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Inform technique with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to direct your strategic direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil rates, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite 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 reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant main productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the wider region and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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