• Scotia Group Jamaica Limited (SGJ) reported a net profit of $9.2Bn for the six-month period ended April 2025, representing a 7.8% year over year increase. This was primarily driven by broad-based improvements across all business segments. However, its second quarter earnings actually fell by 7.6% due to elevated operating expenses that exerted downward pressure on the bottom line.
• Net Interest Income for the six-month period rose by 8.5% to $24.25Bn, underpinned by sustained growth in the loan portfolio. Notably, mortgage loans increased by 14.0%, while consumer loans grew by 8.0%, underscoring continued expansion in core lending segments.
• In addition to interest income, net insurance revenue surged by 75.6% or $797.40Mn supported by higher contractual service margin (CSM) releases and improved portfolio efficiency. The performance also benefited from stronger transaction volumes and lower insurance-related expenses.
• Operating expenses climbed by 16.6% for the six months period, with the second quarter operating expenses alone increasing by 22.8%. Higher staff costs, increased technology-related expenses aimed at process improvements, and rising cash transportation costs accounted for the growth in operating expenses. As a result, the cost-to-income ratio rose by 175 basis points to 56.0%, highlighting the near-term pressure from increased expenditures.
• Despite this, SGJ’s continued investment in technology and process improvements reflects a strategic focus on enhancing operational efficiency. While these initiatives have contributed to short-term cost pressures, these investments are expected to improve productivity and cost management over time. 
• On the stock Market, SGJ’s stock price has appreciated by 3.2% year-to-date, closing at $55.27 as at Monday. At this price, the stock trades at a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.10x, which is lower than the Main Market Financial Sector’s average of 1.20x.

(Sources: JSE & NCBCM Research)

• United Oil and Gas (UOG) is intensifying its efforts to find partners for oil exploration off Jamaica’s south coast, promoting the Walton-Morant block as a “world-class frontier opportunity” with game-changing potential. In an interview, CEO Brian Larkin described the block as “one of the Caribbean’s last great untapped oil plays,” suggesting it could rival the massive discoveries in Guyana and Namibia.
• However, Jamaica’s play sits in shallower waters of 50 to 2,000 metres, making the project less costly and more appealing under environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. As such, the company is seeking approximately US$50 million to drill its first well and is currently sharing data with “household name” companies, ranging from regional players to oil majors.
• UOG received a two-year license extension in early 2024, giving it until January 2028 to drill. In May, it applied for permission from Jamaica’s environmental agency (NEPA) to conduct piston core sampling — the final step before drilling. Of note, Jamaica drilled 11 oil wells between 1955 and 1982, none of which were commercially successful, though hydrocarbons were found. Larkin believes modern seismic data could change the outcome.
• The most promising near-term target is the Colibri prospect in the Walton Basin, estimated to hold 400 million barrels. Gaffney Cline gave it a 19% geologic chance of success, potentially rising to 33% with piston core results. Even bigger prospects lie in the less explored Morant Basin, with targets like Thunderball (600 million barrels), Moonraker, and Blofeld — all part of UOG’s James Bond-themed naming.
• UOG holds 100% of the license but is open to a farm-out deal where equity would be shared. “There’s potential that we would retain operatorship, or that an importer would want to take the operatorship. That’s all still to play for,” Larkin said. With technical partners already lined up and permitting advanced, the company says it’s ready to move fast.
• With just over two years left before drilling must begin, the pace of partnership development could shape Jamaica’s future as a potential oil-producing nation.

(Source: Caribbean National Weekly)

• Amid mounting global tensions and rising concerns over supply chain disruptions, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced its intention to acquire a cargo aircraft to strengthen food security and safeguard critical imports.
• Speaking on the matter, Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, said the move is in direct response to international developments, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and other global hotspots, which have been affecting shipping and trade flows, particularly those originating from North America.
• “That was why the Cabinet decided to focus its attention on South America,” he explained. Merchant noted that many of the food items found on supermarket shelves in Antigua and Barbuda already come from South American countries, including Brazil and the Dominican Republic.
• The new cargo aircraft would, therefore, enhance the country’s ease of access to these markets by improving logistics and shipping efficiency. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, will be examining closely what has been happening in North America, in the U.S. in particular, and will devise programs to ensure that Antiguans and Barbudans are not impacted severely.”
• While no specific model or type of aircraft has been confirmed, the Cabinet is in the early stages of planning for the acquisition, funding, and operation of the aircraft. There is also no set timeline for when the aircraft will be procured.

