In July, Arab stock markets saw a notable increase in trading activity, with the volume of shares traded jumping by 28.82% compared to the previous month. The total trading volume for the month reached 261.86 billion shares, up from 203.27 billion in June. This surge was primarily fueled by increased activity on the Iraq Stock Exchange, followed closely by Egypt.
Despite the uptick in trading volume, the overall value of these transactions saw a decline. The transaction value fell by 16.82%, dropping to $90.24 billion in July from $108.48 billion in June. Several major markets, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait, experienced reductions in transaction values during this period.
The performance of regional stock markets presented a mixed picture. Egypt’s EGX30 index stood out as a strong performer, recording a gain of 5.85% over the month. Some other exchanges in the region also showed positive returns, contributing to the varied results across the Arab equity markets.
In terms of market capitalization, Arab stock exchanges maintained a relatively steady position. The overall market capitalization experienced a slight increase of 0.06%, bringing the total to approximately $4.31 trillion. This stability in market value occurred despite the fluctuations in trading volumes and transaction values.
The data underscores an increase in trading activity within the region, even as transaction values weakened and major markets presented a mixed performance. The dynamics of these stock exchanges reflect the complex economic landscape of the Arab world, where various factors influence market behavior and investor decisions.