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Inform method with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your tactical instructions. Validate investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and strategies provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil prices, in addition to its continued capability 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 published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area remains resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure concentrated on global high-end and consumer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are expected to introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Despite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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