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History

The JSE has a rich history of mobilizing capital for companies which list on the Exchange, and we provide a conduit through which investors can create wealth by investing in these companies.  The JSE operates using first class and globally accepted technology and through its trading and surveillance platforms provide a safe and efficient stock market.  Through these efforts, the JSE has been recognized internationally, by Bloomberg, as the No. 1 Performing Exchange in the World twice.

1962
Kingston Stock Market
The Kingston Stock Market was established and is the first formal securities market.
1962
1968
Founding Members
The JSE was founded by four visionary men:
• Mr. Willard Samms – Annett & Company Limited
• Mr. Raglan I. Golding – Capital Market Services (Ja) Ltd.
Mr. Edward E. Gayle – Edward Gayle & Company Ltd.
• Mr. Anthony Lloyd – Pitfield McKay Ross & Co Ltd.

• JSE was incorporated as a private limited liability company.
1968
1969
Started Operations
• JSE started its operations on February 3 from the premises of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), the Central Bank of Jamaica.

• The JSE is the first stock market to be established in the English-Speaking Caribbean and remains the only Securities Exchange in Jamaica.

• The JSE Composite Index, the market’s main indicator of performance.
1969
1992
#1 Stock Market Survey
Of the markets surveyed by International Finance Corporation, the JSE emerged the number 1 stock market, with an index gain of 202 percent.
1992
1993
Passing of Securities Act
The Securities Act passed by the Houses of Parliament and is effective since December.
1993
1996
New Location
JSE moved into its own premises at 40 Harbour Street, in the business district of Downtown Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica.
1996
1997
Website
The JSE placed its website (www.jamstockex.com) on the world wide web, opening up the market to the international financial community.
1997
1998
New Subsidiary
On June 1, the Jamaica Central Securities Depository (JCSD) was established and began formalized back office operations.
1998
2000
Inside the Market
• Implementation of the Horizon platform, JSE’s first fully automated trading system.

• The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index, which includes only Jamaican companies was introduced.

• The Jamaica Select Index was introduced on June 1. It comprises and reflects the performance of the fifteen most liquid stocks in the market.
2000
2004
Landmark Achievements
• The JSE index hit 100,000 points.

• JSE introduced the Best Practices Awards.
2004
2005
JSE on the Move
• The JSE revamped and re-launched its website on April 26.

• The JSE Main Index recorded its highest value of 120,385.49 points.

• On June 3, a historic note was sounded when Representatives of the Jamaica Stock Exchange attended the New York Stock Exchange and Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson rang the Opening Bell.

• The Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference was introduced.
2005
2006
Road to Demutualization
The process of demutualization started.
2006
2007
RMOC
The Board passed the resolution for the Regulatory Market Oversight Committee (RMOC).
2007
2008
Demutualization & New Products & Services
• The JSE fully demutualized on April 1 and is the only demutualized Exchange in the Caribbean.

• Established Regulatory Market Oversight Committee (RMOC) and Regulatory Market Oversight Division (RMOD).

• The Company’s subsidiary, JCSD, introduced JCSD Trustee Services (JCSDTS).

• In September, the JSE celebrated its first National Investor Education Week (NIEW).

• Launch of the Stock Market Game (SMG) for High Schools.
2008
2009
Significant Milestones
• JSE’s 40th Anniversary celebrations.

• Launch of the JSE’s Junior Market on April 1.

• Access Financial Services Limited became the first company to be listed on the Junior Market.

• Launch of RMOD’s Automated Market Surveillance System, the first such electronic system in the region.

• Effective July 1, all non-resident shareholders were subjected to tax on dividends at 33 1/3% for corporations and 25% for individuals.
2009
2010
Launch of JSE e-Campus
Launch of JSE’s e-Learning Campus on April 1.
2010
2011
US$ Denominated Securities
• JSE established US$ Denominated Securities Market.

• PROVEN listed first US denominated securities.
2011
2012
Largest Acquisition of a Jamaican Company
The largest acquisition of a Jamaican company – Campari acquired Lascelles deMercado.
2012
2013
Revised Tax on Dividends
A revised tax of 15% on dividends payable to resident shareholders.
2013
2014
Launch of New Stock Market Game
Launch of the Public JSE Stock Market Game.
2014
2015
#1 Stock Exchange launched New Products and Online Platform
• Best Performing Exchange in the World according to Bloomberg.

• Launch of Online Trading Platform

• Launch of Jamaica Depository Receipt platform
2015
2016
More Games & Rewards
• Launch of the Teachers’ Stock Market Game.

• Launch of the JSE's Loyalty Rewards Programme in November.

• 37% increase in the number of investors on the Market.
2016
2017
Markets on the Move
• For the first time, the market capitalization for the Combined Market surpassed the trillion-dollar mark, closing at J$1.2 trillion at the end of December.

• The Main Market reached the trillion-dollar in market capitalization. It grew to J$1.05 trillion.

• J$1.13 billion raised on the Junior Market.

• J$11.54 billion raised on the Main Market.

• Combined J$15.56 billion raised on the Markets.
2017
2018
Best Performing Exchange Broke Record
• Bloomberg cited the JSE again, as the number one performing Stock Exchange in the world.

• 17 securities listed. Raised a record JA$21.02 Billion on the Market.

• Launch of the Mobile App for Apple Devices in July.

• JSE broke the 100 Barrier of Securities Listed on the Markets.
2018
2019
Landmark Achievements
• JSE officially began a year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, February 3, with a Church Service at the historic East Queen Street Baptist Church in Kingston.

• The Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) was launched at the JSE's Regional Conference by the Right Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.

• The inaugural hosting of Market Meets the Market by the Sea was held on Thursday, February 7.

• The JSE’s 1st ‘Welcome to Kingston’, 5K Run/Walk was held along the Kingston Waterfront, Downtown, on Sunday, July 14.

• Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) welcomed the JSE in Toronto on August 23 with a Bell Ringing Ceremony to mark the JSE’s 50th Anniversary. An Agreement for the cross-listing of securities was signed.

• On November 5, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) celebrated with the JSE and raised the Jamaican flag for the first time on its building, in recognition of the JSE’s 50th Anniversary and the JSE being recognized by Bloomberg as the Number One Performing Stock Exchange in the World for 2018.

• Bloomberg hosted the JSE for the first time at its offices in New York City on November 5 and held a live interview with the JSE’s Managing Director, Marlene Street Forrest, which focused on the ‘secret sauce’ behind JSE’s No. 1 world position and performance.

• JSE migrated to the NASDAQ Trading Platform on December 2 and NASDAQ placed the JSE’s logo in Times Square, New York, in recognition of the JSE's 50th Anniversary.
2019
2020
Beating the Odds - Overcoming Challenges
• The JSE listed 8 new securities:
2 on the Junior Market,
4 on the Main Market and
2 on the USD Equities Market.

• DeafCan was the first Social Project to List on the JSSE. It was listed on February, 25.

• JSSE/IDB launched Innovating Social Sector Financing Project on August 5.

• A total of $14.1 billion was raised from the Offer of 10,000,000,000 ordinary shares of Transjamaican Highway Limited. The largest amount raised in JSE’s history.
2020