The real estate industry is set to get a boost as Jamaica National Building Society is set to announce a lowering mortgage rates, IC Insider.com has been reliably informed. The announcement could come as early as next week IC Insider.com has learnt.
Details were not available, but from indications it could result in the current flagship rate of 9.5 percent dropping to 8.5 percent. The move will be a welcomed for the society’s borrowers and will act as a stimulus to the housing market that has seen increased building cost as a result of the falling value of the Jamaican dollar pushing the cost of housing upwards. The decline will come against the background of lowering of repo rates by the country’s central bank and a continuous lowering of Treasury bill rates since early 2014.
The move by Jamaica National is expected to see other long term lenders following the JN lead and should result in an all round fall in borrowing cost for mortgages.
J$ steadies vs US on Wednesday
The Jamaican dollar selling rate held firm against the US dollar at the end of trading on Wednesday, with the local currency ending at $119.06 to buy the green back. Trading ended in the foreign exchange market with the equivalent of US$28,756,679 bought by dealers, compared with US$29,680,202 on Tuesday, while they sold the equivalent of US$32,772,881, versus US$37,843,436 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$25,863,046 compared to US$26,694,055 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 2 cents to $118.35 and US$31,422,964 was sold versus US$36,211,236 on Tuesday, the selling rate remained at $119.06. The Canadian dollar buying rate lost 36 cents to end at $86.10, with dealers buying C$639,293 and selling C$531,137, at an average rate that fell 5 cents to $88.62. 
The rate for buying the British Pound fell 51 cents to $177.86 for the purchase of £1,431,722, while £443,937 was sold, at an average rate that rose 36 cents to $180.15. At the end of trading, it took J$133.58 to purchase the Euro, with a rise of 21 cents from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$130.77, for a gain of 9 cents from Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$276,781 being bought, while US$282,829 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar rose 5 cents on Wednesday to $119.35, the lowest buying rate added 9 cents to end at $97.53, the highest selling rate was unchanged at $122.64 while the lowest selling rate climbed $10.33 to $97.33.
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar gained 50 cents to $89, the lowest buying rate lost 42 cents to $70.34, the highest selling rate rose 31 cents to end at $91.25 and the lowest selling rate was unchanged at $84.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, increased 25 cents to end at $180.50. The lowest buying rate lost 29 cents to $144.96, the highest selling rate gained 26 cents to $184.77 and the lowest selling rate dropped 50 cents to close at $174.50.
7 stocks up 9 down on JSE
Proven traded 1.24 million shares on Wednesday
The main market indices suffered mild declines with the JSE Market Index losing 108.96 points to 96,324.59,
the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 121.77 points to 106,604.43 and the JSE combined index slipped 108.46 to end at 99,698.72 points.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 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower. The rise in the closing bids coincides with the close of the month as portfolios are priced at month end.
In trading, Berger Paints had 49,048 units changing hands at $2.30, Cable and Wireless lost 1 cent with 325,800 shares changing hands, to close at 50 cents. Grace Kennedy had 64,962 shares trading and gained 66 cents to end at $64.66,
Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.80 with 36,585 shares changing ownership and dropping 20 cents. JMMB Group traded 16,250 units at $7.63 and lost 2 cents, Pan Jamaican traded 8,177 shares to close at $61.72, Sagicor Group with 145,626 shares trading, closed with a gain of 20 cents, to end at $13.20, Scotia Group lost 25 cents in ending at $23.75 while 4,400 shares traded. Supreme Ventures close at $3.60 with 210,487 units changing hands and Proven Investments ordinary share, had 1,239,499 units changing hands at 19.5 US cents, after shedding 0.25 cents.
Juniors slip with 2 stocks up 2 down
The junior market closed on Wednesday with the index slipping by just 0.63 points to 980.32 and a total of 2 stocks advancing, 2 declining as 7 securities traded. The market ended with 1,114,636 units, valued at $2,408,864 changing hands.
