6:00 PM, April 24, 2012 Miami – The benchmark indexes in Jamaica and Bahamas fell but in Trinidad added a fraction. In a subdued trading in Kingston, NCB and Scotia Group led the gainers.

The JSE Market Index decreased 29.33 to 91,770.15 and the JSE Select Index rose 0.95 to close at 2,754.83.

Trinidad Composite Index gained 0.67 to 1,006.69 and Bahamas Stock Exchange Index declined 13.62 or 1.04% to 1296.84.

Of the 19 stocks traded on Jamaica Stock Exchange, 4 increased, 11 decreased and 4 were unchanged.

In today’s trading in Kingston, 1,424,746 shares changed hands worth J$12.6 million. Gleaner Company led the most active list with a trading of 433,308 shares followed by Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. with 234,495.

National Commercial Bank of Jamaica Ltd. gained 2 cents to J$26.60 and traded 23,400 and Supreme Ventures Limited added 21 cents to J$2.79 and traded 19,500. Scotia Group Jamaica added 8 cents to J$23.51 and traded 14,740.

Gleaner Company fell 1 cent to J$1.84 and traded 433,308 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers Ltd. slumped 10 cents to J$11.01 and traded 136,444. Desnoes and Geddes Ltd. decreased 8 cents to J$4.01 and traded 102,407.

Trinidad Market Overview

Trinidad Composite Index gained 0.67 to 1,006.69 and of the 13 stocks traded 5 advanced, none declined and 8 closed unchanged.

Neal & Massy Holdings Limited led the most active list with increase of 14 cents to TT$46.25 and trading with 114,426 shares followed by Ansa McAL Limited rise 1 cent to TT$57.10 and trading with 14,636 shares and Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited gained 9 cents to TT$2.39 and trading with 10,000.

World Market Review

U.S. indexes edged higher and the Nasdaq index soared 2% after Apple earnings crushed market expectations. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke repeated the familiar rhetoric of Fed’s readiness to provide new stimulus after the two day meeting but stopped short of announcing the specifics. Fed also lowered the economic growth forecasts.

In economic news, new orders for U.S. durable goods fell in March and UK slipped into a double-dip recession as construction sector faltered.

On the earnings front, Apple second quarter net surged 94% on strong sales of iPhones and iPad and sales in China tripled from a year ago. Caterpillar first quarter net soared 29% and raised profit outlook. Boeing first quarter net soared 58% to $923 million and lifted 2012 view. Coca-Cola planed stock split of 2-for-1. Amgen agreed to acquire Turkey-based Mustafa Nevzat for $700 million.

The European indexes gained on strong corporate earnings. The euro area loan demand fell and the UK economy slid into a recession in the first quarter. Siemens cut fiscal year outlook after quarterly earnings plunged.

The UK’s economy slipped back into second recession in less than five years after the economy shrank in the first quarter on sharp decline in construction and a weakness in the service sector. Polish retail sales increased 10.7% and unemployment declined to 13.3%.