Kuwait Stock Exchange ends the week with a broad rise... Market capitalization increases to 53.56 billion dinars
- “Al-Shal”: Institutions and companies lead market participants, with Kuwaitis accounting for 83.2% of the value of purchased shares
The Kuwait Stock Exchange witnessed diverse developments in trading activities during the week ending last Thursday, characterized by selective buying, profit-taking, waves of speculation, and a focus on bank stocks, amid positive performance across leading sectors. There was also specific interest in shares of a Takaful insurance company and another in the entertainment sector, which directly impacted general market indicators, particularly those related to liquidity.
Market trading during the week featured calculated buying and selling movements that had a positive impact on a wide range of stocks, especially small and mid-cap stocks listed on the Main Market. Some of these stocks achieved notable increases in their market capitalization. Additionally, one trading session saw positive performance from specific bank sector stocks, which bolstered and expanded market gains.
It was evident that the market responded positively to the ongoing effects of a package of economic stimuli, as well as to announcements by global financial institutions regarding the resilience of the Kuwaiti economy and the strong financial solvency of most listed companies, particularly banks, certain operating companies, and the telecommunications sector, which is experiencing sustainable growth. This contributed to restoring confidence in the stock market.
This positive market performance pushed general indices to record collective gains, led by the First Market Index, particularly in the opening session of the trading week. The index benefited from frenzied buying momentum on selective stocks that underwent changes in ownership, which was reflected in trading activity.
Investment portfolios continue to play a fundamental and calculated role regarding certain operating stocks in leading sectors of the Elite Market (First Market). The positive performance trajectory of these 8,330 portfolios, managed by 38 companies, is expected to continue, with their movements anticipated to contribute to higher returns following positive results in the first half of 2026, which amounted to approximately KD 18.6 billion (about $56.9 billion), according to Capital Markets Authority data.
As the trading week concluded, the market capitalization of shares reached approximately KD 53.56 billion (about $163.89 billion), compared to KD 52.99 billion (about $162.14 billion), representing a growth rate of 1.07 percent, or approximately KD 567 million (about $1.73 billion).
For his part, a report by Al-Shal Consulting Company on Saturday stated that the institutions and companies sector remains the largest participant in the stock exchange, with its share increasing to account for 67.4 percent of the total value of sold shares, compared to 61.4 percent for the same period in 2025, and 66.9 percent of the total value of purchased shares, compared to 63 percent for the same period in 2025.
The report, based on recent data issued by the Kuwait Clearing Company regarding trading volumes for the period from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026, published on the stock exchange’s website according to traders’ nationality and category, indicated that the institutions and companies sector sold shares worth KD 9.050 billion (about $27.693 billion).
It added that the institutions and companies sector purchased shares worth KD 8.988 billion (about $27.503 billion), making their net trading the most heavily sold, with a net outflow of approximately KD 61.543 million (about $188.321 million).
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The report indicated that the individual sector ranked second as the largest contributor to market liquidity, with its share declining. It accounted for 30 percent of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 35.1 percent in the same period of 2025, and 29.5 percent of the total value of shares sold, compared to 36.7 percent in the same period of 2025.
It noted that individual investors purchased shares worth 4.033 billion dinars (approximately $12.340 billion), while selling shares worth 3.959 billion dinars (approximately $12.114 billion), resulting in a net trading position of buying (net buyers) amounting to approximately 74.077 million dinars (approximately $226.675 million).
The report further stated that the client accounts (portfolios) sector ranked third among contributors, with its share rising. It accounted for 2.6 percent of the total value of shares sold, compared to 1.4 percent in the same period of 2025, and 2.6 percent of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 1.3 percent in the same period of 2025.
It added that the client accounts (portfolios) sector sold shares worth 349.315 million dinars (approximately $1.068 billion), while purchasing shares worth 349.057 million dinars (approximately $1 billion), resulting in a net trading position of selling (net sellers) amounting to approximately 258,000 dinars (approximately $789,000).
The report indicated that the investment funds sector was the last contributor to market liquidity, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total value of shares sold, compared to 0.5 percent in the same period of 2025, and approximately 0.4 percent of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 0.5 percent in the same period of 2025.
It added that the investment funds sector sold shares worth 68.494 million dinars (approximately $209.591 million), while purchasing shares worth 56.219 million dinars (approximately $172.030 million), resulting in a net trading position of selling (net sellers) amounting to approximately 12.275 million dinars (approximately $37.561 million).
The report stated that a characteristic of the Kuwait Stock Exchange is its continued status as a local market, with Kuwaiti investors being the largest participants. They purchased shares worth 11.168 billion dinars (approximately $34.174 billion), thereby accounting for 83.2 percent of the total value of shares purchased, compared to 84.5 percent in the same period of 2025.
It added that Kuwaiti investors sold shares worth 10.857 billion dinars (approximately $33.222 billion), accounting for 80.9 percent of the total value of shares sold, compared to 87.5 percent in the same period of 2025, resulting in a net trading position of buying (net buyers) amounting to approximately 310.367 million dinars (approximately $949.723 million).
The report noted that the share of other investors in the total value of shares sold amounted to approximately 2.357 billion dinars (approximately $7.212 billion), representing 17.6 percent of the total value of shares sold, compared to 10.8 percent in the same period of 2025.
It indicated that the value of shares purchased by other investors amounted to approximately 2.092 billion dinars (approximately $6.401 billion), representing 15.66 percent, compared to 14 percent in the same period of 2025, resulting in a net trading position of selling (net sellers) amounting to approximately 265.309 million dinars (approximately $811.845 million).
The report clarified that the share of investors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the total value of shares sold amounted to approximately 1.6 percent, compared to 1.7 percent in the same period of 2025, valued at 212.167 million dinars (approximately $649.231 million).
He stated that the value of shares purchased by investors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amounted to approximately 167.109 million dinars (around $511.353 million), representing about 1.2 percent, compared to 1.5 percent for the same period in 2025, with their net trading activity being sales totaling around 45.058 million dinars (approximately $137.877 million).
He noted that the relative distribution among nationalities had changed from previous periods, with Kuwaitis now accounting for about 82 percent, traders of other nationalities 16.6 percent, and traders from GCC countries 1.4 percent, compared to 86 percent for Kuwaitis, 12.4 percent for traders of other nationalities, and 1.6 percent for traders from GCC countries during the same period last year.
He pointed out that the number of active trading accounts rose by about 16.6 percent between the end of December 2025 and the end of August 2026, compared to a 46.2 percent increase between the end of December 2024 and the end of August 2025.
The report by Al-Shal indicated that the number of active trading accounts reached approximately 55,569 by the end of August, representing 11.7 percent of total accounts, compared to around 53,694 accounts at the end of July 2026, which accounted for 11.3 percent of total accounts for that month, marking a 3.5 percent increase.
He noted that the Kuwait Stock Exchange remained local, with the largest share held by local investors, and that interest from investors outside the GCC countries continues to exceed that of their counterparts within the GCC.
