Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market ended on Wednesday with dealers buying the equivalent of US$33,911,551 and selling US$32,180,833, compared with US$27,137,018 purchased and US$31,241,564 sold on Tuesday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$30,531,051 compared to US$24,325,109 on Tuesday with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 12 cents to $120.57. A total of US$28,521,777 was sold versus US$28,696,289 on Tuesday as the selling rate climbed by 10 cents to $121.31. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate jumped $2.58 to end at $84.76 with dealers buying C$1,794,316 and selling C$3,612,350, at an average rate that rose $1.25 to $87.99. The rate for buying the British Pound rose $1.29 to $170.38 for the purchase of £1,419,888, while £557,702 was sold, with the rate gaining 61 cents to $172.12. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, ended with a gain of 31 cents at J$131.50, from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.71 for a rise of 22 cents from Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$112,633 being bought, while US$247,666 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a fall of $1.91 in the lowest selling rate for the US dollar that ended at $99.03. The highest selling rise of the Canadian dollar rose $2.14 to $90, the lowest selling rate fell $1.55 and ended at $79 and Highest selling rate for the British Pound fell $1.17 to $176.99 and the lowest selling rate jumped by $7.20 to $165.20.
Jamaican$ loses value all round – Wednesday
Juniors inched up on Wednesday
Honey Bun closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday
The junior market closed on Wednesday with 16 securities trading, 6 of which advanced, 4 declined. The market index gained 14.58 points to end at 2,244.68 and a total of 2 stocks closed at a new 52 weeks’ highs and 1 at an intraday high.
The volume of 920,944 units changed hands, valued at $5,787,289. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid to buy and 7 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services gained 30 cents to close at $16.80 with 200 units changing hands, AMG Packaging fell by 10 cents to close at $2.90 with 1,434 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 7,267 shares at $11, Caribbean Cream ended with 17,800 shares changing hands with a rise of 15 cents, to close at $4.80. Caribbean Flavours traded 42,656 units to end at $9, Caribbean Producers traded 55,096 units to close at $5.50, Dolphin Cove closed with a rise of 25 cents to close at $16 with 14,200 shares changing hands, General Accident lost 25 cents while trading 84,631 shares to close at $2.05.
Honey Bun ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.50 with 3,400 units trading with a gain of 30 cents. Knutsford Express closed with 84,617 units changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.20, to record a 20 cents rise, Lasco Distributors closed with 92,771 units trading and ended at $7.80, Lasco Financial closed at $4 with 67,025 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing ended trading 285,652 shares to close at $5, Medical Disposables rose 35 cents and closed at $3.50 with 57,034 shares trading, Paramount Trading lost 5 cents to end with 15,000 shares changing hands at $11.45 and tTech declined 28 cents to close at $4.70 with 92,161 shares trading.
JSE enjoys big jump on Wednesday
Caribbean Cement shares closed at a new high of $28
Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with moderate gains in the indices on Wednesday with trading volumes being light. Market activities close with 42 securities changing hands in all market segments of which 16 securities in the combined markets gained and 12 declined.
Five stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and one traded at intraday highs as 4,514,100 units valued at $80,222,876 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 920,944 units changed hands, valued at $5,787,289.
The JSE Market Index jumped sharply by 2,558.24 points to 162,031.07 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a big gain of 2,858.97 points to end at 180,035.15 and the JSE combined index rose 2,543.90 points to close at 173,056.95.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints lost 20 cents to end at $3.40 as 87,946 units traded,
Cable and Wireless ended with 448,890 units changing hands to close with a gain of 3 cents at $1.60, Caribbean Cement jumped $3 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $28, with 29,517 shares changing hands. Carreras traded 22,915 shares with a loss of 50 cents at $62, Ciboney traded 323,200 units at 27 cents, Gleaner traded 17,690 units with a loss of 2 cents at $2.58, Grace Kennedy dropped $2.69 and closed at $80.80, with 109,886 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers jumped by $1.55 and closed at 52 weeks’ high of $15.55 with 120,624 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $19.70 while trading 16,300 shares, JMMB Group traded 155,743 units to end at $11. Kingston Properties traded 79,853 shares but lost 24 cents to end at $6.80, Kingston Wharves traded 5,112 units to close with a gain of 1 cent at $11.14, Margaritaville Turks traded 73,000 shares at 11.05 US cents. National Commercial Bank traded with a fall of 75 cents to close at $41, with 59,120 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investment shed $4 with 100,100 units changing hands to close at $94, 
Radio Jamaica gained 80 cents to end at $5 while trading 21,945 shares. Sagicor Group closed at $23 with 7,704 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 52,946 shares at $11.60, Scotia Group had 179,497 shares changing hands to close with a gain of $1.50 at $32, Scotia Investments had 200,000 shares changing hands to close with a decline of $3.49 at $26.50. Seprod rose 50 cents to close at $20.50 with 109,692 units changing hands. Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $6.55 to record a gain of 6 cents with 64,920 units changing hands, the stock traded at an all-time high of $6.90 during the day, Proven Investments ordinary share lost 2 US cents in trading 1,244,550 units at 20 US cents and JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 137,308 units at $2.25.