At the close 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 8 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, General Accident Insurance ended with 54,405 units changing hands at $1.50, in the process added 3 cents. Honey Bun with 19,883 shares changing hands, closed unchanged at $4.28, Jamaican Teas traded 54,925 units to end at $3.10 but after losing 12 cents. Lasco Distributors with 146,290 units trading, ended with unchanged at $2, Lasco Financial had 3,850 shares changing hands, ended at $1.61, Lasco Manufacturing with 335,283 shares trading, closed at $2.05 with a gain of 5 cents and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 500,000 shares changing hands to end at $2.20 down 5 cents.
Republic biggest trade on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with Republic Bank trading $5.8 million worth of shares to be the dominant trade for the day. Elsewhere, market activity concluded with 9 securities trading, with 2 stocks trading higher, 1 declining and 6 remaining unchanged as a total of 139,226 units traded, valued at $8,434,389.
At the close the Composite Index ending with a modest gain of 0.01 at 1,147.57, the All T&T Index rose 0.01 to 1,950.12 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 45.27.
Gains| Guardian Holdings with 2,884 shares changing hands and closed 1 cent higher at $13.12 and West Indian Tobacco closed trading with gain of 1 cent and 8,278 shares valued at $1,043,108 changing hands to end with at a new 52 weeks’ high of $126.01.
Losses| National Flour traded 15,000 shares at $1.98 for a 1 cent loss.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund with 600 shares changing hands, closed at $22.50, First Citizens Bank traded 11,624 shares valued at $406,842 to close at $35, Republic Bank had 52,060 shares with a value of $5,830,836, changing hands at $112. The stock closed looking vulnerable to fall, with a bid down at $105 while the offer is at $112. Scotiabank traded 16,070 shares, valued at $1,004,375 to end at $62.50, Scotia Investments traded 22,517 shares at $1.60 and Trinidad Cement had 10,193 shares changing hands to end at $3.15.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main market slips in morning trading
Activity remains moderate on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning, resulted in 16 securities trading changing hands at 11 am with a volume of just 442,786 units, with 3 stocks declining and 5 rising.
Trading activity resulted in the JSE Market Index falling 75.43 points to 96,358.12. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 84.29 points to 106,641.91, the JSE combined index declined 55.48 points to be at 99,751.70 and the junior market is up 1.76 points to 982.71.
New low for Jamaican $ on Tuesday
The Jamaican dollar slipped to its lowest level against the US dollar at the end of trading on Tuesday, with the local currency ending at $119.06 to buy the green back. Trading ended in the foreign exchange market with the equivalent of US$29,680,202 bought by dealers, compared with US$45,002,605 on Monday, while they sold the equivalent of US$37,843,436, versus US$35,574,946 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$26,694,055 compared to US$40,969,765 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 4 cents to $118.33 and US$36,211,236 was sold versus US$34,148,900 on Monday, the selling rate climbed 7 cents to close at $119.06 The Canadian dollar buying rate lost $1.08 to end at $86.46, with dealers buying C$784,688 and selling C$652,773, at an average rate that fell 17 cents to $88.67. 
The rate for buying the British Pound rose $1.40 to $178.37 for the purchase of £1,417,527, while £549,830 was sold, at an average rate that rose 9 cents to $179.79. At the end of trading, it took J$133.37 to purchase the Euro, with a rise of 38 cents from Monday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$130.68, for a gain of 31 cents from Monday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$275,982 being bought, while US$315,768 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar fell 20 cents on Tuesday to $119.30, the lowest buying rate was unchanged at $97.44, the highest selling rate dropped $2.23 to $122.64 while the lowest selling rate dived $12.17 to $87.20. 
he highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar dipped $1.50 to $88.50, the lowest buying rate lost 4 cents to $70.76, the highest selling rate fell $1.36 to end at $90.94 and the lowest selling rate jumped $10.94 to $84.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, lost 45 cents to end at $180.25. The lowest buying rate lost 21 cents to $145.25, the highest selling rate dropped $3.02 to $184.50 and the lowest selling rate remained unchanged at $175.
