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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and customer need to assist your strategic direction. Validate investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a significant brand-new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil costs, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products drawing in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area stays durable and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Browsing the Fine Print of Doha's Commercial ReformsIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, preserving positive growth momentum recently. While disputes in the larger area and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their impact on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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