Falling interest rates
Interest rates on the Bank of Jamaica overnight policy rate was slashed by 7.7 percent effective 18 January 2018. The policy interest rate which is offered on overnight placements with the Bank will be reduced to 3 percent from 3.25 percent.
According to the country’s central bank, “this adjustment reflects the Bank’s assessment that inflation for the next eight quarters should remain within the target of 4 percent to 6 percent but the risks to the projections are skewed to the downside. One of the key risks highlighted by recent data is that, even as the economy continues to expand, growth has been weaker than anticipated. The outlook for inflation continues to reflect the expectation that the Government will continue the high standard of fiscal management outlined in the fiscal rules.”
“Inflation picked up slightly in recent months, largely driven by higher agricultural food prices and electricity costs caused by the recent heavy rains and increases in international oil prices. However, the inflationary impact of the heavy rains on agricultural food prices should be reversed over the coming quarters.”
“The Bank’s decision to ease monetary policy supports continued credit expansion and faster economic growth. International reserves are growing, inflation expectations remain broadly anchored around the Bank’s target, the current account of the balance of payments is projected to remain at sustainable levels, market interest rates are declining and the fiscal accounts continue to perform strongly.”
Investors in fixed assets such as real estate and equity investments should take note as it could mean a lift in the value of those assets class.
At close of trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, locally based stocks recorded gains once more with the Composite Index inching 0.85 points higher to 1,277.82. The All T&T Index gained 1.80 points to 1,714.13, while Cross Listed Index declined 0.02 points to close at 113.55. 
One Caribbean Media jumped 94 cents and closed at $14, with 10,733 stock units trading and Republic Financial Holdings increased 1 cent and ended at $101.51, with 150 stock units changing hands.
At the close of trading on Tuesday, the rate the public bought the US dollar climbed 9 cents Jamaican but the rate dealers bought the Green jumped by $1.04. 
Scotia Group finished trading with a loss of 26 cents at $50.24, with 41,045 shares. Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading at $14.25, with 874,293 shares, Seprod closed at $29, with 1,920 shares, Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 21 cents at $11.49, with 2,060 stock units, VM Investments Limited finished with a loss of 5 cents at $4.05, with 541,728 units and Wisynco Group settled 35 cents higher at $10.10, with 470,131 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group closed 3 cents higher at $1.19, with 100 shares and in the bond market 4,910 units of ISP Finance corporate bonds traded at $110 each.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in moderate trading on Tuesday with an averse advance to decline ratio of almost 2 to 1. 
The Junior Market Index fell at the close of trading on Tuesday, easing 11.64 points to close at 2,717.55, in a moderate trading session of an exchange of 1,755,909 units valued at $6,431,725 compared to 1,326,412 units valued at $4,542,759 from 21 securities changing hands on Monday. 
At the close of the market, 
Gains| 
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered close to half of the losses of the last two trading days, when nearly 5,000 points were lost on the all Jamaica Index on a day when advancing stocks were just edged out by decliners. 
Trading ended with an average of 146,757 units for an average of $1,695,104 in contrast to 137,004 units for an average of $2,423,626 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 285,526 units valued at 7,299,578 and previously 297,178 units valued at 7,824,252. December closed with average of 686,156 units valued at an average of $8,654,832 for each security traded.
Recent listings, Victoria Mutual Investments and Wisynco Group remain two of the leading trades in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with Wisynco being the lead trade with VM Investment holding third. 
Pulse Investments finished 20 cents higher at $2.10, with 27,500 shares, Radio Jamaica settled at $1.10, with 40,084 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading $1 higher at $36, with 5,060 stock units, Scotia Group finished trading at $50.50, with 16,044 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 30 cents at $11.70, with 2,000 stock units, VM Investments finished with a loss of 5 cents at $4.10, with 489,507 units, Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 27 cents at $9.75, with 1,107,314 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading 25 cents higher at $14.25, with 916,934 shares.
