Market Updates | Barita Insights | April 27, 2026

For the week ending April 24, 2026, the local stock market, measured by the Combined Index, improved by 0.35%. The Main Market Index improved by 0.52%, the Junior Market Index declined by 2.09%, and the JSE USD Equities Index declined by 1.71%. During the Express Catering Limited was the largest gainer, rising by approximately 15.64% to close at $2.44. MFS Capital Partners Limited was the biggest decliner, which fell by 18.84% to close at $0.56.

Large-cap stocks, reflecting those listed on the Main Market Index are outperforming on a YTD basis, improving by 6.89%, relative to its Junior Market counterpart which has declining by 6.72%.

For the week ending April 24, 2026, overall market activity resulted from 126 stocks of which 57 advanced, 57 declined and 12 traded firm. Market volume amounted to 277,666,480 units valued at over $631,450,745.32. Key contributors to trading volume are One On One Educational Services Limited with 145,420,261 (49.94%), followed by Kintyre Holdings (JA) Limited with 31,337,910 units (10.76%) and JMMB Group Limited 9.50% with 20,910,653 units (7.18%).

Revisiting relevant news during the week:

Oil shock squeezes reserve cushion
Jamaica’s foreign reserves rose to US$6.91 billion at the end of March but the country’s import cushion appears far thinner than it did a month earlier, as the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) revised how many weeks of imports those reserves can cover.
Oil shock squeezes reserve cushion

OIL PAIN HITS CONSTRUCTION
Prices for key building materials in Jamaica have already climbed by as much as 15 per cent in some areas as the Middle East conflict drives up oil prices and squeezes suppliers across the construction sector.
OIL PAIN HITS CONSTRUCTION

ECL to expand food offerings ahead of tourism recovery
Passenger traffic through Sangster International Airport fell 40 per cent in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, halving revenue and sharply cutting profits at Express Catering Limited (ECL), even as the company moves to expand its food offerings ahead of an expected tourism recovery.
ECL to expand food offerings ahead of tourism recovery

Quantas Advantage gears up to sup port Jamaican businesses
IPO to raise growth capital: Quantas Advantage is seeking to raise US$9.38 million, with an option to upsize to US$15.47 million, to expand its structured finance and securities asset businesses.
Quantas Advantage gears up to support Jamaican businesses

Palace sharpens conservation strategy amid rising oil price pressures
Rising electricity costs driven by higher global oil prices are forcing cinema operator Palace Amusement Company to tighten energy use and fast-track limited solar plans, as it works to contain mounting operating pressures.
Palace sharpens conservation strategy amid rising oil price pressures

$3.2 billion to repair Sangster International
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. de C.V (Pacific Airport Group or GAP) has disclosed that it will cost US$20 million ($3.16 billion) to repair the damage to Sangster International Airport (SIA) after Hurricane Melissa.
$3.2 billion to repair Sangster International