CMMB Market WRAP

EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Equity trading slowed down on the Eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange as Dominica Electricity Services and ECFH traded a total of 275 stocks, both holding firm on their previous market prices. In bond news, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda will auction EC$17million of 91 day T Bills on February 5th.
In related news, Cable & Wireless St. Kitts & Nevis became the 11th equity to be listed on the ECSE. The trading symbol for the share is CWKN.

TRINIDAD
In Trinidad, the advance decline ratio was 8 to 3. Winners included WITCO which was up 14 cents, Trinidad Cement- up 7 cents and Grace Kennedy up 5 cents. RBTT and Neal & Massy were on the decline.
Headline inflation in T & T slowed to 7.6 per cent in the 12 months to December 2007 from 9.1 per cent in December 2006, and a high of ten per cent in October 2006. The Trinidad government has set an inflation target of six per cent for 2008.

JAMAICA
Jamaican indices ended the week with mixed results as the JSE Select and All Jamaica declined while the market index advanced over 400 points. Winners outnumbered losers 2 to 1. Advancers included, FCIB, Grace Kennedy & RBTT while Berger Paints & NCB Jamaica closed on the downside.
In other news, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, JMMB, has listed two preference shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange – 12% and 12.25%.

BARBADOS
On the Barbados Stock Exchange, Goddard Enterprises, Sagicor & Fortress led trading volumes for the week. Market indices were in negative territory as 4 stocks advanced and 2 declined. The price leader was Light & Power Holding which increased by 70 cents, while Barbados Dairy Industries led the decliners, falling 73 cents.

INTERNATIONAL
On the international front, U.S. stocks rose, capping their biggest weekly gain in 5 years. European stocks also gained, ending a seven week rout. Asian stocks however, fell for a fifth week, on concern that the US and Japan are sinking into recession. In currencies and commodities, the Euro weakened against the US Dollar and oil fell more than $2 a barrel. Finally, gold and silver declined as a result of the rebounding dollar.