The Jamaican Stock Exchange (JSE) 1 composite index was most responsive among the regional exchanges as its swings mirrored that of the NYSE. The composite index on the Barbados Stock Exchange fell by approximately 14.5% during 2009, while the Trinidad and Tobago, composite index contracted by approximately 9.2%. These declines translated into wealth losses of BDS $ billion and TT $ billion, respectively.
11 10 9 8  Thousands  13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3  7 6 5 4  Oct-09  Jul-09  Apr-09  Jan-09  Oct-08  Jul-08  Apr-08  Jan-08  Oct-07  Jul-07  Apr-07  3  Jan-07  Hundreds  Figure 11: Stock market activity  Trinidad & Tobago (lef t axis)  Jamaica (lef t axis)  Barbados (lef t axis)  NYSE (right axis)  Fiscal performance Following a significant worsening of the fiscal position in 2008, there was a further widening of the fiscal deficit to an estimated $ million (8.4% of GDP) in 2009.