The main market recorded big losses in on Friday, pushing the indices down sharply, with only 30 securities trading on Friday. The market closed with 5,339,621 units valued at $84,347,998 changing hands, in all market segments. A total of 7 stocks gained, 13 declined as 1 stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high.
The main market had strong gains over the past two days, helped on Friday by Scotia Group rising to $30, from $28. The JSE Market Index fell 1,784.13 points to 142,358.84, the all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,993.87 points to end at 158,050.32 and the JSE combined index dropped 1,998.71 points to close at 148,772.50. The market having broken through the 155,000 points resistance level on the all Jamaica chart faces the next test at 165,000, which could contain any strong upward movement over the next few trading sessions.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Cable and Wireless lost 10 cents and closed with 1,884,409 units changing hands at $1.28 after trading as high as $1.45, Caribbean Cement closed trading at $18 having with 25,850 shares changing hands. Carreras lost 40 cents and closed at $56.10 with 3,773 units trading. Grace Kennedy ended with 783,581 units changing hands, to finish at $78, Jamaica Broilers fell 30 cents in trading 657,940 shares, to close at $8.50. Jamaica Producers lost $1.50 in trading 596 units at $30.50, Mayberry Investments traded 300,000 units to end at $4.70,
National Commercial Bank lost 50 cents and ended at $38 with 58,910 units changing hands, Pulse Investments traded 96,506 shares with a rise of 1 cent to close at $2.26, Sagicor Group with 107,647 units changing hands ended at $16.54. Scotia Group lost $1 with 96,044 shares changing hands and ended at $29, Scotia Investments dropped $3 with 4,000 units trading and closed at $27. Supreme Ventures fell 5 cents and ended at $4.85 with 220,000 units changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 20,000 units at $1.90 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.750% preference share, traded 42,000 units at $2.90 with the rise of 15 cents.
JSE drops nearly 2,000 points on Friday
US$58m FX Inflows on Friday
Flows into the Jamaican foreign exchange market continue to remain strong on Friday, with over $57 million, but the rate of the Jamaican dollar slipped slightly against the US dollar and the Canadian dollar but gained versus the British pound.
Dealers bought the equivalent of US$57,959,306 and sold US$53,791,134, compared with US$37,528,023 and US$37,646,794 respectively on Thursday.
Purchase of US dollars , exceeded the amounts sold by dealers by US$4.7 million with dealers buying US$53,896,854 compared to US$34,101,622 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 21 cents to $119.84. A total of US$49,125,914 was sold versus US$35,323,948 on Thursday, the selling rate moved up by 2 cents to $120.23.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 92 cents to end at $85.09 with dealers buying C$1,160,529 and selling C$4,684,848, at an average rate that rose $1.35 to $88.70. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed $1.15 to $179.54 for the purchase of £2,055,013, while £729,623 was sold, with the rate losing $1 to $180.55. At the end of trading, it took J$131.48 to purchase the Euro, an decline of 25 cents from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.88 for a 32 cents fall from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$159,711 being bought, while US$113,315 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, 
remained at $120.45, the lowest buying rate rose 4 cents to $98.74 , the highest selling rate gained 6 cents to end at $126.53 and lowest selling rate remained and $117. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell $1.60 to $87.90, the lowest buying rate was unchanged at $70.38, the highest selling rate rose 6 cents to $90.80 and the lowest selling rate climbed 50 cents to $84. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 70 cents to end at $182.90. The lowest buying rate gained 83 cents to $145.67, while the highest selling rate climbed $1.07 to end at $187.78 and the lowest selling rate remained at $174.
NCB drops back on TTSE – Friday
National Commercial Bank retreated from the 52 weeks’ high reached on Thursday in trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange when the market closed on Friday. Activity ended with 9 active securities as the prices of only 3 rose, 4 declined and 2 traded unchanged. The volume changing hands was 657,676 shares for a value of $2,324,384.
