01/04/2026
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01/04/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, April 1: The main indices of Boursa Kuwait rose at the close of yesterday’s trading. The Premier Market and General Market indices increased by 0.42 percent and 0.52 percent, respectively, while the Main 50 Index climbed by about 1.03 percent.
The Main Market Index rose 1.11 percent compared to the previous day. Boursa Kuwait recorded a trading volume of KD 81.95 million, distributed across 251.27 million shares, executed through 19,200 transactions. The prices of 60 stocks rose, led by Tahseelat, which surged 28.21 percent following a 226.9 percent jump in its fourth-quarter profits.
The prices of 59 stocks declined, with Muntazahat leading the losses at 6.72 percent. The prices of 14 stocks remained unchanged. Financial analyst Ayed Al-Dhafeeri confirmed in a press statement that yesterday’s market rally was driven by the positive dividends offered by some listed companies, citing the recommendation of the board of directors of Gulf Cables Company as an example, along with anticipated positive results from several other listed companies. He indicated that these factors helped revitalize the market, along with the recent easing of geopolitical tensions.
Reviewing the first quarter’s trading at yesterday’s close, Boursa Kuwait’s main indices ended in the red for the first quarter of 2020 and for the current month. The market capitalization of shares declined by 5.09 percent, affected by profit-taking, the escalation of military operations in the region, the targeting of oil and vital facilities, and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In this regard, Ra’ed Diab, Vice President of Research and Investment Strategies at Kamco Invest, explained that Boursa Kuwait began the year with some profit-taking following the gains recorded in 2025. The decline was further intensified by threats from US President Donald Trump to launch attacks on Iran.
With the onset of the war, Boursa Kuwait declined amid growing fears of its repercussions, including Iranian attacks on Gulf states, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and the significant impact on Kuwait’s oil exports following the declaration of force majeure and production cuts. Thanks to a sound assessment of the war’s impact, Kuwait’s financial strength and its ability to absorb the crisis in the short term, and the strong fundamentals of listed companies along with their annual dividends, Boursa Kuwait recovered some of its losses and managed to hold its ground, ending March with the smallest decline among its Gulf peers.
The overall investment climate has changed in light of this war, especially as many investors await developments in the crisis, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the uncertainty surrounding potential losses, and the war’s protracted nature. Some investors view the decline in leading stock prices as an opportunity for long-term investment, given that the companies’ fundamentals are unchanged. Diab predicted that this stability, though subject to some fluctuations, would continue until new signals emerge.
Key indicators for March:
‣ The Premier Market Index declined by 5.15 percent during the first quarter, falling 489.2 points compared to the end of December.
‣ The General Market Index decreased by 5.51 percent, or 491.1 points, reaching 8,416.47 points.
‣ The Main Market Index closed the quarter down 7.45 percent, or 618.9 points, while the Main 50 Index fell by 8.5 percent.
‣ Market capitalization decreased by 5.09 percent, reaching KD 50.48 billion compared to KD 53.19 billion.
‣ Trading volume on Boursa Kuwait during the first quarter totaled KD 4.19 billion, distributed across 13.74 billion shares.
By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
