Trading in the main market saw low volumes for individual stocks as the main market indices slipped further by the close of the market. At the end, 24 securities traded of which 12 stocks gained, 7 declined with 1,909,715 units, valued at $23,590,989 changing hands in all market segments.
The JSE Market Index declined 213.17 points to 96,761.32, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dropped 238.24 points to 107,092.50 and the JSE combined index lost only 77.94 points to end at 99,905.07.
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 8 with offers that were lower, indicative of another day of high up and down price movements ahead.
In trading, Cable and Wireless gained 2 cents with 61,150 shares changing hands, to close at 52 cents, Carreras recovered $1.39 but with just 1,440 shares trading at $49.99, Desnoes & Geddes traded 56,700 shares after losing 20 cents to end at $7, Grace Kennedy gained $1 in trading 2,923 shares to close at $64.50, Hardware & Lumber dropped 20 cents with 13,910 
shares trading at $12.80. Jamaica Broilers with 150,629 units changing hands, ended at $6.50 while gaining 60 cents, JMMB Group traded 19,168 units, the price fell 3 cents to end at $7.82, National Commercial Bank with 22,016 shares changing hands, closed at $27.05, having gained 5 cents. Sagicor Group with 84,069 shares trading, closed 20 cents higher at $13, Scotia Group traded 6,300 shares to close with a loss of 1 cent at $23.80, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 710,000 units at 20 US cents. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 175,000 units to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.80, after losing 5 cents and Proven Investments preference share traded 100,475 units at $5.
JSE drops again but 12 stocks rose 7 fell
5 junior stocks rose 1 fell
The junior market ended on Wednesday with the market index rising 13.81 points to close at 957.25 as the prices of 5 stocks advanced and 1 declined with a total of 7 securities trading. The market ended with 471,580 units, valued at $669,146 changing hands.
At the close, there are signs that the supply of junior market stocks is on the decline with demand slowly rising, indicators that prices should be rising for a number of stocks while those declining should be less. The market ended with 4 securities with no bids to buy, while 10 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 6 stocks closed with bids 
higher than the last traded prices and 4 closed with lower offers.
Stocks trading are, Caribbean Producers trading 700 units to close at $2.35 with an increase of 7 cents. Dolphin Cove trading 4,400 units at $11.50 while losing 50 cents. Honey Bun traded just 6,230 shares to end at $4.08, KLE Group traded 200,000 shares at 50 cents, Lasco Distributors rose 25 cents with 64,305 units changing hands, to close at $1.95, Lasco Financial ended with 36,795 shares changing hands for a rise of 6 cents to $1.70 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 11 cents with 159,150 shares trading at $2.
21% fall in Treasury bill rates in a year
Treasury bill rates are continue to decline with the latest ones falling ones continuing the trend once more. Rates are down 20.6 percent on the 182 days Treasury bill notes since September last year or 165 basis points.
Rates on the latest issues of Treasury bill that were on offer on Wednesday September 16th, continued a slow decent since the start of 2015 but a much steeper decline form March last year. 
The two offerings for $400m each attracted bids for $721.8 million for the 91 days instrument and $786 million for the 182 days instrument, down from over $940 million each in August.
The 91 days instrument cleared at an average of 6.2 percent down from 6.352 percent at the August auction, with bids between 5.99 percent, to 6.3 percent being fully accepted. The 182 days yielded an average 6.35 percent down from August’s average of 6.49 percent. Bids between 6.2 to 6.4 percent, were fully allotted. Earlier, at the September 9th auction, the 28 days Treasury bill average rate came out at 6.228 percent after $707 million chased $400 million on offer.
The declines for the September issues come against the back ground of Bank of Jamaica cutting by 0.25 percent, its 30 days CD rates in August to 5.25 percent.
Witco’s Q2 profit rise 13%
Trinidadian based West Indian Tobacco recorded a 13 percent increase in profit after taxation amounting to $143 million up from $127 million in 2014. Profit after taxation for the half year, ended at $241.4 million, an increase of 8 percent over the 2014 results.
Revenues net of excise taxes rose 7.5 percent to $283 million for the quarter and for the six months ended June, an increase of 6 percent to $506 million.
