Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week on a high note after five consecutive weeks of recording losses. The market fluctuated throughout the week’s trading sessions as a result of speculations that were followed by quick profit reaping activities. Purchases that were witnessed in some of the week’s sessions were selective while trading indicators retreated, as average daily turnover during last week declined by 21.57 percent, compared to previous week’s levels, to reach KD 26.29 million, whereas trading volume average amounted to 151.72 million shares, at a decrease of 18.49 percent. Last week’s activity was also influenced by the increasing anticipation for listed companies’ results for the second quarter of this year, especially in light of KSE’s registered losses during the period. On the other hand, last week’s growth coincided with weekly gains for most GCC stock markets, where the Saudi Stock Exchange was the only loser for the week. At the international scene, most of the major stock markets declined during last week due to profit taking, following recorded gains in previous weeks, in addition to economic indicators that had negative impact on investors’ movements.
By the end of the week, the price index closed at 6,625.1 points, up by 0.64 percent from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 1.29 percent weekly gain after closing at 405.01 points. And as a result of last week’s gains, price index’s losses, compared to previous year’s closing level, reached 5.43 percent, while weighted index’s year-to-date gains became 4.99 percent.

Sectors’ Indices
Six of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone, while the other two recorded declines. Last week’s highest gainer was the Non-Kuwaiti companies sector, achieving 1.59 percent growth rate as its index closed at 6,916.7 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Services sector’s index closed at 14,622.6 points recording 1.24 percent increase. The Investment sector came in third as its index achieved 0.78 percent growth, ending the week at 4,822.8 points. The Industry sector was the least growing as its index closed at 5,337.1 points with a 0.16 percent increase.
On the other hand, the Real Estate sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 0.63 percent to end the week’s activity at 2,349.3 points. The Banks sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 0.02 percent, closing at 9,109.3 points.

Sectors’ Activity
The Investment sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 216.31 million shares changing hands, representing 28.51 percent of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 23.33 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 176.97 million shares. On the other hand, the Services sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 42.97 million or 32.69 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 35.92 million represented 27.33 percent of the total market trading value.

Market Capitalization
KSE total market capitalization grew by 1.29 percent during last week to reach KD 30.08 billion, as five of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization, whereas the other three recorded declines. The Services sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 8.03 billion, increasing by 3.45 percent. The Food sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 2.84 percent increase after the total value of its listed companies reached KD 714.82 million. The third place was for the Non-Kuwaiti companies sector, which total market capitalization reached KD 2.94 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 2.32 percent. The Insurance sector was the least growing with 0.29 percent recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD 280.22 million.
On the other hand, the Real Estate sector headed the decliners list as its total market capitalization decreased by 0.34 percent to reach, by the end of the week, KD 1.64 Billion. The Industry sector was second on this list, which market value of its listed companies declined by 0.24 percent, reaching KD 2.61 Billion, followed by the Investment sector, as its market capitalization amounted to KD 2.65 billion at a 0.11 percent decrease.