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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to guide your strategic instructions. Confirm investment plans: Make sure resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening 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 combines board specialists to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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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. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related assets did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized 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 consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
How Is Operational Excellence Vital for Future Growth?Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of greater 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. 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 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 likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect 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 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 strength, preserving favorable growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the larger region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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