THE YEAR 2005 proved to be a difficult one for the economy and investors in stock market but great for real estate investors. Although it started off promisingly in January and maintained buoyancy to April, interest in the market for most of 2005 was lower than 2004.
As the new year unfolds, economic trends and the effect these will have on one's ability to manage their finances are uppermost in the minds of many Jamaicans. These and many other issues will be dealt with at INVESTMENT '06, this Friday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.
The real estate market nevertheless had a strong and buoyant year in 2005, as more investors piled into this investment for long-term gains, as income from fixed interest securities have declined sharply with no signs of a return to the high rates that obtained a few short years ago.
GAINS POSSIBLE
Participants who attended last year's seminar would have been forewarned that 2005 would not witness a repeat of the over 100 per cent growth in the market of 2004, but that gains would nevertheless have been possible. In the end, although the index declined by year end, fifteen stocks posted gains.
INVESTMENT '06 is the 16th renewal of the seminar series and is the brainchild of financial consultant and publisher John Jackson.
Speakers include Deborah Cumming, chairman and managing director, Century 21 Heave Ho Properties; Karl Wright, former president, Victoria Mutual Building Society; Peter Bunting, executive chairman, Dehring, Bunting & Golding Ltd; Jason Morris, investment research and country risk analyst, Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited; Steven Gooden, head of the portfolio management unit, National Commercial Bank, and John Jackson.
