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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to examine the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy 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 conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 ongoing 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 more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.

Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer 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 international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, preserving positive development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the broader area and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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