(Source: Antigua Observer)

• Economic growth in the Cayman Islands is set to accelerate slightly in 2025 to 2.5% up from 2.2% in 2024 but will remain slower than the 2014-2023 average of 5.0%, according to Fitch Solutions. The current real GDP growth outlook, though close to the government’s forecast of 2.6%, is slightly below Fitch’s previous 2.9% forecast due to the anticipated negative impact of a United States (U.S.) economic slowdown on tourism arrivals in the Cayman Islands.
• Rising U.S. import tariffs are anticipated to negatively impact economic growth in the Cayman Islands. Around 80.0% of Cayman's goods exports were sent to the U.S. in 2023, and sales will suffer from reduced competitiveness in the U.S. market, given the 10.0% baseline tariffs.
• However, the Cayman Islands' economy is predominantly service-oriented, with financial services and tourism being the primary contributors to GDP. Consequently, the small absolute size of Cayman’s exports (US$45.3Mn or less than 1.0% of GDP in 2023) will limit the impact of a goods export downturn on the wider economy. Instead, the negative impact of US trade tariffs will primarily be felt through two channels, namely the cost of imports and the negative implications for Cayman’s tourism sector. Faster U.S. inflation will result in a higher cost of importing U.S. goods into the Cayman Islands, given the high dependence on imports to meet domestic demand.
• Rising U.S. import tariffs will increase U.S. inflation, particularly for goods subject to the highest tariffs, such as steel and aluminium. This will raise import costs for Cayman businesses, pushing up prices for construction materials, food and household goods. As such, Fitch forecasts inflation in the Cayman Islands to average 3.5% in 2025, faster than 2.5% in 2024, slightly reducing real household purchasing power.
• Moreover, U.S. import tariffs will likely contribute to an economic slowdown in the U.S., with negative implications for Cayman’s tourism sector, which accounts for 35% of the country’s GDP and 40% of employment. Real GDP growth in the U.S., which typically accounts for four-fifths of tourism arrivals, is expected to weaken from 2.8% in 2024 to 1.5% in 2025, the slowest since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
• The Cayman tourism sector started 2025 on a strong footing, with stayover arrivals increasing by 5.3% year over year (YoY) in the first quarter. However, the pace of growth will slow as U.S. consumers restrict discretionary spending on travel. Notwithstanding, weakness in tourism arrivals growth will be mitigated by factors including increased airlift capacity between the U.S. and Cayman, the Grand Hyatt’s 382-room opening, and the Owen Roberts International Airport expansion.

(Source: Fitch Connect)

• The Bank of Canada held its key benchmark rate at 2.75% last Wednesday, citing the need to probe the effects of U.S. trade policy, while cautioning that another cut might be necessary if the economy weakened in the face of tariffs.
• The decision marks the second time in a row that the central bank has remained on the sidelines after an aggressive cutting cycle which shrunk rates by 225 basis points over nine months.
• "The trade conflict initiated by the United States remains the biggest headwind facing the Canadian economy," Governor Tiff Macklem told a news conference, describing U.S. trade policy as highly unpredictable. "There was a clear consensus to hold policy unchanged as we gain more information," he said.
• U.S. President Donald Trump last Wednesday doubled the tariff on imports of Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%. The bank says it is weighing upward pressure on inflation from higher prices and downward pressure from sluggish growth.
• Before the next BoC decision in July, there will be two more months of inflation data and one GDP data. "On balance, members thought there could be a need for a reduction in the policy rate if the economy weakens in the face of continued U.S. tariffs and uncertainty, and cost pressures on inflation are contained," Governor Macklem said, in his opening remarks.
• Economists are expecting there could be between two and three more cuts this year and the final rate by the end year would likely end around 2%. "July looks more promising for a quarter point ease if, as we expect, the jobless rate continues to move higher, and inflation in items not subject to tariff pressures eases off a bit," said Avery Shenfeld, managing director and chief economist at CIBC in a note.

(Source: Reuters)

• Americans' anxiety about the future path of inflation eased in May, as they also grew more upbeat about the state of their personal finances, according to a report released on Monday by the New York Federal Reserve.
• The regional Fed bank reported in its Survey of Consumer Expectations that the outlook for inflation across all the horizons it measures retreated last month. A year from now, survey respondents see inflation at 3.2% versus 3.6% in April, while three years from now it's expected to be 3% versus 3.2%. Five years from now, inflation is projected to be 2.6%, compared to expectation of 2.7% in the survey for April.
• The report found that respondents are expecting moderating price gains for gas, rent, medical care and college, while food costs a year from now are seen rising at a 5.5% rate, which would be the highest level since October 2023. Meanwhile, in May, the year-ahead expected rise in house prices stood at 3%, down from 3.3% in April.
• The moderation in the inflation outlook took place against a background of high uncertainty over the future of price pressures. Huge and ever-shifting tax hikes on imports imposed by the Trump administration are broadly expected by economists and policymakers to push up inflation, while depressing hiring and growth. The major question is whether the gain is a one-off or the makings of something more persistent.
• The New York Fed report also found that households upgraded their views on their incomes, earnings, hiring prospects and finances. The survey found households also had "slightly" improved views on their current financial situation in May, as respondents said access to credit improved relative to last year, while expectations of missing a debt payment declined.

