 35 cents to $175.81 for the purchase of £1,451,605, while £4,434,263 was sold, with the rate climbing by 60 cents to $179.63.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, fell 11 cents to close at J$141.83, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$138.90, for a fall of 10 cents from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$97,337 being bought, while US$97,985 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 rise of $29.54 in the highest selling rate of US dollar to end at $160, a rate that seems out of line with other rates the US dollar traded at. There was a fall of $2.90 in the highest buying rate of Canadian dollar to end at $95.30 and a fall of $3.11 in the lowest buying rate to end at $73, lowest selling rate jumped $6.50 to end at $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound rose $2.50 to $183 and the lowest selling rate slipped $1 to $170.
Sales exceed buying by US$12.5m – Friday
TTSE halts fall on – Friday
Trading showed improvement in market sentiments with fewer lows as well as the number of declining stocks falling from the levels on Thursday. The market ended with no stocks trading at 52 weeks’ lows and none at new highs. Demand for stocks continue to be low on the Trinidad & Tobago stock market. The market closed with 12 active securities changing hands on Friday.
Trading ended with 3 stocks rising, 2 declining while 7 remaining unchanged on Friday, as 196,119 shares valued at $2,546,049 changed hands.
The Composite Index inched up 0.25 points to close at 1,108.53, the All T&T Index eased 0.12 points to close at 1,763.13 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.09 points to 60.34.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 10 with offers that were lower. The indicators are pointing to more losses for the market, with the prices of some large capitalized stocks set for further declines with offers at or below the last traded prices and bids for a small number of shares which are in some instances some distance from the last traded prices.
Gains| Guardian Holdings rose by 2 cents and close with 1,785 shares traded at $13.02, National Commercial Bank traded 6,715 shares at $2.40 and regained 1 cent and Sagicor Financial with 97,378 units valued at $694,785 changing hands, ended at $7.10 after rising 5 cents.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 63,571 shares valued at $1,436,883 to close 5 cents down at $22.60 and Prestige Holdings fell 13 cents and closed with 8,656 shares changing hands, to end at $11.27.
Firm Trades| Ansa McAl traded 15 units at $62.59, Guardian Media traded 300 shares with the price remaining at $19.75, National Flour closed at $2.20 with 77 shares changing hands. Scotia Investments traded 4,732 shares to end at $1.60, Trinidad Cement traded firm at $3.35 with 100 units changing hands, Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 12,746 units to close at $20 and West Indian Tobacco closed at $126.36, with just 54 units trading.
Grace climbs following Q1 profit – Friday
Grace Kennedy closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Friday after releasing jump in profits on Thursday.
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the main market on Friday was saw low volumes changing hands, but the market closed with less active selling than before the reading of the budget, on Thursday by the Minister of Finance.
The market closed with 35 securities changed hands, accounting for 7,118,990 units valued at $65,679,792, in all market segments. The junior market had only 193,019 shares traded, valued at $1,341,812. Investors pushed the price of 12 stocks in the overall market up, 8 were pushed down, including 3 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market.
The JSE Market Index declined 19.98 points to end at 151,766.65. The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 22.35 points to close at 168,562.31 and the JSE combined index rose 64.63 points, to close at 163,186.81.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 13,000 shares to close at $4.25, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.49 after trading 483,787 units, Caribbean Cement traded 28,865 shares to close at $25. Carreras traded 96,066 shares and rose by $1 to $64, this after the Finance Minister announced increased taxes on, in his budget presentation. Jamaica Broilers ended at $14.50 while trading 7,734 shares with a loss of 5 cents. Kingston Wharves climbed 15 cents in trading 252,745 shares to close at $11.80. Mayberry Investments fell 21 cents with 50,000 shares trading to close at $3.99, National Commercial Bank traded 17,700 shares, to close at $39.75. Pan Jamaican Investment closed trading at $120 with 311,591 shares changing hands, in response to the company’s announced a 5 for 1 stock split.
There are only two offers on the board at the end of trading to sell between $130 and $150. Radio Jamaica traded 330,850 shares at $1.10, Sagicor Group ended with 236,769 shares changing hands and rose 50 cents to end at $23, Scotia Group closed at $30.01 while 155,668 units changed hands after falling 99 cents, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.47 with 6,641 shares changing hands after rising 21 cents. Proven Investments traded 9,200 shares at 17.50 US cents, JMMB 6% US dollar preference share gained 4 cents to end at US$1.09 while 21,200 units changed hands and JMMB 7.5% preference share ended with 4,878,670 units trading at $1.05.
More FX bought than sold – Thursday
The foreign exchange market closed on Thursday, with dealers buying the equivalent of US$34,538,580 and selling a lesser amount of US$28,970,535, in contrast to US$30,075,609 purchased and US$34,894,176 sold on Wednesday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$31,823,942 compared to US$27,452,160 on Wednesday, as the buying rate for the US dollar rose 22 cents to $123.65. A total of US$26,895,108 was sold versus US$33,361,430 on Wednesday with the selling rate rising 21 cents to $124.36. The Canadian dollar buying rate climbed 29 cents to end at $93.81 
with dealers buying C$921,762 and selling C$578,798, at an average rate that gained $1.01 to $96.66. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 21 cents to $176.16 for the purchase of £1,346,582, while £655,809 was sold, with the rate climbing by 45 cents to $178.63.