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a fall of 3.36 points to 1,164.24, the All T&T Index fell 0.76 points to 1,954.41 and the Cross Listed Index slipped 0.81 points to 49.23.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Grace Kennedy ended with a gain of 1 cent at $3.62 while 1,000 shares changed hands, Massy Holdings with a volume of 286 shares gained 1 cent in closing at $61.66 and Sagicor Financial gained 1 cent and ended with 3,000 shares changing hands at $6.17.
Declines| National Commercial Bank lost 20 cents while trading 437,722 shares valued at $943,898 to close at $2.10. 
National Flour closed with the loss of 1 cent with 18,535 shares changing hands at $2.74, Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 2,340 shares and lost 1 cents to close at $21.49 and Trinidad Cement ended with a loss of 4 cents at $4.47 while 10,000 shares traded.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 15,257 shares to close at $22.75 valued at $347,089 and FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 169,535 shares valued at $847,685 and closed at $5.
Juniors drop on Friday
Derrimon traded at a new high on Friday.
The junior market index dropped 35.19 points to 1,608.64 with 1,013,694 units, valued at $10,311,911 changing hands. At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services closed with a gain of 1 cent at $14.01 while 7,000 units changed hands. Derrimon Trading ended with 73,203 shares changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.66, for a gain of 14 cents, General Accident Insurance fell 1 cent in trading 51,762 units at $1.91,
Honey Bun lost 20 cents with 13,500 shares changing hands at $5.75, Lasco Distributors closed with 467,553 shares changing hands at $4.50, Lasco Financial ended with a loss of 30 cents at $3.10, with 25,773 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing lost 51 cents and closed at $2.99, with 289,903 shares trading, Medical Disposables closed at $3.55 with 75,000 shares trading as the price rose by 15 cents and Eppley cumulative preference share 2019, ended with 10,000 units changing hands at $6.09 after rising 1 cent.
FX Inflows match outflows – Thursday
Flows into the Jamaican foreign exchange market continue to remain strong on Thursday, but with less than the over $40 million, entering the market over the last three trading days, but the rate of the Jamaican dollar slipped against the US dollar and the British pound, but rose against the Canadian dollar.
Dealers bought and sold almost the same amount of foreign currency with the equivalent of US$37,528,023 purchased and US$37,646,794 sold, compared with US$40,650,808 they purchased and US$45,415,068 sold on Wednesday.
Demand for the US dollar , exceeded the amounts purchased by dealers by US$1 million with dealers buying US$34,101,622 compared to US$36,006,397 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar lost 1 cent to $119.63. A total of US$35,323,948 was sold versus US$42,190,336 on Wednesday, the selling rate moved up by 5 cents to $120.21. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 68 cents to end at $86.01 with dealers buying C$1,391,801 and selling C$652,803, at an average rate that declined 74 cents to $87.35. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 73 cents to $178.39 for the purchase of £1,564,232, while £1,152,327 was sold, with the rate gaining $1.28 to $181.55. At the end of trading, it took J$131.73 to purchase the Euro, an increase of $1.17 from Wednesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129.19 for an increase of $1.25 from Wednesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$93,118 being bought, while US$108,235 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, 
rose 2 cents to $120.45, the lowest buying, the highest and lowest selling rates remained at $98.70, $126.47 and $117 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar gained 90 cents to end at $89.50, the lowest buying rate ended 8 cents higher at $70.38, the highest selling rate rose 11 cents to $90.74 and the lowest selling rate fell 50 cents to $83.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose $1.60 to end at $183.60. The lowest buying rate gained 75 cents to $144.84, while the highest selling rate climbed $2.03 to end at $186.71 and the lowest selling rate rose 30 cents to $174.
Trading picks up for juniors – Thursday
Caribbean Flavours hit a high of $8.10 on Thursday
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 3 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Caribbean Cream gained 2 cents while trading 192,500 units to end at $3.40, Caribbean Flavours traded 1,550 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $8.10 by adding 90 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 42,978 units as the price fell 5 cents to end at $5.25, Consolidated Bakeries fell 24 cents trading 695,535 shares at $1.06. General Accident Insurance fell 8 cents, in trading 11,802 units, at $1.92, Honey Bun gained 10 cents with 1,000 shares changing hands and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.95.
