Geopolitical calm and corporate results support stock market performance
The Kuwait Stock Exchange opened the week’s first session on a positive note, with its indices rising at the start of trading before closing with mixed performance. The First Market and General indices ended the session in the green, while the Main Market index declined by the close.
The bourse benefited from improved investor sentiment amid relative calm in geopolitical conditions, alongside growing expectations of a de-escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran. This environment bolstered investor appetite and supported trading activity in the market.
The market also received support from buying activity concentrated in several stocks, particularly leading names, coinciding with listed companies continuing to release their first-half financial results, which were largely positive.
Despite the decline in the Main Market index, several of its stocks posted notable gains, led by the Hotels stock, which surged more than 10 percent, alongside positive performances by Kufpec, Aqar, and Umm Al Quwain.
Total traded liquidity reached 70.1 million dinars, a solid level for the week’s opening session. The First Market accounted for the largest share at 68 percent, while the Main Market captured the remaining 32 percent.
A total of 132 stocks were traded; 69 rose, 39 fell, and 24 remained unchanged. Weighted indices rose for eight sectors, led by the Utilities sector with a 2.1 percent gain and Consumer Goods with a 1.02 percent increase. Conversely, indices fell for five sectors, headed by the Energy sector, which dropped 4.34 percent, and Insurance, which declined 1.29 percent.
In terms of index performance, the General Market Index rose by approximately 35.69 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 8,697 points. Trading volume reached 262.7 million shares across 16,086 transactions.
The First Market Index increased by about 51.52 points, or 0.57 percent, closing at 9,123 points. It recorded a traded value of 47.9 million dinars, with 122.9 million shares exchanged through 7,955 deals.
Meanwhile, the Main Market Index fell by roughly 29.89 points, or 0.34 percent, to 8,813 points. It saw a liquidity value of 22.2 million dinars, with 139.7 million shares traded via 8,131 transactions.
Regarding the most actively traded stocks by value, Bitak ranked first with 9.54 million dinars, closing at 780 fils. It was followed by National Bank with 4.72 million dinars, closing at 823 fils, then International Bank with 2.90 million dinars, closing at 256 fils, and Al Dera with 2.56 million dinars, closing at 475 fils. Gulf Bank rounded out the top five with 2.27 million dinars, closing at 349 fils.
The Hotels stock topped the list of biggest gainers, rising 10.42 percent on a volume of 554,900 shares, closing at 212 fils. It was followed by Kufpec, up 6.06 percent on 2.17 million shares, closing at 140 fils, and Aqar, up 5.77 percent on 13.29 million shares, closing at 110 fils. Umm Al Quwain rose 5.34 percent on just 10 shares, closing at 138 fils, while Al Inma’ ranked fifth with a 3.91 percent gain on 14.47 million shares, closing at 133 fils.
On the other hand, Petrolium shares recorded a decline of 17.92 percent, leading the list of the most-declining stocks, with a trading volume of 17,400 shares, closing at a price of 655 fils. It was followed by Imaniyat by 8.97 percent, but with a trading volume of only 175 shares, dropping to a price of 345 fils, then Gulf Insurance by 4.17 percent, with a trading volume of 1,025 shares, closing at a price of 1.150 dinars, and Emirates by 2.66 percent, with a trading volume of approximately 5.26 million shares, closing at a price of 475 fils, and fifthly Al-Daira by 2.68 percent, with a trading volume of 6.44 million shares.
