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Notify method with proof: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to direct your strategic direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly conference room dialogue assembling 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 unites board professionals to examine the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic 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 most current insights, patterns, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall possessions held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. 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 possessions did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
Examining the ROI of Third-Party Managed Services in 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil prices, as well as its continued capability 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 favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful 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, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without significant main productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brands. 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 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 actually affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, preserving favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the wider area and global economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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