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Inform method with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your strategic direction. Confirm investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to take a look at the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency 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 ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items bring in brand-new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
How to Utilize GCC Research for 2026 GrowthRegardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, preserving positive growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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