The Bahrain Bourse All Share Index posted a positive performance in September 2025, rising one per cent to close the month at 1,948.17 points.
Analysis by Kuwait-based Kamco Invest shows that the monthly gain was driven by heavyweight sectors, with advances in materials (up 1.6pc) and financials (up 1.4pc) more than offsetting declines in four of the seven indices.
The financials sector was boosted by key constituents GFH Financial Group (up 23.7pc) and Solidarity Bahrain (up 4.6pc).
Similarly, the materials index gain matched the rise of its sole constituent, Alba (up 1.6pc). The real estate index also advanced 0.8pc, reflecting a 9.5pc share-price increase in Bahrain Car Park Company.
Conversely, the consumer discretionary index recorded the largest monthly drop, falling 4.6pc to 2,989.1 points, largely due to an 8.8pc decline in Bahrain Duty Free Complex shares.
Trading activity witnessed a sharp uptick during the month. Overall traded volume surged 108.2pc to 51.2 million shares, up from 24.6m in August 2025. Concurrently, the total value of traded shares rose 71.5pc to BD14.9m.
GFH Financial Group dominated trading volume with 20m shares exchanged, followed by Al Salam Bank-Bahrain (5.3m) and Beyon (3.5m). GFH also led value traded at BD8.8m, ahead of Alba (BD2.7m) and Kuwait Finance House (BD1.9m).
According to Bloomberg data, GFH Financial Group (up 23.7pc) was the top monthly gainer, followed by Bahrain Car Park (up 9.5pc) and Solidarity Bahrain (up 4.5pc). The steepest drop was posted by Bahrain Islamic Bank (down 9.6pc).
In economic news, direct investments attracted by the Economic Development Board (EDB) totalled around $1.52 billion during the first nine months of 2025, spread across 75 local and international projects. These investments accounted for 43pc of new projects and 57pc of expansions by existing companies.
Trade data for July 2025 showed that the value of non-oil imports rose 17pc year-on-year to BD544m. However, the total value of non-oil exports saw a slight 1pc fall to BD333m.
Saudi Arabia remained the top destination for non-oil exports, receiving BD80m (24pc of the total). China held its position as the leading source of imports to Bahrain, accounting for BD72m (13pc of overall imports).
Zooming out, GCC equity indices recorded sharp gains in the second half of September 2025, buoyed by a US Federal Reserve rate cut and a significant foreign ownership reform in Saudi Arabia.
The MSCI GCC index registered a 21-month high monthly gain of 4.9pc, closing September at its highest level in nearly three years.
Initial momentum came after the US Fed’s 25 basis point (bps) rate cut, which was immediately mirrored by GCC central banks. The rally accelerated following Saudi Arabia’s announcement it was moving to remove the 49pc foreign ownership cap on its listed companies, triggering steep foreign buying, particularly in bank stocks.
Saudi Arabia was the region’s best performer, with its index surging 7.5pc, marking one of the highest gains among major global financial indices. Boursa Kuwait followed, with the All Share index rising 3.5pc. Oman and Bahrain gained 3pc and 1pc, respectively.
In contrast, Dubai saw the biggest monthly decline, falling 3.7pc, followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which dropped 1.5pc and 0.8pc, respectively.
Year-to-date (YTD) through September 2025, Kuwait remains the top GCC market, logging a 19.5pc gain – one of the highest globally. Oman and Dubai both held YTD gains of 13.2pc.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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