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Notify strategy with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most current insights, patterns, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
Total properties held broadly stable 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 difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Leading the 2026 Regional Economic Landscape for LeadersPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil prices, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided 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 favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing 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 also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region remains durable and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Leading the 2026 Regional Economic Landscape for LeadersRegardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, maintaining favorable growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the wider region and international economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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