The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) ended another week in the red, losing 0.19% over the week to reach 1,166.22 points. Accordingly, the market capitalization fell from $11.52B last week to $11.49B, this week.
In fact, an average of 216,705 shares worth $1.39 million were traded during this week compared to 456,434 shares worth $1.22 million last week.
The S&P Pan Arab Composite Large Mid Cap Index, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and the S&P AFE 40 all registered weekly increases of 0.78%, 0.25% and 0.24%, respectively.
Regionally, the biggest gainers of the week were Egypt, Tunis and Saudi Arabia with respective weekly gains of 6.66%, 1.43% and 2.04%. Meanwhile, the Qatari stock exchange and the Dubai Financial Markets lost 4.83% and 1.61%, respectively over the past week.
On the Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE), the banking sector grasped 75% of the week’s total traded value, while the real estate sector held a stake of 24% while the remaining share was accounted for by the industrial and retail sectors.
In the banking sector, BLOM Bank’s GDR and listed shares declined by a weekly 0.24% and 0.42% to end the week at $12.39 and $11.85, respectively.
Meanwhile, Bank BEMO’s listed shares climbed from last week’s $1.17 to $1.50 this week.
As for the BLOM Preferred Shares Index (BPSI), it lost a weekly 0.03% to 106.48 points on account of a 0.10% slip in the price of Byblos Bank’s Preferred 09 shares to $102.50.
In the real estate sector, Solidere A and B shares fell by 0.97% and 1.58% to end the week at $8.21 and $8.12, respectively.
In the industrial sector, HOLCIM’s listed shares lost 1.29% to $14.56.
On the London Stock Exchange, BLOM Bank’s GDR shares slid by a weekly 0.81% to $12.30 while Bank Audi’s GDR shares gained 1.68% over the week to $6.05.
The market continues to be in wait and see mode as the date of the Paris IV conference approaches, and as the urgency of reform approaches with it.