The Jamaican dollar gained against the United States and the Canadian dollars on Monday but closed down against the euro and the Pound. Dealers bought the equivalent of US$46,553,035 of all currencies, and sold US$39,251,159, compared to US$44,695,119 purchased and US$37,546,801 sold on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$41,925,032 compared to US$41,312,590 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 33 cents to close at $128.30. A total of US$36,223,594 was sold versus US$35,641,076 on Friday, with the selling rate falling 3 cents to $129.11. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped 65 cents to $94.07, with dealers buying C$2,576,342 and selling C$1,524,464 at an average rate that slipped 8 cents to $97.25. The average rate for buying the British Pound rose 14 cents to $154.20 for the purchase of £1,844,373 while £637,336 was sold with a rise of $1.22 to end at $157.23.
At the end of trading on Monday, dealers sold €993,558 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing at $143.64 for rise of 69 cents, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €467,873 of the European common currency at $138.50 after rising $2.44. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$17,354 being bought and selling of US$9,546.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded currencies, in the foreign exchange market on Monday, include a fall of $1.60 in the highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar to $77.19, the lowest selling rate jumped $9.72 to $92. The highest buying rate for the British Pound rose $1.10 to $167.60 and the lowest selling rate fell $2 to $150. There were not much changes to highest or lowest rates for the Euro .
Jamaican$ gains vs US dollar – Monday
Stock split consideration for Eppley
The directors of Eppley Limited will meet on Thursday, November 10, 2016 to consider the payment of an interim dividend to stockholders and a stock split.
Eppley last traded at $735 on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Since listing in July 2013, the stock has traded infrequently, even after the number of issued ordinary shares, were increased this year, with the issue of additional shares by way of a rights issue. In May the company issued 487,703 new ordinary shares priced at $650 each, bringing the total ordinary shares outstanding to only 1,283,122 units.
Profit for the June 2016 quarter amounted to $29 million $40.5 million for the half year, up from $22.5 million for the six months to June 2015.
The company is primarily in the business of insurance premium and lease financing.
10 for 1 stock split for Paramount
Paramount Trading – 10 for 1 stock split.
The stock split will take effect from the opening of trading on Monday, 14 November 2016. The stock closed trading on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday at $24, if the price remains at the current level, the price after the split would end at $2.40.
Paramount reported lower profit of $15 million, down from $43 million in 2015 in its latest quarterly report, ending August, from increased sales revenues of $253 million versus $238 million in 2015. The company indicates that cost increased in the quarter in connection with rebranding and celebration for the company’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Paramount is expanding into the processing of lubricants in a joint venture with Allegheny Petroleum with the plant expected to be operational early in 2017.
Jamaican stocks drop on Monday
Caribbean Cement lost $2 after positing a loss in Q3.
At the close 5,240,652 units valued at just $17,874,079 changed hands, compared to 9,303,791 units valued at $32,857,021 changing hands on Friday. The junior market accounted for 865,115 units trading valued at 3,986,807 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 189,771 units, compared to an average for the month to date of 220,811 units. On Friday, an average of 337,427 units, compared to an average for the month to date of 251,850.
The market closed with 35 securities trading as the prices of 17 gained while 9 declined in the overall market, including 6 stocks rising and 1 falling, in the junior market.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 20 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 25,000 units and gained 5 cents to close at $4.45, Cable & Wireless rose 5 cents to close at 85 cents with 100,000 units trading. Caribbean Cement traded 92,177 shares but dropped $2 to close at $31, after the company reported a loss of $81 million in the third quarter partially as a result of closure of its plant for upgrading. Trading in 1834 Investments resulted in 3,344,179 shares changing hands at $1.25, Jamaica Broilers gained 31 cents and closed at $14.51 with 22,132 shares switching owners. Jamaica Producers lost 1 cent to end at $8.19 with 154,746 units trading,
Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 50 cents and ended at $27.50 while trading 22,004 shares. JMMB Group traded 6,359 shares and rose 5 cents to end at $13.30, Kingston Wharves traded 81,500 shares to close at $17.50 after gaining 50 cents, Mayberry Investments fell 37 cents and ended with 11,938 shares trading at $4, National Commercial Bank traded 13,471 shares to close with a fall of $1.29 at $43.70. Pan Jamaican Investments gained 79 cents and closed at $23.29 after trading 5,887 shares, Sagicor Group had 9,320 shares changing hands and lost 30 cents to close at $22.90, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 158,087 shares to close at $10.20 after losing 3 cents. Scotia Group gained 98 cents in trading 2,985 shares to close at $31.50, Seprod traded 13,414 shares to end at $25, Proven Investments traded 5,820 units at 19.90 US cents down from 19.50 US cents and JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares traded 290,100 units at $1.08.
