Boursa Kuwait net profit soars 69.5% as trade increases significantly
For the quarter ended 31 March, total operating revenues reached KD12.17 million (US$39.7 million) – a 45.34 per cent increase from KD8.37 million (US$27.3 million) in the same period in 2024.
Operating profit was up 69.38 per cent from KD5.58 million (US$18.2 million) to KD9.45 million (US$30.8 million), while earnings per share increased 69.48 per cent from 23.33 fils to 39.54 fils.
The group's total assets rose to KD139.47 million (US$454.8 million), an increase of 12.86 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter last year.
Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Chairman, Boursa Kuwait, praised his team for the result and commented: 'Despite the prevailing global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Boursa Kuwait achieved notable growth across all performance indicators. Net profit increased by 69.48%, demonstrating the resilience of our strategy and the adaptability of our operating model.
'The strong performance in the first quarter represents a key milestone for Boursa Kuwait, fueling our commitment to accelerate market development and solidify our position as a vital engine for national economic growth and a pivotal contributor to Kuwait's vision of transforming into a leading regional financial and investment hub.'
Value traded at the Kuwaiti capital market jumped significantly by 89.6 per cent in Q1 2025, to KD6.72 billion (US$21.9 billion) from KD3.54 billion (US$11.54 billion) in Q1 2024. Volume of shares traded rose by 69.07 per cent to 24.29 billion and the average daily traded value increased by 106.53 per cent to KD119.91 million (US$391 million). Market capitalisation reached KD47.79 billion (US$155.84 billion), a 10.85 per cent increase from Q1 2024.
The 'Premier' Market was a key driver of market activity, with approximately 9.28 billion shares traded in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 20.91 per cent. The 'Main' Market played a significant role in enhancing overall market liquidity, with its market capitalisation rising 17.69 per cent from KD7.10 billion (US$23.15 billion) to KD8.35 billion (US$27.23 billion).
Mohammad Saud Al-Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Boursa Kuwait, commented: 'The Kuwaiti capital market continued to enhance its attractiveness as an investment environment during the first quarter of 2025, propelled by significant increases in trading activity and liquidity.
'This performance signals growing confidence in Kuwait's investment landscape and reflects Boursa Kuwait's ongoing commitment to boosting market efficiency and expanding the investor pool.
'We are committed to building on these achievements to drive sustainable growth and positively contribute to Kuwait's national economy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Stocks take a breather, Fed rate-cut drumbeat weighs on dollar
LONDON/SINGAPORE - Traders ramped up Fed rate cut bets on Thursday, pinning the dollar near multi-week lows, while a global stock rally paused as investors awaited data on U.S. producer prices later in the day that may show how tariffs are impacting inflation trends. MSCI's global share index flatlined, after hitting all-time peaks for the two previous sessions, while an equivalent gauge of Asian equities outside Japan lingered near its loftiest level since September 2021. Futures markets signaled Wall Street stocks were set for a muted start, having led global shares higher all week and hit records on Tuesday and Wednesday. This blistering global rally has been fueled by strong U.S. tech earnings and speculation that Federal Reserve rate cuts will help protect businesses and households from the impact of White House tariffs. Traders now see a September cut as almost certain, per CME's FedWatch tool, and the U.S. administration is continuing to pressure the Fed to ease more quickly. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that the Fed funds rate, which has been in a range of 4.25%-4.5% since December, should be as much as 175 bps lower. Monthly U.S. jobs data came in surprisingly weak on Aug. 1, but a U.S. producer prices report later on Thursday could shift the market's focus towards the risks of tariffs taking inflation too high for the Fed to cut rates, investors said. About 70% of global investors expect U.S. stagflation to become the dominant market narrative within three months, a Bank of America survey found this week. "Inflation is starting to come through. It's not massive yet but that could certainly continue in coming months and amplify that part of the story," Russell Investments global chief investment strategist Paul Eitelman said. U.S. Treasury markets show investors are growing queasy about the damage higher-for-longer inflation could wreak on longer-dated debt, by eroding the real value of bonds' fixed-interest coupons over time. Two-year Treasury yields, which track monetary policy bets, traded at 3.67% on Thursday, down from about 3.95% at the beginning of August. But yields on 30-year Treasuries, which are the most sensitive to inflation expectations, are now 112 bps higher than the two-year notes, with the yield differential having risen from about 95bps on Aug. 1. SOGGY DOLLAR The U.S. dollar was struggling to make headway from a two-week low against a basket of major currencies on Thursday and Japan's yen made broad based gains, hitting its strongest in three weeks at 146.38 per dollar. This came after Bessent said the Bank of Japan would raise interest rates because it was behind the curve in dealing inflation risks. The BOJ has so far justified keeping borrowing costs ultra-low because its underlying inflation measure that focuses on domestic demand and wages is below its target and it wants more clarity on how U.S. tariffs will impact exporters. The euro stood at $1,16722, nudging off the previous day's two-week high while European government debt largely tracked moves in Treasuries. Germany's 10 year yield was down 2 bps at 2.66%. EYES ON UKRAINE Commodities markets were subdued ahead of Friday's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Trump on Wednesday threatened "severe consequences" if Putin did not agree to peace in Ukraine and has also floated the idea of a second summit that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Brent crude, the global oil marker, traded at around $65.86 a barrel on Thursday, just off a two-month low and down from almost $70 in early August. Spot gold prices, which tend to rise when investors focus on geopolitical risks, fell about 0.5% to $3,3925 per troy ounce. Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a note to clients that lack of progress towards a Ukraine ceasefire could lead to renewed White House sanctions on Russian oil but this would only cause a "limited risk" of supply disruptions. J.P. Morgan strategists said a peace deal could lift the euro against the dollar but warned that the bar for achieving a ceasefire was high. (Reporting by Naomi Rovnick in London and Jaspreet Kalra in Singapore; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill and Christina Fincher)
Filipino Times
3 hours ago
- Filipino Times
UAE, Philippines discuss strengthening private sector cooperation, investment ties
The United Arab Emirates and the Philippines are boosting private sector cooperation following the bilateral agreement Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in July, a deal designed to ease trade and increase investment across key industries. UAE Minister of Foreign Trade His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi met with the Philippines Business Council – Dubai and Northern Emirates to discuss strengthening partnerships between companies in both countries. 'The Philippines is a key trading partner for the UAE in the growing ASEAN region, and we are committed to fostering stronger ties at all levels,' HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi said through WAM. 'Our discussions today aim to explore private sector opportunities, identify areas for greater collaboration, and address any challenges faced by Philippines businesses operating in the UAE or by their Emirati counterparts operating in the Philippine market.' Enhancing trade and investment opportunities Under CEPA, both countries aim to enhance cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, and electrical equipment. The agreement is also expected to lift trade barriers and encourage more investment flow. The UAE remains the Philippines' top export market in the Arab and African regions and ranks 17th globally. According to reports, non-oil trade between the UAE and the Philippines reached US$940 million in 2024 and continued to grow in 2025, with US$257.7 million recorded in the first quarter alone. Economic projections indicate the UAE's GDP could grow by US$2.4 billion under CEPA, with exports to the Philippines expected to reach US$7.62 billion by 2032. In 2024, the Philippines' economy grew by 5.6%,the second-fastest pace among ASEAN's 10 member states, which has a combined GDP of US$4.13 trillion. With a large Filipino community in the UAE working in sectors such as construction, healthcare, and hospitality, officials said these workers could also contribute to the economic growth expected from the agreement.
Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Sharjah Debuts First Government-Backed Digital M&A Gateway
Sharjah AcquireHub has been launched by the Sharjah FDI Office in collaboration with Transworld Business Advisors, marking the emirate's first government-led digital platform designed to streamline mergers and acquisitions across all business scales. The platform offers investors, SMEs, local and international entrepreneurs an end-to-end digital M&A ecosystem. Its features include seamless online registration, tailored advisory support, post-transaction assistance and robust confidentiality safeguards such as non-disclosure agreements and comprehensive due diligence protocols. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed by H. E. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, and Ahmad Ibrahim, CEO of Transworld GCC, in the presence of H. E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority. ADVERTISEMENT Built to serve the mid-market segment, the platform is a strategic entry point for investors into the global M&A market, which reached a value of US$ 3.5 trillion in 2024—a 15 per cent rise year-on-year. Regional M&A momentum mirrored this trend, with 701 deals valued at US$ 92.3 billion recorded across MENA markets in the same year. Sharjah AcquireHub is tailored to enhance market liquidity and flexibility, providing structured options for growth, strategic exits or corporate restructurings. It also offers M&A readiness workshops for local businesses, launches an international matchmaking programme for vetted opportunities, and plans global roadshows to promote Sharjah-based strategic acquisitions. SMEs are central to the platform's design. Considering that they account for more than 94 per cent of businesses in the UAE, the service gives local enterprises a pathway to expansion, alliance-building or exit strategies within a secure and transparent ecosystem. The emirate's business environment continues to show resilience, with over 71,320 new and renewed licences issued in 2024, representing a 7 per cent increase. Emphasising Sharjah's strategic position, the platform supports diversification across sectors such as industry, technology and healthcare, reinforcing the emirate's role as a regional M&A hub underpinned by a long-term economic vision. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh commented that collaboration with Transworld Business Advisors 'creates new pathways for domestic and international investors, leveraging global expertise alongside Sharjah's development vision and technological capabilities'. Ahmad Ibrahim added that digital transformation and strategic partnerships are central to advancing the emirate's investment ecosystem and unlocking growth opportunities. Transworld Business Advisors brings substantial credentials to the partnership, having completed over 2,500 M&A transactions in 2024, operating through more than 250 offices across 27 countries with over 1,000 specialised dealmakers. The firm ranks among Axial's Top 100 global M&A advisory firms.
