Market Updates | Barita Insights | September 1, 2025

For the week ending August 29, 2025, the local stock market, measured by the Combined Index, improved by 1.63%. The Main Market Index improved by 1.75%, the Junior Market Index improved by 0.13%, and the JSE USD Equities Index improved by 6.43%. During the week R.A. Williams Distributors Limited was the largest gainer, rising by approximately 32.35% to close at $0.45. Jetcon Corporation Limited was the biggest decliner, which fell by 20.71% to close at $1.57.

Large-cap stocks, reflecting those listed on the Main Market Index are outperforming on a YTD basis, declining by 4.45%, relative to its Junior Market counterpart which has declined by 8.79%.

For the week ending August 29, 2025, overall market activity resulted from 125 stocks of which 61 advanced, 50 declined and 14 traded firm. Market volume amounted to 165,589,560 units valued at over $766,672,305.31. Key contributors to trading volume are TransJamaican Highway Limited (USD)with 31,584,017 units (15.96%), followed by TransJamaican Highway Limited with 23,572,730 units (11.91%) and Wigton Energy Limited with 20,204,585 units (10.21%).

Revisiting relevant news during the week:

Debt-to-GDP falls to 62.4 per cent under revised methodology
Jamaica’s debt-to-GDP ratio now stands at 62.4 per cent, down from a previously estimated 67.3 per cent, following the adoption of updated economic measurement standards, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has indicated.
Debt-to-GDP falls to 62.4 per cent under revised methodology

Barita maintains cyber-vigilance
As cyber threats to financial institutions continue to be a key area of global concern, brokerage firm Barita Investments Limited said it has been intensifying efforts to fortify its IT security infrastructure
Barita maintains cyber-vigilance

KWL’s half-year revenues up 17 percent despite global trade turmoil
Amid global trade volatility Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) demonstrated resilience in the first half of 2025, growing revenues by 17 per cent to $6 billion — an increase of $884 million when compared to that of the same period in 2024.
KWL’s half-year revenues up 17 percent despite global trade turmoil

Wisynco expands into alcohol manufacturing with Select Brands partnership
Wisynco Group has entered the alcoholic beverages manufacturing space with the acquisition of assets from Ringtail Bottlers Limited. The acquired assets include brands such as Irie Moss, Prestige Liqueurs, Bandolero, and Privateer, and includes signing an exclusive long-term co-packing agreement for Stone’s Ginger Wine.
Wisynco expands into alcohol manufacturing with Select Brands partnership

Supply chain disruptions paint Berger’s bottom line red
UNFORESEEN global supply chain disruptions, which temporarily constrained product availability and order fulfilment, were labelled as the main culprits behind a net loss of $6.1 million incurred by Berger Paints Jamaica Limited (BPJL) at the end of its second quarter period ended June 30, 2025.
Supply chain disruptions paint Berger’s bottom line red

Sygnus Credit adjourns preference share meetings
Sygnus Credit Investments Limited (SCI) has adjourned the general meetings for two classes of preference shares due to the inability to form a quorum for either meeting.
Sygnus Credit adjourns preference share meetings