Arab stock markets witnessed a notable surge in trading activity during July, with the number of shares traded rising by an impressive 28.82% compared to June. This increase saw the total trading volume reach 261.86 billion shares, up from 203.27 billion shares the previous month. The Iraq Stock Exchange was a major contributor to this upswing, with Egypt also playing a significant role in driving the increased activity.
Despite the heightened trading activity, the total value of transactions in the region saw a decrease of 16.82%, falling from $108.48 billion in June to $90.24 billion in July. This decline in transaction value was observed across several prominent markets, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait.
The performance of regional stock markets presented a mixed picture. Egypt’s EGX30 index emerged as a standout, recording a gain of 5.85% during July. Other regional exchanges also posted gains, reflecting varied performance across the Arab equity markets.
In terms of market capitalization, the combined value of Arab stock exchanges held steady, showing a slight increase of 0.06% to approximately $4.31 trillion. This stability in market capitalization occurred alongside the divergence between increased trading volume and decreased transaction value.
The July figures underscore a complex landscape in Arab stock markets, where trading activity is rising but the value of transactions is not following suit. This highlights the nuanced dynamics at play across different markets within the region, with some areas showing robust performance while others face declines.