Results benefited from lower cost of sales in the June quarter, declining from $62 million to $60 million while there was only a $1 million increase to $112 million for the six months. Administrative Expenses declined to $24.7million from $29.3 million for the June 2014 quarter and for the half year $45.3 million to $50.6 million. Other Operating Expenses climbed to $7 million from $5 for the quarter and for the half year these cost were flat with $13.6 million for 2015 versus $13.6 in 2014.
Earnings per share for the June 2015 quarter ends at $1.70 and $2.87 for the six months this year for the full year earnings should be in the $6.30 region and would be up from $5.81 earned for 2014. The stock last traded at $125.43 on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and would result in a PE for the stock of 20.
The Board approved the payment of a second interim dividend of $1.26 per ordinary share payable on 26 August, to shareholders of record at close of business on August 7th. The interim dividend, amounts to $106 million.
FX flows normalise on Wednesday
On Wednesday, foreign currencies trading returned to normalise levels with the equivalent of US$28,936,806 bought by dealers, up sharply from US$84,319,871 on Tuesday, while they sold the equivalent of US$30,128,813, well up on the US$76,815,510 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$26,540,452 compared to US$81,554,806 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 51 cents to $117.96 and US$29,051,112 was sold versus US$74,978,636 on Tuesday, the selling rate rose 1 cent to close at $118.75. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate gained 12 cents to $87.23, with dealers buying C$892,891and selling C$551,153, at an average rate that fell 15 cents to $89.12. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 50 cents to $179.90 for the purchase of £1,080,602, while £410,197 was sold, at an average rate that rose $1.35 to end at $182.85. At the end of trading, it took J$133.88 to purchase the Euro, a fall of 19 cents from Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$131.57, for a rise from Tuesday’s rate of 33 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$88,035 being bought, while US$32,489 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar dropped 10 cents to $118.95 on Wednesday. 
The lowest buying and the highest selling rates remained at $97.19, and $124.55 respectively, while the lowest selling rose 41 cents to $97.19. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 50 cents to $90, the lowest buying rate remained at $71.05, the highest selling rate loss 50 cents to end at $92 and the lowest selling rate gained 40 cents to end at $86. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose $1.90 to $183.90, the lowest buying rate remained at $146.66, the highest selling rate climbed $2.29 to $187.83 and the lowest selling rate rose 70 cents to $177.
NCB takes big bite off JSE indices
NCB drops $3 to chop the JSE indices
The JSE Market Index dived 1,543.26 points to 96,974.49, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dropped 1,724.67 points to 107,330.74 and the JSE combined index lost 1,556.88 points to end at 99,983.01.
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 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower, indicative of another day of up and down price movements ahead.In trading, Cable and Wireless gained 2 cents with 561,804 shares changing hands, to close at 50 cents, Carreras dropped $1.39 but with just 1,685 shares trading at $48.60, Grace Kennedy traded firm at $63.50 with 9,153 shares, Hardware & Lumber dropped $4.50 with 5,000 shares trading at $13. Jamaica Broilers with 318,926 units changing hands, ended at $5.90 while gaining 5 cents, after it traded as high as $7 in the morning session, JMMB Group traded 87,809 units, the price rose 22 cents to end at $7.85,
Kingston Wharves had 86,000 units trading with a loss of 65 cents to end at $6.45, National Commercial Bank with 84,337 shares changing hands, closed at $27, having fallen $3, Sagicor Group with 161,067 shares closed 20 cents higher at $12.80, Scotia Group traded 81,117 shares to close with a loss of 4 cents at $23.81, Scotia Investments jumped $3.50 to $28 but with only 1,000 units, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 451,800 units at 20 US cents,Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 421,747 units at $2.48 by losing 2 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ low and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 52,000 units at $2.
Supply falling for junior stocks
Bottle heating machine at Lasco Manufacturing. The company traded 2.16m shares on Wednesday.
At the close, there are signs that the supply of junior market stocks is on the decline with demand slowly rising, indicators that prices should be rising for a number of stocks while those declining should be less. The market ended with 3 securities with no bids to buy, while 9 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 8 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial closing with a rise of 20 cents to end at $12.20 with 255 units changing hands, AMG Packaging closing with a gain of 15 cents at $3.80 with 33,300 units changing hands, Caribbean Producers trading 1,397,823 units to close at $2.28 with a loss of 10 cents.
