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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic direction. Validate investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive 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 conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, 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 corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic 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 recent insights, trends, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall possessions held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated possessions did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
The Benefits for Operational Efficiency in 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and customer brand names. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Will the GCC Lead Industrial Growth through 2026?In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, keeping favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the broader area and international economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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