Market Updates | Barita Insights | March 23, 2026

For the week ending March 20, 2026, the local stock market, measured by the Combined Index, declined by 0.98%. The Main Market Index declined by 0.93%, the Junior Market Index declined by 1.74%, and the JSE USD Equities Index declined by 4.89%. During the First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited was the largest gainer, rising by approximately 40.45% to close at $10.00. ISP Finance Services Limited was the biggest decliner, which fell by 16.49% to close at $10.33.

Large-cap stocks, reflecting those listed on the Main Market Index are outperforming on a YTD basis, improving by 7.46%, relative to its Junior Market counterpart which has declining by 1.30%.

For the week ending March 20, 2026, overall market activity resulted from 129 stocks of which 40 advanced, 74 declined and 15 traded firm. Market volume amounted to 224,667,239 units valued at over $1,508,859,368.27. Key contributors to trading volume are Woodcats International Limited with 97,643,741 (43.06%), followed by NCB Financial Group Limited with 23,319,029 units (10.28%) Kintyre Holdings (JA) Limited with 16,383,797 units (7.23%).

Revisiting relevant news during the week:

Food price swings mask underlying pressures as inflation dips
Jamaica’s inflation fell sharply in February, but the decline may offer a misleading sense of stability as volatile food prices continue to mask underlying cost pressures in the economy.
Food price swings mask underlying pressures as inflation dips

Sygnus moves to cash in on Belmont as next phase begins
Sygnus Real Estate Finance is getting closer to cashing in on its flagship One Belmont office tower, with executives now giving shareholders a clearer sense of how the long-promised exit could actually work and when it could start translating into dividends.
Sygnus moves to cash in on Belmont as next phase begins

Tropical Battery to roll out next-generation storage, targets data centres and critical power markets
Tropical Battery Group plans to begin rolling out a new class of energy storage technology in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic as early as next quarter, targeting data centres and other high-reliability applications with systems it says can outperform conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Tropical Battery to roll out next-generation storage, targets data centres and critical power markets

Jamaica Broilers cuts losses but weak US unit still drags results
Jamaica Broilers Group Limited cut losses sharply in the nine months to January as stronger Jamaican operations helped stabilise the poultry group after last year’s accounting crisis, though its struggling US business continues to keep the company in the red.
Jamaica Broilers cuts losses but weak US unit still drags results

Main Event swings to loss as hurricane wipes out peak season
Main Event Entertainment Group has opened the new financial year in the red after Hurricane Melissa brought Jamaica’s entertainment calendar to a near standstill, wiping out what is typically one of the company’s busiest periods.
Main Event swings to loss as hurricane wipes out peak season

GK delivers on solar savings despite Melissa disruptions
GraceKennedy Limited says its renewable energy push is delivering stronger-than-expected savings, even after Hurricane Melissa destroyed part of its solar infrastructure and disrupted operations across the group.
GK delivers on solar savings despite Melissa disruptions