The stock traded as high as $2.47 in the morning session. Dolphin Cove traded 85,333 units at $12 while gaining 80 cents, General Accident traded just 38,580 shares to end at $1.45, Lasco Distributors fell 10 cents with 486,695 units changing hands at $1.70, Lasco Financial ended with 718,305 shares changing hands for a fall of 6 cents at $1.64 and Lasco Manufacturing had 2,167,110 shares trading at $1.89 after trading at $2 earlier in the day.
4 stocks rise 2 fell on TTSE
Unilever products – the company’s stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday
At the close the Composite Index was up 0.03 points to 1,146.60, the All T&T Index added 0.12 points at 1,950.01 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.01 to 45.02.
Gains| JMMB Group gained 1 cent, to close at 43 cents while trading 49,405 shares, Prestige Holdings with 965 units changing hands, ended at $9.90 with a 1 cent rise, Scotiabank contributed 8,198 shares with a value of $512,389 to the overall trading to close at $62.51 with a 1 cent rise and Unilever Caribbean traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $67.20, after gaining 5 cents, with 5,107 shares valued at $343,190.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund closed with just 46,080 shares valued at $5,626,160 changing hands, 1 cent lower at $22.51 andSagicor Financial Corporation closed with 2,330 shares changing hands, 1 cent lower at $5.99.
Firm Trades| First Citizens Bank had 2,920 shares changing hands
to end at $35, National Commercial Bank traded 518 shares at $1.63, Trinidad Cement had 60,000 shares changing hands, valued at $180,310 and ended at $3 and West Indian Tobacco traded just 2,657 shares to close unchanged at $125.43.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 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
9 stocks rise 6 fall on JSE – early Wednesday
Trading activities on the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted 18 securities with a volume of 2,375,502 units, with 6 stocks declining and 9 rising.
Trading activity resulted small changes to the indices with the JSE Market Index rising 30.18 points to 98,547.93. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 33.73 points to 109,089.14 and the JSE combined index 
rose 142.51 points to be at 101,682.40. The junior market is up 12.77 points to 967.39.
The main trades so far are, Cable & Wireless has traded 541,404 at 48 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 159,216 units at $2.47 with a gain of 9 cents, Dolphin Cove traded 85,333 units at $12 while gaining 80 cents, Hardware & Lumber dropped $4.50 with 5,000 shares trading to $13, Jamaica Broilers with 32,000 units changing hands at $6.99 while gaining $1.14, Lasco Manufacturing had 1,034,450 shares trading at $2 after gaining 11 cents, Proven Investments ordinary share trades 450,000 units at 20 US dollars, Scotia Investments jumped $3.50 to $28 but with only 1,000 units and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 52,000 units at $2.
FX inflows jump sharply on Tuesday
On Tuesday purchases by dealers of foreign currencies saw buying of the equivalent of US$84,319,871, up sharply from US$40,657,425 on Monday, while they sold the equivalent of US$76,815,510, well up on the US$34,677,307 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$81,554,806 compared to US$36,337,858 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 48 cents to $118.47 and US$74,978,636 was sold versus US$32,291,854 on Monday, the selling rate rose 2 cents to close at $118.74. 
The Canadian dollar buying rate gained 88 cents to $87.11, with dealers buying C$1,081,845 and selling C$681,338, at an average rate that rose 60 cents to $89.27. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 28 cents to $179.40 for the purchase of £1,141,587, while £533,676 was sold, at an average rate that declined 37 cents to end at $181.50. At the end of trading, it took J$134.07 to purchase the Euro, a rise of 12 cents on Monday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$131.24, for a fall from Monday’s rate by 4 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$240,864 being bought, while US$508,938 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar increased 5 cents to $119.05 on Tuesday. 
The lowest buying, the highest selling and the lowest selling rates remained at $97.19, $124.55 and $96.78 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 50 cents to $89.50, the lowest buying rate rose 8 cents to $71.05, the highest selling rate gained 48 cents to end at $92.50 and the lowest selling rate was up 60 cents to end at $85.60. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, fell $1.40 to $182, the lowest buying rate lost 50 cents to $146.66, the highest selling rate fell $4.17 to $185.54 and the lowest selling rate rose 30 cents to $176.30.
