Market Updates | Barita Insights | September 21, 2026

For the week ending September 18, 2026, the local stock market, measured by the Combined Index, declined by 0.96%. The Main Market Index declined by 0.99%, the Junior Market Index declined by 0.53%, and the JSE USD Equities Index declined by 3.31%. During R.A. Williams Distributors Limited was the largest gainer, rising by approximately 65.79% to close at $0.63. ISP Finance Services Limited was the biggest decliner, which fell by 30.76% to close at $6.82.

Large-cap stocks, reflecting those listed on the Main Market Index are outperforming on a YTD basis, improving by 15.32% relative to its Junior Market counterpart which has declining by 14.05%.

For the week ending September 18, 2026, overall market activity resulted from 125 stocks of which 43 advanced, 66 declined and 16 traded firm. Market volume amounted to 97,813,698units valued at over $746,827,094.92. Key contributors to trading volume are TransJamaican Highway Limited with 20,609,079 (18.95%), followed R.A. Williams Distributors Limited with 8,913,824 units (8.20%) and Wigton Energy Limited with 8,584,344 units (7.90%).

Revisiting relevant news during the week:

Oil retreats, but risk lingers
International oil prices have started to retreat after another sharp run-up, but with Brent crude still above US$100 a barrel and supply risks in the Middle East unresolved, the pullback may offer only limited comfort to energy-importing countries such as Jamaica
Oil retreats, but risk lingers

MPC names buyer for San Isidro solar farm
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy Limited (MPCCEL) has identified Potenza Holdings, SA de CV as the buyer of its San Isidro solar investment in El Salvador, a month after shareholders approved the US$3.27-million disposal as part of the company’s wider move to cash out its renewable-energy portfolio.
MPC names buyer for San Isidro solar farm 

Food prices push inflation to 7.9%
Jamaica’s inflation rate climbed further above the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ) target range in August, reaching 7.9 per cent, as higher food, transport and fuel-related costs continued to squeeze household budgets.
Food prices push inflation to 7.9%

RA Williams targets new health niches
RA Williams Distributors Limited is stepping up efforts to capture a larger share of Jamaica’s health-care market by targeting specialised consumer health and wellness segments, as the company broadens its product portfolio beyond traditional pharmaceutical distribution.
RA Williams targets new health niches

JP Farms says irrigation holding off drought threat
JPFarms says it expects to keep bananas, plantains, and pineapples flowing to market despite Jamaica’s severe drought, with irrigation now doing much of the work that rainfall is not.
JP Farms says irrigation holding off drought threat

Blue Power puts tariff hit at $100M
Blue Power Group has put a price on the tariff shock facing its soap business, estimating that new taxes on imported raw materials are now costing the company roughly $100 million a year.
Blue Power puts tariff hit at $100M