Stock Market Indices Decline with Trading Volume of 69.7 Million Dinars

Kuwait Stock Exchange indices declined during today’s session, closing with mixed losses led by the main market index, which recorded the steepest drop amid relative selling pressure and profit-taking, reflecting negatively on the market’s overall performance.

Uncertainty surrounding the agreement between the United States and Iran continues to weigh on trading activity, particularly given signs that a deal may not be reached in the near term, coinciding with rising oil prices.

The session featured volatile index performance with uneven movements among listed stocks. However, declines in several shares, particularly within the main market, contributed to widening index losses and pushed overall performance into negative territory.

Despite the broad-based decline in indices, several stocks rose during the session. Arab Real Estate topped the list of the most-gained stocks with gains exceeding 6 percent, while a group of other stocks rose by more than 4 percent, thereby moderating the extent of the decline.

Amid the drop in market indices, traded liquidity fell by 7.4 percent to KD 69.7 million, compared to KD 75.38 million in Monday’s session. The First Market continued to capture the largest share of liquidity at 63 percent, while the Main Market accounted for the remaining 37 percent.

A total of 128 stocks were traded, with prices rising for 49, falling for 59, and remaining unchanged for 20. Weighted indices declined in nine sectors, led by the insurance sector by 9.38 percent and healthcare by 3.20 percent. Indices rose in three sectors—telecommunications, consumer services, and industry—by 1.40 percent, 0.69 percent, and 0.03 percent, respectively, while prices in the utilities sector remained stable.

In detail, the General Market Index fell by approximately 41.23 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 8,836 points, with 236.2 million shares traded across 19,741 deals.

The First Market Index lost approximately 28.87 points, or 0.31 percent, to reach 9,287 points, with liquidity of KD 44.2 million and trading volumes of 98.4 million shares executed through 9,999 deals.

The Main Index led the declines, recording losses of approximately 109.33 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 8,867 points, with a traded value of KD 25.4 million and 137.7 million shares exchanged through 9,742 deals.

As a result, the bourse’s market capitalization lost KD 245.1 million, falling to KD 52.87 billion, a decrease of 0.46 percent compared to KD 53.11 billion at the close of Monday’s session.

Regarding the most-traded stocks by value, Baitak ranked first with KD 9.4 million, closing at 775 fils. Zain followed with KD 5.4 million, closing at 625 fils. Al-Taksees came third with KD 3.4 million, closing at 154 fils, and Al-Watani fourth with KD 3.4 million, closing at 871 fils. Fifth was National International Holding with KD 2.9 million, closing at 172 fils.

Arab Real Estate topped the list of the most-gained stocks with a 6.10 percent increase, trading 1.4 million shares to close at 174 fils. Tahseelat followed with a 4.44 percent gain, trading 10,000 shares to close at 141 fils. Oola Fuel came third with a 4.27 percent rise, trading 3.74 million shares to close at 342 fils. Osool ranked fourth with a 4 percent increase, trading 710,700 shares to close at 260 fils. Metals was fifth with a 3.90 percent gain, trading 905,700 shares to close at 160 fils.

On the other hand, Khalij Insurance’s share recorded a decline of 20.53 percent, topping the list of the most-declining stocks, with 8,800 shares traded, reaching a price of 1.208 dinars. It was followed by Midan, which fell 4.91 percent on the trade of just two shares, dropping to a price of 930 fils, then by Sanam, down 4.27 percent with 4.21 million shares traded, closing at 336 fils, and Al Daira, down 3.76 percent with 1.27 million shares traded, falling to a price of 461 fils. Fifth was Watania International Holding, down 3.37 percent, with approximately 16.6 million shares traded.