Financial Services

Established in October 1981, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) played a key role in socialising the benefits of economic growth that followed the discovery of hydrocarbons reserves in the 1960s.

The year 2016 was expected to be a challenging one for the stock market in Trinidad and Tobago, with several economic headwinds testing the confidence of investors. Against all odds, the local market demonstrated considerable resilience, with the main driver of market momentum coming from the cross-listed index. The T&T Composite Index (...

Government bond issuance in Trinidad and Tobago was relatively quiet in 2016, with just two new issues of government debt coming to market, totalling TT$2.16bn ($322.7m). This would have come as a surprise to most market participants, particularly given the budgetary requirements to meet target spending. However, 2017 is likely to see...

With a declining economy restricting premium income growth and bringing rates under sustained pressure, 2016 was a challenging year for Trinidad and Tobago’s insurance sector. The relative scarcity of foreign exchange has also caused some issues with regard to the payment of reinsurers.

It has been widely argued that achieving greater financial inclusion – the delivery of financial services at affordable costs to lower-income segments of any given population – is an effective way of reducing poverty and promoting economic growth and development. The UN has suggested that financial inclusion objectives should include providing all...