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Inform method with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the newest 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 steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a difficult background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and products, particularly 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 regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 continuous Middle East conflict 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 wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting specific exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without significant primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Standardizing Operations Across Diverse Gulf Company LandscapesDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, maintaining positive growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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