Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the green zone. The Price Index closed at 5,460.73 points, up by 1.29% from the week before closing, the Weighted Index increased by 0.18% after closing at 352.20 points, whereas the KSX-15 Index closed at 818.46 points up by 0.88%. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 19.42%, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 7.24 million, whereas trading volume average was 94.29 million shares, recording an increase of 16.41%. The three stock market indices ended the week’s trading in the green zone, whereas the Price Index was able to increase affected by the quick speculative operations executed on many small-cap stocks, and the Weighted and KSX-15 indices were able to realize gains as a result to the random purchasing operations executed on some leading stocks.

On the contrary, the market witnessed quick profit collection operations during the last week’s sessions that limited the indices gains to some point, while such operations could not push the market to the red zone on the weekly level. As per the daily trading activity, the market was able to realize a grouped increase for the three indices on last Sunday’s and Monday’s sessions affected by the random purchasing operations that targeted many previously traded stocks, in addition to the quick speculative operations which the small-cap stocks received a portion of, plus the purchasing activity witnessed by some listed investment groups, amid an optimism about the financial results for the first half of the current year. Moreover, the market witnessed a fluctuation at closing for the three indices in the mid week session, whereas the price Index recorded a noticeable growth, while the Weighted and KSX- 15 indices declined by the end of the session. Furthermore, the price Index was able to realize a big increase in the same session and was able to reach its highest level in about 7 months, as a result to the support received by the big increase recorded by the National Consumer Holding Company’s stock at the end of the session, where it recorded a daily increase by 220%, which positively reflected on the Price Index.

On Wednesday’s session, the market indices continued its fluctuation for the second consecutive session, as the Price and Weighted indices declined affected by the profit collection operations that concentrated on the stocks of previous different increases, while the KSX-15 Index recorded good growth supported by the random trading operations that targeted some operational stocks. By the end of the week, the stock market witnessed mixed performance for the three indices whereas the Weighted and KSX-15 indices realized limited gain supported by the purchasing operations executed on some leading stocks, especially the Telecommunication sector, while the Weighted Index declined as a result to the profit collection operations executed on the small-cap stocks.

Moreover, the market capitalization reached by the end of last week KD 22.94 billion, up by 0.16% compared to its level in a week earlier, where it reached then KD 22.90 billion. However on an annual level, the market cap for the listed companies in KSE declined by 9.21% from its value at end of 2015, where it reached then KD 25.27 billion. As far as KSE annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 2.75% annual loss compared to its closing in 2015, while the weighted index decreased by 7.73%, and the KSX-15 recorded 9.10% loss.

Sectors’ IndicesSeven of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone, while the other four recorded declines, whereas the Banks sector’s index closed with no change from the week before. Last week’s highest gainer was the Industrial sector, achieving 7.93% growth rate as its index closed at 1,139.16 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Health Care sector’s index closed at 1,043.81 points recording 0.85% increase. The Telecommunications sector came in third as its index achieved 0.59% growth, ending the week at 608.24 points. On the other hand, the Consumer Services sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 3.51% to end the week’s activity at 923.81 points. The Oil & Gas sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 3.50%, closing at 762.29 points, followed by the Technology sector, as its index closed at 989.54 points at a loss of 3.11%.

Sectors’ ActivityThe Financial Services sector dominated a total trade volume of around 180.38 million shares changing hands during last week, representing 38.26% of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 30.63% of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of around 144.41 million shares. On the other hand, the Banks sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of around KD 11.41 million or 31.53% of last week’s total market trading value. The Financial Services sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover was approx KD 8.83 million representing 24.41% of the total market trading value.