At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, rose 70 cents to close at J$141.94, from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139, for a rise of $1.01 from Wednesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded amounts to US$96,933 being bought, while US$683,621 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the Jamaican dollar in the foreign exchange market on Thursday are, a rise of $19.37 in the lowest selling rate of US dollar to end at $119.90, a rise of $1.40 in the highest buying rate of Canadian dollar to end at $98.20 and a fall of $5.50 in the lowest selling rate to end at $84.50. There was a fall of $1 in the highest buying rate for the British Pound to $180.50, a decline of $6.17 in the lowest buying rate to $142.51 and a jump of $3.04 in the highest selling rate to $185.76.
Pan Jamaican jumps $22 – Thursday
Pan Jam closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $120 on Thursday.
The market closed with 39 securities changed hands, accounting for 3,962,072 units valued at $115,119,749, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 446,394 units of the shares traded, valued at $1,996,471. Investors pushed the price of 7 stocks in the overall market up, 15 were pushed down including 3 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market.
The JSE Market Index rose 438.46 points to end at 151,786.63. The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 490.37 points to close at 168,584.66 and the JSE combined index rose 410.50 points, to close at 163,122.18.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Barita Investments traded 15,493 units for 1 cent higher at $3.45, Berger Paints traded 21,849 shares to rise 11 cents and closed at $4.25, Cable & Wireless gained 9 cents and closed at $1.49 after trading 1,349,000 units, Caribbean Cement traded 29,960 shares as the price dropped $1 to close at $25. Carreras traded 2,459 shares but fell 50 cents, to $63, the price for 1834 Investments remained at $1.02 after 65,877 shares were traded, Grace Kennedy fell $1 and closed at $84 with 1,021,582 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers ended at $14.55 while trading 6,600 shares with a gain of 5 cents. JMMB Group fell 35 cents in trading 5,477 shares to close at $9.50.
National Commercial Bank fell 10 cents while trading 35,302 shares, to close at $39.75. Pan Jamaican Investment jumped $22, to a 52 weeks’ high of $120, with 3,120 shares changing hands, in response to the company announced a 5 for 1 stock split. Radio Jamaica traded 45,331 shares to end at $1.10. Sagicor Group ended with 45.000 shares changing hands and lost 40 cents to end at $22.50, Scotia Group closed at $31 while 272,996 units changed hands, Seprod traded 24,301 shares to close at $17, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.26 with 15,887 shares changing hands after losing 23 cents and Proven Investments traded 554,302 shares at 17.02 US cents.
More new lows for TTSE stocks – Thursday
Witco traded at a new high on the TTSE on Thursday.
Trading ended with 4 stocks rising, 8 declining while 4 remaining unchanged on Thursday, as 288,088 shares valued at $5,156,731 changed hands.
The Composite Index declined by 6.28 points to close at 1,108.28, the All T&T Index dropped 12.27 points to close at 1,763.25 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.03 points to 60.25.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund traded 5,000 units to close 5 cents higher at $22.65, National Flour gained 10 cents and closed at $2.20 with 50,200 shares changing hands. Sagicor Financial with 5,800 units changing hands, ended at $7.10 after rising 5 cents and West Indian Tobacco gained 8 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $126.36, with just 220 units trading.
Losses| Angostura Holdings ended with 385 shares changing hands and declined by just 1 cent to end at $12.99, Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 1,973 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $24.50 after shedding 49 cents, First Citizens Bank dropped $2 while trading 5,000 shares, to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $30. Massy Holdings fell by 6 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $48.94, to close with 3,170 changing hands,
National Commercial Bank traded 500 shares at $2.39 to shed 1 cent, National Enterprises closed with 100 shares changing hands at $11.23 after slipping by 1 cent. One Caribbean Media traded 184,000 shares valued at $3,952,020 and fell 1 cent to end at $21.47 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 23,645 units with a value of $474,730 to close at $20 with a loss of 50 cents.Firm Trades| Agostini’s traded 396 shares at $17.01, JMMB Group traded 1,342 shares to end at 60 cents, Prestige Holdings closed with 5,919 shares changing hands, to end at $11.40 and Trinidad Cement traded firm at $3.35 with 438 units changing hands.
Juniors barely moved on Thursday
The junior market inched forward at the close on Thursday, with 446,394 shares valued at $1,996,471 changing hands. The market index added just 0.37 points to end at 2,176.32 as a total of 12 securities traded, with 3 advancing and 6 declining. The junior market ended with bids for 4 stocks closing higher than their last selling prices and 6 ending with lower offers. One stock traded at a new high, at the close.