(Source: Reuters)

• On June 5, 2025, Seprod Limited, which currently owns 50.14% of A.S. Bryden & Sons Holdings Limited (ASBH), extended the deadline for its takeover bid to acquire up to an additional 29.85% of ASBH’s ordinary shares to June 9, 2025, 8:00 am.
• The offer opened on May 1, 2025, and was originally set to close on June 5, 2025, pending regulatory approvals in both Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.
• The proposed transaction is structured as a share-for-share exchange, wherein ASBH shareholders are being offered 396.43 Seprod shares for every 1,000 ASBH shares they tender, as Seprod seeks to acquire up to 447,491,012 ASBH Shares.
• By increasing its ownership stake, Seprod aims to strengthen alignment with ASBH and unlock greater synergies between the two companies, which should support the creation of a regionally integrated distribution platform to the benefit of customers and partners.
• Since listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), ASBH has traded higher than its listing price ($22.50), but is down significantly from its peak ($45.00 on January 16, 2024) and has been relatively illiquid.
• At the close of the trading day ended June 5, 2025, ASBH’s stock price was $26.88, down 10.4% since the start of the year. At its current price, it trades at a P/E of 29.5x. Meanwhile, Seprod’s stock price was $81.44, down 6.6% and had a P/E of 27.1x. Both companies’ P/Es are above the 15.9x Main Market Distribution & Manufacturing Average.

(Source: JSE & NCBCM Research)

• First Rock Real Estate Investment Limited (FIRSTROCK) advised on June 4, 2025, its intent to refinance the credit facility extended by Sagicor Bank Jamaica Limited surrounding the development of its Hambani Estate residential complex.
• Hambani is said to be the first development complex of its kind, providing “ultra-wealthy” buyers with a safe, secure and centrally located property at 1-3 Bamboo Avenue, Kingston 6. The units are stand-alone villas (12 in total) spanning 8,400 to 8,700 square feet.
• Given the maturity of the Sagicor Bank Facility, FIRSTROCK has engaged with a Financial Institution to fully repay the facility. The bank is said to have placed the lands under mortgages for the Hambani Estate Development, granted to First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited, into receivership. As part of the receivership, it is understood that Sagicor has taken possession of all but one house lot, which has been fully paid for.
• Once the new financier is in place, FIRSTROCK expects the project to be completed within 3 months. FIRSTROCK has indicated that there is currently a wait list for the three unsold units, which they plan to put on the market at the appropriate time.
• The Project currently stands at 90% completion, with practical completion having been obtained within the development already. The current loan-to-value is 45%.

(Source: JSE)

• The Board of Directors of Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) has announced plans to delist its variable rate Jamaican dollar cumulative preference shares from the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).
• The shares, which were listed in March 2016, will be officially delisted on June 20, 2025.
• The decision comes as the company seeks to modify its capital structure. As part of this move, JMMB intends to convert the preference shares into ordinary shares, which will not be listed on the JSE.
• The company also confirmed that the holder of all these preference shares supports the proposed conversion.

(Source: JSE)

• The White House on June 4 announced sweeping travel restrictions targeting nearly two dozen countries, including the Caribbean nations of Haiti and Cuba, under a new Proclamation signed by President Donald Trump aimed at combating terrorism and enhancing national security.
• Citing “common sense security standards,” the Trump administration said the move was necessary to limit the entry of foreign nationals who may pose threats to the United States. Haiti is one of 12 countries facing a full suspension of entry. According to a U.S. government assessment, Haiti’s B1/B2 visa overstay rate was 31.38%, and the overstay rate for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories) was 25.05%. The report cited the lack of a centralised, cooperative authority in Haiti, the absence of adequate law enforcement information, and a recent influx of undocumented Haitian nationals as contributing to national security and immigration enforcement concerns.
• Cuba, meanwhile, is among seven countries facing partial travel restrictions, specifically targeting immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The administration cited Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, lack of cooperation in law enforcement information-sharing, and a B1/B2 overstay rate of 7.69%, with a student/exchange visa overstay rate of 18.75%.
• The travel ban takes effect on Monday, June 9th, according to media reports.

(Source: Caribbean National Weekly)