Trinidadian companies are to benefit from a ten year tax concession to small enterprises that list on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, similar to the concession granted to listings on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market that will result in tax free status for five years and half the tax for the second five years, effective 2022.
The information was contained in his 2022 national Budget presentation by the Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, in which he announced the tax benefits for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE).
The incentives come into effect from January 2022 that will result in SMEs will be granted a full tax holiday for five years following a listing on The TTSE and a 50 percent tax holiday for the second five years following the listing, thereafter the standard rate will apply thereafter. These exemptions include Corporation Tax, Business Levy and Green Fund Levy.
Prior to the announcement, the tax concession, initially announced in 2011, that resulted in the tax rate being 10 percent and later increased to 15 percent in 2020, resulted in only two companies listing as a result, in contrast to Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market that has been a resounding success, with 46 companies attracted to it with more to come shortly.
It is worth noting that Jamaica in 2016 was planning to abolish the incentive, fortunately, that did not happen as such the Junior Market continues to grow and helps to strengthen the economic base of the country.
In commenting on the imminent SME tax holiday, CEO of the TTSE, Eva Mitchell, praised the opportunities this opens up for both the companies covered by the benefits and the public who are eager for new channels for investment. “The country continues to operate under the restrictions and sustained economic blows imposed by the Covid pandemic. The SME sector has been hit extremely hard, and these new tax incentives provide welcomed relief. The fact that they are accessible via listing on the Stock Exchange encourages interest and investment for further growth from our stakeholders. The Stock Exchange is a closely regulated environment which supports public confidence and sustained participation.”
The All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 5,072.14 points to close at 438,376.71, the JSE Main Index dived 3,923.09 points to end at 396,397.70 and the JSE Financial Index declined 1.00 points to settle at 97.34.
Trading averages 153,546 shares at $819,770, down from 167,401 sunits at $1,667,335 on Monday and month to date, an average of 160,536 units at $1,247,370. Trading in December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $15 in closing at $115 in an exchange of 1,347 stock units, Palace Amusement shed $75 in ending at $975 while exchanging 40 stocks, Portland JSX climbed 58 cents to end at $7.50, with 5,865 units changing hands. Scotia Group slipped 50 cents to $35 trading 44,961 units, Stanley Motta fell 84 cents in closing at $5.11 with an exchange of 1,000 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose $2.49 to $18 in switching ownership of 1,329 stock units and Wisynco Group rallied 30 cents to $17.80 after exchanging 252,736 stocks.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 3.56 points to end at 204.23.
Proven Investments fell 0.27 of a cent to 22.5 US cents with an exchange of 849 stock units, Sterling Investments remained at 2.1 US cents after exchanging 432 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share shed 0.3 of a cent to land at 12.6 US cents with 82 stock units crossing the market. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share increased 0.1 of a cent to 14 US cents with the swapping of 2,061 stocks and Transjamaican Highway finished unchanged at 0.9 US cents, with 10,000 units changing hands.
Market activity led to 39 securities trading up from 35 on Monday and ended with 15 rising, 15 declining and nine closed unchanged after Fosrich traded at a record high of $12.50. The Junior Market Index dropped 33.47 points to settle at 3,420.36.
At the close, Blue Power gained 38 cents in ending at $3.54 after trading 6,500 shares, Cargo Handlers popped 49 cents to $7.50 in exchanging 55,000 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 10 cents to $2.60, with 210,601 units clearing the market. Dolphin Cove fell 82 cents to $16.18, trading 34,952 stock units, Elite Diagnostic dropped 5 cents to end at $2.95, with 1,682 units crossing the market, Everything Fresh popped 6 cents to end at $1 while exchanging 147,525 shares. Express Catering advanced 15 cents in ending at $5.60 with an exchange of 14,660 stocks, Fosrich popped $2.25 to $12.50, with 43,486 stock units changing hands, General Accident jumped 88 cents to $6.88 in switching ownership of 13,790 shares. Indies Pharma shed 21 cents to close at $3.18 trading 211,525 units, KLE Group spiked 30 cents in closing at $2.30 in trading 866 stocks, Lasco Financial rose 6 cents to end at $3.12 with the swapping of 8,307 stock units.
Lasco Manufacturing declined 20 cents to close at $4.57, with 716 stocks crossing the exchange, Main Event lost 5 cents at $4.50 after exchanging 8,275 shares, Medical Disposables advanced 31 cents to $6.36 with an exchange of 19,731 stock units. Paramount Trading fell 10 cents in closing at $1.15 and trading 12,630 units and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 54 cents to end at $5.85 with 151 units changing hands.
Massy Holdings rallied $1.50 in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $106.50 while exchanging 4,128 stock units, National Enterprises ended at $3.40 while trading 18,137 units, National Flour Mills ended at $1.95 in switching ownership of 1,012 stocks. NCB Financial Group ended at $8 in exchanging 7,582 stock units, Prestige Holdings shed 20 cents at $7 as 4,000 units changed hands, Republic Financial Holdings gained 14 cents to end at $140.16 after exchanging 91 stocks. Scotiabank climbed $1.95 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $70.95, with 83 shares crossing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped 50 cents in ending at $20 after an exchange of 29 shares, Trinidad Cement popped 1 cent to $3.75 trading 14,963 stock units. Unilever Caribbean finished unchanged at $16.20, with 2,900 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco rallied 25 cents in closing at $28.50 in an exchange of 2,254 stocks.