6 junior stocks rise 1 falls – Monday
Trading closed on the junior market with the number of advancing stocks out pacing decliners by a wide margin while the market index advanced by just 6.20 points to 2,436.40, up 36 percent year to date.
Trading volume inched up by just 1 percent from Friday’s levels, ending with 875,913 units changing hands, while value traded, fell 10 percent to $3,582,950 from $3,986,807 on Friday.
An average of 72,993 units with an average value of $298,579 traded, compared to 57,674 units with an average value of $265,787 on the preceding trading day. An average for the month to date of 129,138 units at $709,705 traded.
At the close of the market on 12 securities traded, versus 15 on Friday resulting in 6 stocks advancing and 1 declining.
Market activities ended with 12 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 ending with a lower offer.
CAC 2000 that faces a big legal they lost their appeal against a claim for damages closed without trading with an offer of $5.50 and the highest bid at $5.45 versus the last traded price of $6.30.
In trading activity, Access Financial Services gained 50 cents while trading 100 shares to close at $21, Caribbean Producers closed trading with 304 units at $3.65, General Accident Insurance rose 5 cents in trading 661,993 shares at $3. Honey Bun with 400 shares changing hands, gained 10 cents and closed at $6.10, 
Jamaican Teas traded 52,781 shares to close at $4, Jetcon Corporation lost 1 cent and ended with 5,000 shares trading at $4.01, Knutsford Express traded 1,100 shares in closing at $22.50, Lasco Distributors traded 33,953 units and gained 15 cents to close at $7. Lasco Financial rose 14 cents and ended with 2,250 shares changing hands at $3.24, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 87,876 shares but traded as high as $5.20 during the day, Paramount Trading closed at $24 with 25,856 shares changing hands and tTech rose 5 cents and closed with 4,300 units trading at $5.
Majors drop juniors up in early trading
Caribbean Cement reported a small loss due partly to the closure of its plant for upgrading in the September quarter and investors marked the stock down at the start of trading to $31.50 from the closing price of $33 on Friday. The fall of Cement helped push the market index down in early trading.
Junior market index rose due mainly to a 50 cents rise in the price of Access Financial and gains in Lasco Manufacturing. Apart from a few stocks, trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to be moderate on in early trading on Monday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dipped 683.11 points to 186,156.68, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index lost 610.82 points to 167,498.95, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index eased by 464.71 points to close at 180,403.82 and the junior market index climbed 9.90 points to 2,440.10.
At 10:45 am, a total of 20 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 4,494,219 shares changing hands carrying a value of $8,329,082, compared to 548,724 shares changing hands carrying a value of $3,478,798, on Friday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 224,711 units compared to 26,130 on Friday. Market activity resulted in 4 stocks falling while the prices of 6 securities rose.
In trading activity, Cable & Wireless had 100,000 shares changing hands at 85 cents, JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares traded 290,100 units at $1.08, trading in 1834 Investments resulted in 3,343,870 shares changing hands at $1.20 and General Accident Insurance traded 633,843 shares at $3.
Medical Disposables up 52% exits TOP 5
Blue Power enters TOP 5 list.
Blue Power enters the list for the first time, with the price having fallen in the week to $20.50. Profits after tax increased by 101 percent to $37 million over the previous year. The contribution of Lumber Depot division to the after tax tally was $17 million ($7 million in 2015), while Blue Power division added $20 million ($12 million in 2015). Earnings per stock unit for the quarter doubled from 33 cents to 66 cents. Sales revenues rose 12 percent, from $302 million to $339 million. Gross profit margin climbed to 24.3 percent in the quarter from 21.3 percent in the similar quarter of 2015 and 20.82 percent for the last fiscal year.
Paramount Trading entered at the number 3 spot at $14, gained 71 percent having shot up to $24 and exited in the top list on the week ending September 16, Derrimon Trading entered with the price at $3.10 and hit $5, for a gain of 61 percent, the stock exited the list during the week ending October 14. General Accident entered the list at $2.10 for the week ending September 23 and has gained 43 percent, the company left the list during the week ending October 7.
Watch NCB for the break out that is coming soon.
Just below the TOP 5 junior market stocks are tTech, Dolphin Cove, Medical Disposables, Jamaican Teas and Caribbean Cream.
In the main market stocks below the Top 5 are JMMB Group, followed by Palace Amusement, Sterling Investments, National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Pan Jamaican. Technically, NCB is at a break out point accordingly, investors should keep an eye on this one as the next move could be sharply to the upside with final year results due shortly. In 2015, the full year results were released on November 12, as such the results for 2016 could be out on November 10.
3 stocks rose 2 fell on TTSE – Friday
First Caribbean traded on TTSE at a 52 weeks’ high on Friday
Trading activity closed with 98,234 shares valued at $2,410,845 changing hands, compared to 258,550 shares valued at $1,392,416 on Thursday as 1 stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high.