Pulse pushes back capital increase
Pulse’s directors put before the annual general meeting held on Tuesday at the company’s Villa Ronai complex a resolution to increase the capital of the company but agreed to withdraw it after a number of shareholders suggested that it should be postponed.
The resolution was incorporated into the agenda after the annual reports were printed and was asking shareholders to vote to increase the authorised capital from 336,835,181 shares to 450 million shares without par value. Shareholders argued that the request was being presented without any explanation for the increase. In addition, based on the points put forth by the directors that the expectation is to raise funds to help finance the property expansion with the building of townhouses, shareholders were of the view that thye needed to be presented with a plan for the development and its funding. Such plans shareholders felt should include some debt financing that could include preference shares or bonds issued to the public.
Pulse released interim results to December showing profits of $131.9 million for the six months up by 33 percent from the $99 million reported in 2014. For the December quarter profit amounted to 51.6 million or 26 percent higher than the $41 million in 2014.
Operating revenues rose 25 percent to $65 million from $63 million for the quarter and percent for the half year to $151 million from $132 million in 2014.
The net profit results include fair value appreciation on investment property of $25.4 million for the latest quarter versus $20.7 million in 2014 and $51.8 million for the six months to December 2015 and $42.3 million in 2014.
Earnings per share for the quarter came in at 19 cents and 49 cents for the six months and should reach $1 per share for the full year.
Market activity picked up on Tuesday
Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with moderate gains in the indices on Tuesday with trading volumes being light. Market activities picked up from the 33 securities that traded on Monday to close with 43 changing hands in all market segments of which 22 securities in the combined markets gained and 14 declined.
Eight stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and one traded at intraday highs as 4,319,632 units valued at $43,703,774 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,200,794 units changed hands, valued at $5,249,310.
The JSE Market Index advanced by 147.39 points to 159,472.83 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a gain of 164.72 points to end at 177,176.18 and the JSE combined index rose 175.31 points to close at 170,513.05.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints gained 29 cents to end at $3.60 as 103,176 units traded, Cable and Wireless ended with 268,670 units changing hands to close with a gain of 1 cent at $1.57, Caribbean Cement rose $1 to close at $25, with 54,507 shares changing hands. Carreras traded 86,825 shares at $62.50, Gleaner traded 10,560 units with a loss of 7 cents at $2.60, Grace Kennedy jumped $1.49 and closed at $83.49, with 13,200 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers rose by 49 cents and closed at 52 weeks’ high of $14 with 561,626 shares changing hands. Jamaica Producers lost $2 to end at $29 with 15,812 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 3 cents to close at $19.70 while trading 199,677 shares, JMMB Group traded 112,847 units to end with a rise of 28 cents at $11. Kingston Properties traded 79,853 shares but lost 24 cents to end at $6.80, Kingston Wharves traded 11,310 units to close with a fall of 1 cent at $11.14, Margaritaville Turks traded 27,000 shares at 11.05 US cents with a rise of 0.05 cents. Mayberry Investments traded 201,632 shares and fell 35 cents to close at $4.50. 
National Commercial Bank traded with a rise of $1.75 to close at $41.75, with 45,227 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investment gained $2 with 10,830 units changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $98, Pulse Investments gained 10 cents to end at $2.60 while trading 19,848 shares. Sagicor Group fell by 5 cents to close at $23 with 189,997 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 74,254 shares but the price rose 1 cent to $11.60, Scotia Group had 460,994 shares changing hands to close with a loss of $1.50 at $30.50, Seprod had 10,000 units changing hands at $20, for a rise of $1. Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.49 to record a gain of $1.49 with 223,971 units changing hands, the stock traded at an all-time high of $6.90 during the day. Proven Investments ordinary share traded 184,364 units at 22 US cents, JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 152,692 units at $2.25 after rising 15 cents and Proven Investments preference share traded 77,800 units at $5.
