The Kuwait Stock Exchange exhibited a mixed performance on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as liquidity saw a significant decline to 58.7 million dinars. The market’s varied responses were evident in its indicators; while the general index increased by 29.35 points, or 0.37%, concluding at 7,905 points, the premier market’s index experienced slight gains with an increase of 5.87 points, marking a 0.08% rise to 7,213 points. Meanwhile, the main market faced a small decrease of approximately 5.87 points, settling at 7,213 points with a trading value of 16.35 million dinars.
This mixed performance came with the backdrop of a market capitalization gain of 151.8 million dinars, bringing it to a total of 46.78 billion dinars, up from 46.63 billion recorded during the previous trading session. In total, 129 stocks were traded, with 55 experiencing price increases, while 57 saw declines and 17 remained unchanged. Critical insights into the trading environment showed a decrease in trading activity, illustrated by a reduced trading volume of 197.4 million shares across 14,638 transactions.
Among individual stocks, the notable risers included Bayt Al-Thaqafa, which surged by 11.11%, and Argan, which followed with a 10.87% increase. Other top performers were Injazzat with a 6.32% rise and Munshaat, marking a hefty decline of 60.8%. On the flip side, stocks like First Takaful saw a decrease of 5.65%, serving as an indicator of the volatility within the marketplace.
In terms of sector performance, indices improved for seven sectors, notably led by the resources sector and basic materials sector, climbing by 1.32% and 0.93% respectively. However, six sectors faced downturns, primarily the consumer staples sector, which fell by 3.40%, and the insurance sector, down 0.43%, highlighting the uneven recovery across different sections of the market.
In contrast to the fluctuating market conditions, the National Investments Company (NIC) announced promising annual profits of 23.8 million dinars on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The company’s board confirmed their financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, showcasing remarkable resilience and strategic foresight amid challenging market conditions.
NIC reported net profits reaching 12.1 million dinars, complemented by an additional 11.7 million dinars reclassified from comprehensive income as a result of partial divestments. This translated to a distributable profit equal to 30 fils, marking a significant achievement despite the overall sluggish performance in both local and global economic landscapes throughout 2024.
Khaled Waleed Al-Falah, Chairman of NIC, applauded the year as one filled with noteworthy accomplishments. “The year 2024 was full of distinguished achievements for the company... we reflect our ability to achieve our strategic goals,” Al-Falah stated, highlighting NIC’s commitment to sustainable financial growth through strategic diversification and proactive risk management.
Throughout 2024, NIC maintained positive momentum across all key financial indicators. Even in the face of rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainties surrounding monetary policies, the company succeeded in achieving noteworthy results, including growth in asset quality and profitability metrics. The total assets of NIC stood at 284 million dinars by the end of 2024, with shareholders’ equity amounting to 197.5 million dinars.
While the Kuwait market recorded a positive performance increase of 8%, NIC also highlighted contrasting performances in other regional markets, with Dubai leading at 27.1% and Saudi markets slightly up at 0.6%. However, other exchanges faced declines, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi showing negative performances, underlining the variability in market reactions across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
NIC’s board recommended a cash dividend of 22% on the nominal value of the share, amounting to 22 fils per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. This recommendation underscores the company's strong financial position and commitment to rewarding shareholders, pending approval from the company’s annual general assembly.
In light of these developments, it is clear that while the Kuwait Stock Exchange showcases a disparate performance narrative, companies like NIC exemplify successful adaptation and growth through strategic planning and responsive governance. The outlook for both the stock market and for individual investment companies remains cautiously optimistic as they navigate through the complex interplay of domestic and international economic factors.
