6:00 PM, April 24, 2012 Miami – Caribbean indexes struggled to change but trading volume in Jamaica perked up. Proven Investments and Sagicor Life Jamaica were among the leading gainers in Kingston trading.

The JSE Market Index gained 197.75 or 0.2% to 91,967.90 and the JSE Select Index rose 11.77 to close at 2,766.60.

Trinidad Composite Index slipped 0.61 to 1,006.08.

Of the 20 stocks traded on Jamaica Stock Exchange, 9 increased, 10 decreased and 1 were unchanged.

In today’s trading in Kingston, 6,424,072 shares changed hands worth J$31.1 million. Mayberry Investments Ltd led the most active list with a trading of 1,537,959 shares followed by Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. with 1,493,000.

Proven Investments Limited 8% gained 2 cents to J$5.02 and traded 677,665 and Caribbean Cement Company Ltd. added 2 cents to J$1.56 and traded 76,203. Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited added 2 cents to J$10.79 and traded 64,679.

Mayberry Investments Ltd fell 2 cents to J$2.50 and traded 1,537,959 and Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. slipped 1 cent to 16 cents and traded 1,493,000. Gleaner Company decreased 1 cent to J$1.83 and traded 615,870.

Trinidad Market Overview

Trinidad Composite Index slipped 0.61 to 1,006.08 and of the 9 stocks traded 2 advanced, 1 declined and 6 closed unchanged.

ScotiaBank Trinidad & Tobago Limited led the most active list with increase of 1 cent to TT$55.12 and trading with 223 shares followed by GraceKennedy Limited rise 1 cent to TT$4.31 and trading with 81 shares.

Angostura Holdings Limited decreased 30 cents to TT$8.20 and traded 10,012.

World Market Review

U.S. indexes advanced but the gains were kept in check after a mixed bag of economic news and generally better earnings.

On the economic front, new unemployment claims were nearly flat but the number of contracts to buy homes rose according to the industry association.

Earnings were weak at Pepsi, Aetna, Dow Chemical and UPS and H&R Block said it plans to eliminate 350 positions and close 200 underperforming offices. Colgate-Palmolive earnings improved 3% in the quarter but Exxon Mobil quarterly net fell.

Aetna first quarter net slipped 13% to $511 million and Bristol-Myers net increased 12% to $1.1 billion. Chrysler first quarter net quadrupled to $473 million. Colgate first quarter net rose 3% on sales rise. Dow Chemical first quarter net declined 30% on weak demand. Lockheed Martin and Starwood Hotels reported earnings ahead of expectations.

The European indexes struggled to advance after the euro area sentiment fell more than estimated in April. Italian borrowing costs rose in debt sale and the UK confidence improved in March.

Fresenius planned to acquire Rhön-Klinikum for €3.1 billion. Deutsche Bank quarterly net plunged 33%.

The euro zone confidence index declined in March after additional weakness in the service sector. Italian treasury sold €8.5 billion of short term bonds that yielded 1.77%. Sentiments in Portugal and UK improved.