3 new lows on TTSE – Tuesday
Scotiabank closed at a 52 weeks’ low on TTSE on Friday
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued to reflect a negative tone with moderate trading with 16 securities being active on Tuesday. The market closed with 2 stocks gaining, 4 declining with the prices of 10 remaining unchanged while 3 securities closed at 52 weeks’ low. A total of 442,470 shares changed hands valued at $11,853,292.
The Composite Index slipped 2.06 points to 1,162.50, the All T&T Index lost 4.11 points to 1,933.64 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged to close at 51.61.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator remains with a high degree of negativity with only 2 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 10 stocks or 25 percent of listings with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings had 7,643 units changing hands and gained 4 cents to close at $14.15 and Unilever Caribbean ended with 80,000 shares valued at $5,425,600 changing hands with a gain of 2 cents at $67.82.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 42,892 shares valued at $969,213 but lost 13 cents to close at $22.60, Massy Holdings lost 4 cents to end with 50 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.90. Scotiabank traded 2,000 shares but fell 69 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $61 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL contributed 66,011 shares with a value of $1,326,933 but lost 69 cents, in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.10.
Firm Trades| ANSA McAL contributed 10,005 shares at $66.25 for a value of $662,831,
Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 122 units at $25, First Citizens had 17,714 shares valued at $619,990 trading to end at $35, Grace Kennedy traded 7,500 units, to close at $4.10. National Commercial Bank traded 133,554 shares changing hands for a value of $304,710 to end at $2.28, One Caribbean Media added 55,895 shares valued at $1,229,690 to close at $22, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 8,970 shares valued at $1,004,640 changed hands. Sagicor Financial ended with 500 shares changing hands at $6.50, Scotia Investments ended with 9,419 units changing hands at $1.58 and West Indian Tobacco traded 195 units to close at $126.30.
5 new all-time junior highs – Tuesday
The junior market closed on Tuesday with 16 securities trading, 7 of which advanced, 6 declined. The market index gained 4.02 points to end at 2,230.10 and a total of 4 stocks closed at a new 52 weeks’ highs and 1 at an intraday high.
The volume of 1,117,460 units changed hands, valued at $5,238,103. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid to buy and 8 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 3 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging rose $1.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $13 with 7,887 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream ended with 31,376 shares changing hands with a rise of 10 cents to close at $4.65, Caribbean Flavours traded 2,594 units to end at $9, Caribbean Producers traded 11,730 units to close at $5.50. Consolidated Bakeries loss 10 cents and closed at $1.30 with 108,098 units trading, Derrimon Trading closed with a rise of 1 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.21 with 4,000 shares changing hands, General Accident lost 30 cents while trading 120,000 shares to close at $2.30. Honey Bun ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.20 with 23,681 units trading with a gain of 55 cents,
KLE Group ended at a $2.20 with 47,000 shares changing hands with a loss of 55 cents. Knutsford Express closed with 2,400 units changing hands at $15, but previously traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $15.10, Lasco Distributors closed with 177,836 units trading and ended with a loss of 2 cents at $7.80, Lasco Financial fell 14 cents to close at $4 with 291,225 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing rose 16 cents in trading 155,178 shares to close at $5, Medical Disposables fell 40 cents and closed at $3.15 with 8,250 shares trading, Paramount Trading rose by $1 to end with 33,100 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.50 and tTech rose 8 cents to close at $4.98 with 93,105 shares trading.
Jamaican$ loses value all round – Tuesday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market rose slightly on Tuesday, from the prior Tuesday’s level of just $24.4 million that was purchased then. Trading ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$27,137,018 and selling US$31,241,564, compared with US$43,368,650 purchased and US$39,093,223 sold on Monday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$24,325,109 compared to US$38,895,652 on Monday with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 3 cents to $120.45. A total of US$28,696,289 was sold versus US$37,043,813 on Monday as the selling rate climbed by 10 cents to $121.21. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 73 cents to end at $82.18 with dealers buying C$1,434,840 and selling C$2,283,416, at an average rate that rose $1.87 to $86.74. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped 64 cents to $169.09 for the purchase of £1,199,305, while £568,662 was sold, with the rate gaining 88 cents to $171.51. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, ended with a gain of 16 cents at J$131.19, from Monday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.49 for a rise of 14 cents from Monday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$149,383 being bought, while US$106,693 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at are, a rise of $1.55 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar that ended at $80.55 and British Pound, lowest selling rate falling $5.75 to $158.
