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Notify method with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to guide your tactical direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month 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 Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Moderator 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Despite 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 in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allowance instead of broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained 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 taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without significant primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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