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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Verify financial investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue 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 brings together board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst higher oil costs, 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated 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 introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, preserving positive growth momentum in current years. While disputes in the wider region and global economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have up until now restricted their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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