Grace’s $160m trade on Monday
Grace Kennedy traded 1.9m shares valued at $160m on Monday.
Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with strong gains in the indices on Monday as Grace Kennedy traded 1.9 million units carrying a value of $160 million. The other big trade was in National Commercial Bank shares with over 2 million units changing hands with a value of $88.6 million.
Market activities slowed with only 33 securities changing hands in all market segments compared to recent levels around 40 or more per day for January. At the close of trading session, the combined index added 2,291 points with 13 securities in the combined markets gaining and 16 declining.
Three stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and two traded at intraday highs as 8,596,958 units valued at $285,106,122 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,200,794 units changed hands, valued at $ 5,249,310.
The JSE Market Index advanced by 2,618.88 points to 159,325.44 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a gain of 2,926.75 points to end at 177,011.46 and the JSE combined index rose 2,290.59 points to close at 170,337.74.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Barita Investments closed with 200,500 shares as the price lost 13 cents to end at $3.90. The company confirmed on Monday that they are on target to release the audited accounts to September last year, this week. Berger Paints closed with a loss of 29 cents at $3.31 as 337,791 units traded, Cable and Wireless ended with 415,800 units changing hands to close with a gain of 5 cents at $1.56, Caribbean Cement rose $2 to close at $24, with 425,288 shares changing hands. Carreras fell 55 cents in trading 1,956 shares at $62.50, Ciboney gained 3 cents in trading 200,555 shares at 27 cents, Gleaner traded 3,000 units with a gain of 27 cents at $2.67, Grace Kennedy shed $2 and closed at $82, with 1,949,435 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers rose by 1 cent and closed at 52 weeks’ high of $13.51 with 80,536 shares changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 3 cents to close at $19.67 while trading 5,740 shares, JMMB Group traded 1,042,305 units to end with a loss of 28 cents at $10.72. 
Kingston Wharves traded 30,400 units to close with a rise of 15 cents at $11.15, Mayberry Investments traded 8,450 shares and gained 15 cents to close at $4.85, National Commercial Bank traded with a loss of $3 to close at $40, with 2,199,601 units changing hands. Sagicor Group fell by 20 cents to close at $23.05 with 61,650 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 59,199 shares changing hands to close with a gain of $1.59 at $32, Scotia Investments had 30,814 units changing hands at $30, for a rise of $2. Sterling Investments traded 100,000 units with a loss of 10 cents to end at $12.90, Supreme Ventures traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $6.50 but ended at $5.50 with 72,434 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 16,950 units at 22 US cents and JMMB 7.5% Preference share traded 151,000 units at $2.10 after losing a cent.
5 TTSE stocks rose 3 fell – Monday
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued to reflect a negative tone with moderate trading with 16 securities being active on Monday. The market closed with 5 stocks gaining, 3 declining with the prices of 8 remaining unchanged while 2 securities closed at 52 weeks’ high and 1 at a 52 weeks’ low. A total of 214,069 shares changed hands valued at $1,814,892.
The Composite Index advanced by 0.27 points to 1,164.56, the All T&T Index lost 0.41 points to 1,937.75 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.02 points to close at 51.61.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator has turned negative with only 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Agostini’s traded 1,175 shares and gained 5 cents to end at $17, Guardian Holdings had 4,800 units changing hands and gained 11 cents to close at $14.11, National Commercial Bank traded 43,013 shares at $2.29 after rising 1 cent. Sagicor Financial Corporation gained 1 cent to end with 88,770 shares changing hands at $6.50 and West Indian Tobacco traded 1,000 units and rose 1 cent to close at $126.30.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund traded 12,890 shares but lost 1 cent to close at $22.73, Massy Holdings lost 6 cents to end with 10 shares changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.94 and National Flour lost 3 cents to end with 100 shares changing hands at $2.38.
Firm Trades| First Citizens had 5,419 shares trading to end at $35, Grace Kennedy closed with 39,760 units trading, to close at $4.10, Guardian Media ended with 6,324 shares trading at $19.75, JMMB Group with 1,904 shares changing hands closed at 55 cents. One Caribbean Media traded 8,480 shares at $22, Prestige Holdings traded 3,244 units changing hands ended at $10.19, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $112 as 9 shares changed hands and Unilever Caribbean ended with 1,000 shares changed hands at $67.80.
