Market Updates | Barita Insights | October 19, 2026

For the week ending October 16, 2026, the local stock market, measured by the Combined Index, declined by 1.39%. The Main Market Index declined by 1.52%, the Junior Market Index improved by 0.71%, and the JSE USD Equities Index declined by 1.76%. During the week First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited was the largest gainer, rising by approximately 28.04% to close at $8.95. Pulse Investments Limited was the biggest decliner, which fell by 24.63% to close at $1.01.

Large-cap stocks, reflecting those listed on the Main Market Index are outperforming on a YTD basis, improving by 19.56% relative to its Junior Market counterpart which has declined by 7.95%.

For the week ending October 16, 2026, overall market activity resulted from 124 stocks of which 50 advanced, 62 declined and 12 traded firm. Market volume amounted to 108,101,487 units valued at over $964,631,244.78. Key contributors to trading volume are TransJamaican Highway Limited (USD) with 113,601,903 units (50.81%), followed by TransJamaican Highway Limited with 37,619,479 units (16.83%) and Stanley Motta Limited with 20,010,589 units (8.95%).

Revisiting relevant news during the week:

Food prices drive inflation to 8.6%
JAMAICA’S annual inflation rate climbed to 8.6 per cent in September, its highest level since December 2022, as rising food prices increased pressure on household budgets.
Food prices drive inflation to 8.6% 

Barita Financial Group says BPay pilot focused on financial inclusion
Barita Financial Group Limited has announced the controlled pilot rollout of BPay by Barita, a digital wallet offered by Barita Merchant Bank Limited, a deposit-taking institution licensed by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ).
Barita Financial Group says BPay pilot focused on financial inclusion 

Image Plus scans up bigger profits
IMAGE Plus Consultants has earned more in six months than it did during its entire previous financial year, as its expanded diagnostic network handled more than 20,000 scans in the second quarter.
Image Plus scans up bigger profits

Sagicor’s Caribbean deal heads to shareholder vote
SAGICOR Group Jamaica Limited shareholders will vote this month on a reorganisation that would exchange their shares for ownership in a larger Caribbean group, bringing the regional businesses under one holding company with its operational headquarters in Jamaica.
Sagicor’s Caribbean deal heads to shareholder vote

Knutsford Express makes room for new income
KNUTSFORD Express is looking to rental income and additional business services to broaden its earnings as it prepares to open a Morant Bay depot this month and complete its Mandeville commercial development by year end, following a sharp fall in annual profit.
Knutsford Express makes room for new income

Seprod shareholders app rove stock split, share issuance
Seprod Limited is set to split its shares in the coming weeks, preceding a potential new equity offer to raise fresh capital to reduce its debt balances.
Seprod shareholders approve stock split, share issuance