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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your tactical instructions. Confirm investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident 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 boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly conference room 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 unites board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership 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 Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Overall properties held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency 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. 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Why GCC Outsourcing Is Pivoting Towards Specialized ProvidersIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their impact on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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