GCC markets gear up for additional foreign inflows

Muscat: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) equity markets greeted its investors in a celebratory fashion, recording its highest monthly gains in over two years, according to a new report.
Investor sentiment was bullish, as the influx of foreign funds, uptick in oil prices and expansionary budget policies are all expected to support corporate earnings growth in 2019, the Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) said in its recently released Monthly Markets Review.
The S&P GCC index recorded its best start to a year in recent years, gaining 6.8 per cent for the month, boosted by the strength in Saudi stocks. Saudi Arabia outperformed its GCC peers, rising up by 9.4 per cent in January. Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Kuwait also ended the month positively, gaining 4.1 per cent, 4.0 per cent, 2.6 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively. Dubai market, which was the biggest loser of 2018, witnessed a rise of 1.5 per cent. Oman was the only drag on the index, losing 3.6 per cent for the month.
The strength in the Saudi equity markets was led by the rally in large cap stocks that are expected to be part of the MSCI EM (emerging market) benchmarks after the inclusion of Saudi Arabia into the EM indices. The rebound in oil prices, inflow of foreign funds and the increase in capital expenditure projected in the budget were all positive triggers that helped the country’s equity markets. Qatar was the next best performer, extending its positive performance of 2018 into the New Year.
The Markaz report stated that Ezdan Holdings, Al Rajhi Bank and Samba Financial Group were the top gainers among Blue Chips, rising by 20.4 per cent, 15.7 per cent, and 15.6 per cent, respectively, for the month. Samba, Saudi Arabia’s third largest bank by total assets, witnessed an uptick in prices after reporting a rise in yearly earnings. Al Rajhi Bank’s prices also went up, as Malaysia’s Central Bank gave the nod for Malaysian Industrial Development Finance (MIDF), a state-backed Malaysian lender, to conduct negotiations with Al Rajhi Bank over a potential merger deal.
Oil prices rose by 15.0 per cent during the month, snapping a three-month losing streak. Volatility in the oil markets refused to die down as production cut announcements, concerns over demand and fresh sanctions caused prices to fluctuate. Oil prices surged further towards the close of the month, reacting to the US sanctions on Venezuela’s crude exports.
Market trends
Indications from the state budgets of GCC countries largely suggest that they are gearing up for another year characterised by spending to revive economic growth. Development of non-oil sectors continues to be the common theme among GCC budgets, as they remain upbeat with respect to revenue inflows, with oil prices projected to increase in 2019.
GCC fixed income markets were handed a boost when J.P. Morgan announced that they would be including GCC countries into their Emerging Market Bond Index. Post-announcement, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign debt outperformed similarly rated instruments from other countries. Despite these developments, issuances in the GCC region are expected to fall, considering the limited upside potential in the environment of increasing rates.
In the wake of index inclusion announcements pertaining to GCC markets, foreign inflows have seen a sharp uptick in recent months. With the impending inclusion of Saudi Arabia into the MSCI EM index and GCC countries into J.P Morgan’s emerging market bond index expected to take place during the year, GCC countries are well poised to see a huge influx of foreign funds.
While undoubtedly being a positive sign, GCC countries must not be carried away by the passive inflows and must focus on pursuing further reforms to ensure the sustenance of foreign capital and the development of the economy.