The All Jamaican Composite Index spiked 5,120.48 points higher to 443,448.85, the JSE Main Index surged 4,165.18 points to 400,320.79 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.29 points to settle at 98.34. A total of 56 securities traded, up from 51 on Friday, with 19 rising, 29 declining and eight ending unchanged.
t the close, Barita Investments declined $1.82 to $96.after trading 24,509 stock units, Berger Paints rallied 90 cents to $13.40, with 20 units clearing the market. Eppley shed 45 cents in ending at $35.50 with an exchange of 362 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $3.99 in closing at $43, with 250 stocks crossing the exchange, First Rock Capital spiked 79 cents in closing at $11.49 in trading 21,158 units. GraceKennedy fell $2 to end at $100 in switching ownership of 125,740 stock units, Guardian Holdings increased $5.20 to $518.70 trading 64 shares, Jamaica Producers lost $1.37 to close at $22.12 in exchanging 683 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 79 cents to $17.21 in exchanging 3,442 shares, strong>Kingston Wharves climbed 45 cents to end at $43.45 while exchanging 28,022 stocks, Margaritaville lost $1.30 to close at $14.70, with 3,200 units changing hands. Mayberry Investments dropped 80 cents to $7.20 with the swapping of 5,400 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $15 to $100, with 812 shares crossing the market, NCB Financial shed $3.70 in closing at $125 after 127,117 units changed hands. 138 Student Living gained 65 cents to close at $5.10, with 14,826 shares crossing the market, Palace Amusement advanced $10 to end at $1050 after exchanging 4 stocks, PanJam Investment rose $1.51 to $67.51 in an exchange of 11,243 stocks, Proven Investments lost 51 cents in ending at $32.49 after exchanging 5,131 shares. 
Radio Jamaica popped 28 cents to close at $3.29 exchanging 833,060 units, Sagicor Group fell $4.85 in closing at $53.15 after 8,987 stock units changed hands, Scotia Group shed 90 cents to end at $35.50 with the swapping of 15,951 stocks. Seprod climbed 25 cents to $65.25, with 6,703 shares crossing the market, Stanley Motta rallied 30 cents $5.95 in trading 16,663 units, Supreme Ventures dropped 50 cents to close at $18, with 384 stock units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 49 cents in closing at $15.51 clearing the market with 296 shares.
Trading ended with four securities changing hands, compared to five on Friday and ended with no price gains, two declines and leaving two unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rose 5.15 points to start the New Year off with a positive move at 200.59.
At the close, Proven Investments dropped 0.02 of a cent to end at 22.77 US cents while exchanging 20,654 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share, finished unchanged at 12.9 US cents, with 2,319 stock units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 13.9 US cents in switching ownership of 365 stocks.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.75 to $20.75 after trading just 47 shares, Blue Power spiked 18 cents to $3.16 with 2,193 stocks clearing the market, Cargo Handlers dropped $1.24 to $7.01, with the swapping of 4,531 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to close at $2.50, with 1,165,378 units crossing the market, Caribbean Cream shed 38 cents to end at $5.32, with 3,668 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove popped $2 to end at $17 after exchanging 179,535 shares. Elite Diagnostic rose 15 cents to $3 in exchanging 125,078 stocks, Fosrich advanced 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.25 after trading at 7,539 stock units, Indies Pharma fell 11 cents to $3.39 in switching ownership of 58,076 shares. Jetcon Corporation declined 5 cents in closing at 88 cents after an exchange of 189,015 stock units, KLE Group climbed 21 cents to $2 in trading 8,014 stocks, Knutsford Express lost 32 cents to end at $8 with 1,509 units changing hands.
Lasco Financial rallied 6 cents to close at $3.06 with an exchange of 259,716 units, Limners and Bards dipped 11 cents to $3.76 in an exchange of 144,683 shares, Lumber Depot slipped 11 cents to $3 while exchanging 122,784 stock units. Mailpac Group declined 29 cents to $3.49, with 655,668 stocks changing hands, Main Event rose 5 cents to $4.55 in trading 40,000 shares and Medical Disposables fell 44 cents to end at $6.05 after 6,197 stock units crossed the market.
NCB Financial Group fell 10 cents to $8 after 25,939 stocks changed hands, One Caribbean Media popped 10 cents to $4.45 in exchanging 3,885 shares, Republic Financial Holdings lost 3 cents in closing at $140.02 after trading 5,444 units. Scotiabank increased 50 cents to close at $69 after exchanging 500 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped 50 cents to end at $20.50, with 110 stocks changing hands, Trinidad Cement rallied 16 cents to $3.74 after exchanging 1,985 stock units. Unilever Caribbean remained at $16.20 swapping of 100 shares and West Indian Tobacco shed 25 cents to end at $28.25, with 2,626 stock units clearing the market.
Well the TTSE is currently, redrafting rules to enhance the speed and transparency of transactions and trades. According to a release from the TTSE, “the revisions are taking place under the guidance of the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission and will be available for public review when completed, the Exchange disclosed.”