Jamaican Teas had 76,295 shares trading to close with a loss of 40 cents at $4.50, Lasco Distributors closed with 765,536 shares changing hands at $4.30, Lasco Financial ended at $3, with 741,400 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing lost 11 cents and closed at $3.51, with 680,796 shares trading, Medical Disposables closed at $3.40 with 250,000 shares trading as the price declined by 13 cents, Paramount Trading ended with 6,000 shares changing hands at $8.96 and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 64,000 shares changing hands to end at $2.10.
NCB only rising stock on TTSE – Thursday
NCB closes at new high again on TTSE
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a rise 3.03 points to 1,167.60 the All T&T Index was unchanged at 1,955.19 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.83 points to 50.04.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| National Commercial Bank rose by 10 cents while trading 125,000 shares to close at $2.30 for a 52 weeks’ high.
Firm Trades| Agostini’s traded 100 shares at $17.25, Clico Investment Fund posted 211 shares and closed at $22.75, First Citizens Bank traded 150 shares to close at $35,
FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 40 shares and closed at $5. Guardian Holdings ended at $13.03 with 913 units changing hands, National Flour closed with 24,000 shares changing hands at $2.75, One Caribbean Media ended with 12,190 units changing hands at $22. Sagicor Financial ended with 15,823 shares changing hands at $6.16, Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 23,015 shares valued at $494,745, to close at $21.50 and West Indian Tobacco traded just 1,809 shares to close at $126.25.
New record close for JSE – Thursday
Scotia Group closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Thursday of $30.
The main market had strong gains over the past two days, helped on Thursday by Scotia Group rising to $30, from $28. The JSE Market Index rose 1,510.31 points to 144,142.97 the all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,687.86 points to end at 160,044.19 and the JSE combined index gained 1,446.03 points to close at 150,771.21. The market having broken through the 155,000 points resistance level on the all Jamaica chart faces the next test at 165,000 which is not far off, which could contain any strong upward movement over the next few trading sessions.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.In trading, Cable and Wireless lost 2 cents and closed with 1,579,942 units changing hands at $1.38 after trading as high as $1.49, Caribbean Cement closed trading at $18 having risen 18 cents with 156,792 shares changing hands. Carreras rose 5 cents and closed at $56.50 with 5,817 units trading. Ciboney lost 1 cent and ended at 26 cents with 213,316 shares changing hands, Desnoes & Geddes had 68,514 units trading at the close at $30. Gleaner Company traded 17,272 shares at $1.40, Grace Kennedy ended with at a 52 weeks’ closing high with only 399 units changing hands, the stock price rose $1 to finish at $78,
Jamaica Broilers gained 50 cents in trading 15,963 shares, to close at $8.80. JMMB Group traded 1,080,760 shares, to close at $10, Kingston Wharves traded 22,945 units to end at $11.20, after shedding 15 cents, National Commercial Bank lost $1.35 and ended at $38.50 with 42,711 units changing hands, Sagicor Group with 90,677 units ended at $16.54. Scotia Group had 146,486 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $30, to record a gain of $2, the stock traded at these levels way back in 2005, Seprod had 11,790 units trading with a gain of $1.95 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20.55 and Supreme Ventures gained 18 cents and ended at $4.90, with 573,000 units changing hands.
A rich 2015 for JSE shareholders
Shareholders in Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) are having a wonderful 2015. The stock last traded at $1.57 in December 2014 and has since shot to $16 for a gain of 919 percent but if that was not enough the company has declared a dividend of 47 cents per share payable on December 30, to shareholders on record as at December 23. As great as the gains for 2015 has been so far for the JSE stock price is still lags some of the best gains ever recorded for the market with highest being West Indies Glass with a n astounding 3,438 percent in 1985 followed by Jamaica Flour Mills with 2,054 percent in 1984.
The stock will trade ex-dividend on December 21. In July this year, the JSE paid 53 cents per share which brings the total payout to $140 million and to $1 per share making for a dividend yield to a staggering 63.7 percent based on the 2014 closing price.
The JSE reported earnings of $139 million in nine months to September this year, from $8 million in 2014 and seems set to increase profits in 2016 that should push to stock up even further with strong prospects of another year of big dividend payment.
