Investors at the Bahrain Bourse (BHB) traded 18,057,133 shares worth a total value of BD6,004,599 across 460 deals during this week.
Out of the 27 companies active this week, the share prices of five companies rose, while 11 decreased, and the remaining companies maintained their previous closing prices.
The Bahrain All Share Index closed at 2,064.90 points, marking a decrease of 7.13 points or 0.34 per cent compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Islamic Index saw a slight dip of 0.04pc, closing at 1,027.98 points.
The financial sector dominated the week’s activity, capturing 59.72pc of the total value traded.
Traded value in financial sector reached BD3,586,123 (14,954,535 shares) through 257 deals.
Basic materials sector secured second place with a traded value of BD1,974,925 (1,800,814 shares), representing 32.89pc of the total.
The consumer staples sector was the only gainer this week, rising by 0.79pc, while all other sectoral indices saw declines.
GFH Financial Group ranked first among top performing companies with BD2,817,255 in traded value, accounting for 46.92pc of the weekly total.
Alba followed in second place with BD1,974,925, capturing 32.89pc of the total value.
Al Salam Bank was positioned third with a value of BD396,900 (6.61pc).
Regarding trading volume, GFH led with 66.67pc of the total shares traded, followed by Alba (9.97pc) and Al Salam Bank (9.83pc).
Over the five business days of the week, the daily average for traded value stood at BD 1,200,920. The daily average volume reached 3,611,427 shares, with an average of 92 deals executed per day.
Meanwhile, most stock markets in the Gulf eased yesterday, as weaker oil prices drove selling in thin volume trade as the Christmas holidays kept foreign investors away.
Oil, a driver for the Gulf’s financial markets, settled marginally lower on Wednesday and was on course for the steepest annual decline since 2020 as investors weighed the implication for demand of US economic growth and assessed the risk of supply disruptions from Venezuela and Russia. Lower crude prices and disruptions to oil exports affect the fiscal balances of oil-dependent countries.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index fell 0.1pc, weighed down by a 0.9pc fall in the country’s biggest lender, Saudi National Bank. Elsewhere, shares in oil giant Saudi Aramco were down 0.3pc.
GCC stock markets were mostly negative yesterday. Ahead of the year-end, liquidity could remain limited, said Daniel Takieddine co-founder and CEO, Sky Links Capital Group. Markets are also expected to remain range-bound in the coming sessions.
Dubai’s main share index dropped 0.3pc, dragged down by a 1.4pc fall in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties. In Abu Dhabi, the main index eased 0.1pc. The Qatari benchmark gauge was down 0.3pc, with Qatar Islamic Bank falling 0.7pc.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index declined 0.6pc, with Commercial International Bank losing 1.8pc.
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