At the end of trading, AMG Packaging lost $1.49 while trading just 6,606 shares to end at $10.51, General Accident Insurance gained 5 cents while trading 45,784 units to close at $2.55, Honey Bun closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $20.50, after rising 50 cents, with 21,440 shares trading, the stock rose to an intraday high of $22. Jamaican Teas traded 42,736 shares at $3.80,
Key Insurance traded 4,600 shares at $2.67 for a loss of 13 cents, KLE Group lost 21 cents in trading 82,012 shares and closed at $1.40, Lasco Distributors closed with 29,698 units trading with the price falling 4 cents to close at $7.61, Lasco Financial closed at $3.50 with 175,000 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.77 with 21,600 shares trading, to gain 12 cents, Medical Disposables lost 2 cents to close at $3.40 while trading 519 shares, Paramount Trading lost 49 cents to $10.50 with 10,000 shares and tTech closed with 6,399 units at $4.50.
JSE up in morning session – Thursday
Trading started off slowly in the early morning session on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, on Thursday, with no junior market shares trading after half an hour of the market’s opening while only nine stocks traded in the main market up to that point. Trading activity resulted in the market indices rising.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Thursday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 138.19 points to 168,232.48, the JSE Market Index gained 123.56 points to 151,471.73, the JSE combined index was up 149.19 points to 162,860.87 and the junior market index gained just 3.37 points to 2,179.32.
Stocks traded more than 100,000 units are, Cable & Wireless with 949,000 units, Scotia Group with 103,752 shares, Proven Investments traded 554,302 ordinary shares at 17.02 US cents.
Pan Jamaican Investment traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $99 with 2,000 shares trading, the highest bid for the stock is at $100.01 to buy 8,500 units.
Trading resulted in activity in 20 securities, accounting for 1,835,483 shares changing hands as 3 stocks gained and 7 declined. The average number of shares traded is 91,774 compared to an average of 32,508 units on Wednesday.
JSE reverses large early losses – Wednesday
Volumes traded were moderate in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the main market on Wednesday, but the indices that slipped close to 1,000 points in the first hour of trading recovered to suffer a mild declined at the end.
The market closed with 39 securities changed hands, accounting for 3,600,852 units valued at $56,805,624, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 952,289 units of the shares traded, valued at $5,433,865. Investors pushed the price of 16 stocks in the overall market up, 12 were pushed down including 9 stocks rising and 5 declining, from the junior market.
The JSE Market Index fell 152.90 points to end at 151,348.17. 
The all Jamaica Composite Index slipped 171.01 points to close at 168,094.29 and the JSE combined index declined 61.78 points, to close at 162,711.68.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 40,000 shares to rise 11 cents and closed at $4.25, Cable & Wireless gained 1 cent and closed at $1.40 after trading 495,304 units, Caribbean Cement traded 77,185 shares as the price dropped $1.99 to close at $26, Carreras traded 373,051 shares but fell by 50 cents, to $63.50. Grace Kennedy gained $1 and closed at $85 with 108,960 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers ended at $14.50 while trading 167,381 shares, JMMB Group fell 15 cents in trading 1,081,028 shares to close at $9.85, Mayberry Investments fell 5 cents in trading 16,093 shares at $4.20, National Commercial Bank gained 5 cents while trading 3,740 shares, to close at $39.85. Pan Jamaican Investment did not trade but the bid moved up to $99, a dollar above the last selling price, after the company announced a 5 for 1 stock split, Radio Jamaica traded 154,400 shares to end at $1.10. 
Sagicor Group ended with 22,092 shares changing hands and lost 10 cents to end at $22.90, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 1,500 shares to close at $10 after declining by 10 cents, Salada Foods traded 6,000 shares to end at $8.80 after trading at an intraday low of $7.50. Scotia Group closed at $31 while 6,144 units changed hands, Scotia Investments jumped $1.44 and ended trading 37,876 shares to close at $27.44, Seprod fell $1 to close at $17 with 1,500 units changing hands and Supreme Ventures closed at $5.49 with 27,617 shares changing hands.
Falling prices on TTSE – Wednesday
JMMB was the only stock rising on the TTSE on Wednesday.
Trading ended with 1 stocks rising, 4 declining while 4 remaining unchanged on Wednesday, as 380,509 shares valued at $8,395,389 changed hands.
The Composite Index declined by 2.07 points to close at 1,114.56, the All T&T Index fell 4.78 points to close at 1,775.52 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.09 points to 60.28.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower. The indicators are pointing to further losses for the market, with the prices of some large capitalized stocks set to fall with offers at or below the last traded prices and bids for a small number of shares which are in some instances some distance away from the last traded prices.
Gains| JMMB Group traded 500 shares and gained 2 cents to end at 60 cents.
Losses| Readymix West Indies lost $1.04 while trading 99 shares, to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $14.01, Republic Financial Holdings shed 80 cents while 32 shares changed hands at 52 weeks’ low of $107.99.
Massy Holdings fell by 96 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $49, to close with 16,285 shares valued at $807,411 changing hands and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 15,636 units with a value of $320,538 to close at $20.50 with a loss of 49 cents.Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 303,640 units valued at $6,865,292 to close at $22.60, National Flour closed at $2.10 with 30,400 shares changing hands, Sagicor Financial with 8,917 units changing hands ended at $7.05 and Scotiabank with 5,000 shares changing hands, ended at $54.