The market closed with the the Composite Index rising 1.92 points to close at 1,173.25. The All T&T Index rose 0.59 points to 1,804.59, down 7.39 percent for 2016 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.44 points to 72.33 points and is up 46.09 percent year to date.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund closed with 89,621 shares valued at $2,025,397 changing hands to end at $22.60, for a 1 cent gain.
Firstcaribbean International Bank ended trading 1,232 shares with a rise of 10 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.10 and National Enterprises gained 5 cents, in closing at $10.40 with 2,318 shares changing hands.Losses| National Flour Mills ended trading with 1,489 shares after slipping 1 cent to close at $2.64 and Unilever lost 3 cents to close at $59.87 with just 20 units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Scotiabank closed with 434 shares changing hands at $58.75, and Trinidad and Tobago NGL fell closed at $23 with 726 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco traded 2,394 shares changing hands for a value of $304,038 to close $127.
Jamaican stocks jump on Friday
Bulls in cautious run on Jamaican stocks
At the close 9,303,791 units valued at $32,857,021 changed hands, compared to 4,739,909 units valued at $93,941,257 changing hands on Thursday. The junior market accounted for 865,115 units trading valued at 3,986,807 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 337427 units, compared to an average for the month to date of 251,850 units. On Thursday, an average of 153,615 units, compared to an average for the month to date of 166,273.
The market closed with 41 securities trading as the prices of 14 gained while 12 declined in the overall market, including 5 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless fell 4 cents to close at 80 cents with 2,532,420 units trading, Caribbean Cement traded 10,683 shares and rose 95 cents to close at $33, Carreras closed at $66 with 2,395 units changing hands. Grace Kennedy closed trading with 5,934 shares changing hands at $41.50, Jamaica Broilers lost 5 cents and closed at $14.20 with 54,684 shares switching owners. Jamaica Producers climbed 70 cents at $8.20 with 1,334,480 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 39 cents and ended at $27 while trading 27,348 shares. Kingston Wharves traded 15,756 shares to close at $17, Mayberry Investments rose 27 cents and ended with 136,370 shares trading at $4.37,
National Commercial Bank traded 25,250 shares to close with a rise of 99 cents at $44.99, Pan Jamaican Investments lost 50 cents and closed at $22.50 after trading 2,876 shares. Radio Jamaica had 3,993,107 units changing hands to end at $1.50. Sagicor Group had 109,976 shares changing hands and gained 45 cents to close at $23.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 75,341 shares to close at $10.23 after rising 23 cents, Scotia Investments traded 30,000 shares to close at $30, Seprod traded 8,250 shares with the price rising 90 cents to end at $25. Sterling Investments lost 74 cents in trading 7,500 units to close at $14.25, Supreme Ventures traded 15,200 units at $5 after falling 15 cents and Proven Investments traded 46,050 units at 19.50 US cents down from 19.80 Units.
Junior stocks climb higher – Friday
Trading closed on the junior market with the number of advancing stocks being equal to decliners, the market index nevertheless advanced 27.26 points to 2,430.20, to be up 36 percent for the year to date.
Trading volume dipped 36 percent from Thursday’s levels, ending with 865,115 units changing hands, while value traded, fell 50 percent to $3,986,807 from $8,009,663 on Thursday.
An average of 57,674 units with an average value of $265,787 traded, compared to 71,599 units with an average value of $421,561 on the preceding trading day. An average for the month to date of 132,258 units at $732,545 traded.
At the close of the market on 15 securities traded, versus 19 on Thursday resulting in 5 stocks advancing and 5 declining stocks.
Market activities ended with 6 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ending with lower offers.
CAC 2000 that faces a big legal they lost their appeal against a claim for damages closed without trading with an offer of $6 and the highest bid at $5.95 versus the last traded price of $6.30.
In trading activity, Caribbean Cream came in for increased buying with 103,144 shares changing hands at $7.25, to record a gain of 15 cent, up from 50,477 units that traded on Thursday. Caribbean Producers closed trading with 21,000 units at $3.65, Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents with 7,150 units changing hands to end at $2.60, General Accident closed trading with 122,356 units at $2.95. Honey Bun with 14,060 shares changing hands gained 35 cents and closed at $6. Iron Rock Insurance closed trading with 83,984 units at $3.30, Jetcon Corporation lost 1 cent and ended with 22,324 shares trading at $4.02, 
KLE Group lost 49 cents in trading 103,277 units to close at $1.30. Knutsford Express traded 2,163 shares in closing at $22.50, Lasco Distributors traded 10,180 units and declined by 14 cents to close at $6.85, Lasco Financial ended with 113,375 shares changing hands at $3.10, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 182,522 shares but traded as high as $5.39 during the day. Medical Disposables fell 13 cents to close at $5.49 with 49,550 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading rose $2 to close at $24 with 20,030 shares changing hands and Sweet River Abattoir with 10,000 units trading to end $3.50.
