The decade closed with an uptick in activity in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital markets, largely due to increases in initial public offerings, a series of mergers and acquisitions, and a number of bonds issued in the latter half of 2018 and into 2019. Even so, activity in the financial markets remains muted, a pattern seen across many bourses in the Caribbean. The local market tends to be highly…
In the face of economic sluggishness in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago’s banking sector showed continued consolidation and resilience. As the sector plays an increasingly critical role in the country’s diversification progress, executives are focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. In the near term, domestic banks are seeking to hone their competitive edge and enhance their capacity…
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) is the largest and among the most important stock markets in the Caribbean. However, it was out-performed by the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), whose impressive headline growth since 2015 has led some in T&T to draw lessons from the smaller but more dynamic bourse. “We should look to the expansion in Jamaica’s capital markets as an example in the…
The twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is located in the southern end of the Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. Its rich and varied heritage lends itself to a vibrant society and cuisine derived from an array of ethnicities and religions. On the back of elevated global oil prices, T&T has gone through a period of rapid economic expansion in recent decades, resulting in higher leve
While overall economic growth was flat in 2019, the financial sector experienced 1.4% expansion, to which insurance was a strong contributor. From January to March 2019 finance and insurance activities grew by 1.7%, according to the Ministry of Finance. Together with real estate and business services, the sector added 400 new employees in 2019. Financial and insurance activities contributed…
The decade closed with an uptick in activity in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital markets, largely due to increases in initial public offerings (IPOs), a series of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and a number of bonds issued in the latter half of 2018 and into 2019. Even so, activity in the financial markets remains muted, a pattern seen across many bourses in the Caribbean. The local market tends…
In the face of economic sluggishness in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago’s banking sector showed continued consolidation and resilience. As the sector plays an increasingly critical role in the country’s diversification progress, executives are focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the near term, domestic banks are seeking to hone their competitive edge and enhance their…
The three decades before the 2007-08 global financial crisis were marked by the world’s financial networks becoming increasingly interconnected. Financial system regulatory convergence, the growing penetration of World Trade Organisation rules and the creation of currency unions, such as the euro, resulted in a surge in cross-border capital flows. Global banks began to see the emergence of a single…
Once reserved for ambitious start-ups and industry-leading operators, financial technology (fintech) has caught the attention of private sector firms and government planners alike, becoming a regular feature in budget speeches and development plans. As fintech plays a larger part in the lives of consumers, investors have come to recognise its growth potential. Tech-focused Janus Henderson Global…
Interview:Karen Darbasie To what extent do you expect Trinidad and Tobago’s economy to stabilise in 2018? KAREN DARBASIE: After two years of pronounced decreases in GDP, with contractions as high as 6% in 2016 and 3% in 2017, most indicators are showing that 2018 will be the year of economic recovery. The IMF has forecast 1.9% GDP growth in 2018. This has led the banking sector, which always…