Trading picked up a bit in Trinidad
Unilever products – the company’s stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Tuesday
At the close the Composite Index ending with a modest gain of 0.03 at 1,147.56, the All T&T Index rose 0.10 to 1,950.11 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 45.27.
Gains| Guardian Holdings with 23,050 shares changing hands for a value of $302,186, closed 3 cents higher at $13.11 and Unilever closed trading with gain of 4 cent but 880 shares changing hands to end with at a new 52 weeks’ high of $67.25.
Losses| Agostini’s traded 1,189 shares at $18.19 for a 1 cent loss and FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 18,500 shares and closed at $5.01 with a I cent loss.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings with 42,000 shares valued at $588,000 changing hands, closed at $14, Clico Investment Fund with 16,137 shares changing hands valued $363,083, closed at $22.50, First Citizens Bank traded 4,000 shares to close at $35,
JMMB Group closed at 43 cents while trading 20,880 shares. Massy Holdings ended with 790 shares changing hands at $62.50, One Caribbean Media traded 100 shares at $22, Republic Bank had 1,020 shares changing hands at $112, Scotiabank traded 100 shares to end at $62.50 and Trinidad Cement had 20,400 shares changing hands and ended at $3.15.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Price changes aplenty & no direction for JSE
The Jamaica Stock Exchange saw low trading activity on Tuesday and at the close, there were 10 stocks rising, 11 declining with 30 securities totalling 986,801 units, valued at $11,478,835 changing hands, in all market segments. Trading in the main market was very light with only 745,029 shares trading.
The main market indices enjoyed a second day of increases with the JSE Market Index added 77.06 points to 96,433.55, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 86.11 points to 106,726.20 and the JSE combined index rose 180.75 to end at 99,807.18 points.
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 3 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose 2 cents with 85,687 shares changing hands, to close at 51 cents, Caribbean Cement had 150,477 shares trading with a 29 cents rise, to $8, Carreras lost 20 cents in trading 9,195 shares and ended at $48.90, Desnoes & Geddes traded 28,656 shares to end at $6.60 for a fall of 40 cents. Grace Kennedy had 50,670 shares changing hands at $64, 
Jamaica Broilers traded at $6 with 55,760 shares changing ownership and gained 30 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 56,000 shares at $7.50, JMMB Group traded 51,620 units to end at $7.65, National Commercial Bank had 28,578 units changing hands and ended at $27.52 after losing 23 cents. Pan Jamaican traded 11,090 shares to close at $61.71. Radio Jamaica traded at $3.08 with 13,820 shares changing hands. Sagicor X Fund with 12,000 shares closed with a gain of 39 cents to end at $7.40, Scotia Group lost 95 cents in ending at $24 while 25,457 shares traded and Scotia Investments gained 1 cent to land at $25.01 with 55,000 units.
Juniors move up on Tuesday
The junior market closed on Tuesday with the index rising 12.09 points to 980.95 and a total of 4 stocks advancing, 4 declining as 12 securities traded. The market ended with 241,772 units, valued at $747,229 changing hands.
At the close 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 9 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed at $3.65, with 5,100 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 2,000 shares and lost 50 cents to close at $13.20, Consolidated Bakeries traded 40,000 shares and declined by 20 cents to end at $1. General Accident Insurance traded 20228 units at $1.47 in the process lost 3 cents. Honey Bun with 26,827 shares changing 
hands and closed unchanged at $4.28, Jamaican Teas traded 500 units at $3.22 and added 2 cents, Lasco Distributors with 17,240 units trading, ended with a unchanged at $2, Lasco Financial had 46,336 shares changing hands, ended at $1.61 after losing 14 cents. Lasco Manufacturing with 25,350 shares trading, closed at $2 with a gain of 1 cent, Paramount Trading ended with 16,782 shares changing hands and gained 9 cents to be at $5.90, Eppley cumulative preference share 2019, ended with 8,209 units changing hands, 2 cents higher, at $6.07 and Eppley 9.5% preference share, ended with 33,200 units changing hands at $6.01.
