Institutions are the largest traders in the stock exchange, accounting for 67.4% of shares sold

The “Weekly Economic Bulletin” report stated that the institutional and corporate sector maintained its position as the largest participant in the Kuwait Stock Exchange during the first eight months of 2026, with its share of total trading volume rising compared to the same period in 2025.

Based on data from the Kuwait Clearing Company, published on the Kuwait Stock Exchange website according to traders’ nationality and category, the report detailed trading volumes for the official market from January 1, 2026, to August 31. The institutional and corporate sector accounted for 67.4% of the total value of shares sold, compared to 61.4% in the same period of 2025. It also held 66.9% of the total value of shares purchased, versus 63% in the corresponding 2025 period.

The institutional and corporate sector sold shares worth KD 9.050 billion and purchased shares worth KD 8.988 billion, resulting in a net selling position of approximately KD 61.543 million.

The individual investor sector ranked second in terms of market liquidity contribution, although its share declined. Individual investors accounted for 30.0% of the total value of shares purchased, down from 35.1% in the same period of 2025, and 29.5% of the total value of shares sold, compared to 36.7% in the corresponding 2025 period. Individual investors purchased shares worth KD 4.033 billion against sales of KD 3.959 billion, making them the only category to record a net buying position of approximately KD 74.077 million.

The client account (“portfolio”) sector ranked third, with its share of trading increasing. It accounted for 2.6% of the total value of shares sold, up from 1.4% in the same period of 2025, and 2.6% of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 1.3% in the corresponding 2025 period. Client accounts sold shares worth KD 349.315 million, while purchases amounted to KD 349.057 million, recording a net selling position of approximately KD 258,000.

Investment funds ranked last among market liquidity contributors, holding 0.5% of the total value of shares sold, the same percentage recorded in the same period of 2025. Their share of the total value of shares purchased was 0.4%, compared to 0.5% in the corresponding 2025 period. Investment funds sold shares worth KD 68.494 million and purchased shares worth KD 56.219 million, resulting in a net selling position of approximately KD 12.275 million.

Regarding trader nationality, the “Bulletin” noted the continued local character of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, with Kuwaiti investors remaining the largest participants. Kuwaitis purchased shares worth KD 11.168 billion, accounting for 83.2% of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 84.5% in the same period of 2025. Conversely, the value of shares sold by Kuwaiti investors reached KD 10.857 billion, representing 80.9% of the total value of shares sold, down from 87.5% in the corresponding 2025 period, resulting in the only net buying position of approximately KD 310.367 million.

Other investors accounted for approximately KD 2.357 billion in total shares sold, equivalent to 17.6% of the total value of shares sold, compared to 10.8% in the same period of 2025. Their purchases amounted to approximately KD 2.092 billion, or 15.6%, versus 14.0% in the corresponding 2025 period. Consequently, other investors recorded the highest net selling position of approximately KD 265.309 million.

Investors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accounted for approximately 1.6% of the total value of shares sold, compared to 1.7% in the same period of 2025, with a value of KD 212.167 million. Conversely, the value of shares they purchased reached approximately KD 167.109 million, equivalent to 1.2% of total purchases, compared to 1.5% in the corresponding 2025 period, resulting in a net selling position of approximately KD 45.058 million.

The report revealed a shift in the relative distribution of trading by nationality compared to the same period last year. Kuwaitis’ share stood at approximately 82%, compared to 16.6% for traders of other nationalities and 1.4% for GCC traders. In the corresponding period last year, the distribution was approximately 86.0% for Kuwaitis, 12.4% for other nationalities, and 1.6% for GCC traders.

The “Bulletin” emphasized that these indicators reflect the Kuwait Stock Exchange’s continued status as a local market, given that local investors hold the largest share of trading, while interest from other investors outside the GCC exceeds that of their counterparts within the GCC.

Regarding account activity, the number of active trading accounts rose by approximately 16.6% between the end of December 2025 and the end of August 2026, compared to a 46.2% increase between the end of December 2024 and the end of August 2025. The number of active trading accounts reached approximately 55,569 by the end of August 2026, representing 11.7% of total accounts, up from approximately 53,694 accounts at the end of July 2026, which constituted 11.3% of total accounts for that month, marking a 3.5% increase.