The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) declined by 1.22% to reach 1,000.03 points over the past 2 weeks. The market capitalization declined from $9.84B, two weeks ago, to $9.72B this week.
On average, 77,579 shares worth $617,310 were traded on the BSE the past 2 weeks compared to 82,464 shares worth $748,380, in the week ending August 17.
Regionally, during the past 2 weeks, the S&P AFE 40, the S&P Pan Arab Composite Large Mid Cap Index, and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index increased by 1.80%, 1.30%, and 3.55%, respectively.
In the Arab world, the bourses of Egypt, Abu Dhabi and Qatar rose by 4.25%, 2.06%, and 3.07%, respectively.
On the Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE), the banking sector grasped 67.48% of the total trading value, while the real estate and industrial sectors grasped 30.47% and 2.05%, respectively.
In the banking sector, during the past two weeks, Audi GDR shares fell by 0.96% to end the week at $5.15. Moreover, BLOM GDR shares and BLOM listed shares dropped by 3.42% and 5.28% to end the week at $9.31 and $9.33, respectively. Byblos listed shares dropped by 0.70% to $1.41.
On the London Stock Exchange, the GDR shares of BLOM Bank by 3.06%, over the past 2 weeks, to $9.5.
As for the Blom Preferred shares Index (BPSI), it recorded a loss of 0.36%, thereby ending the week at 91.85 points. In details, the downtick over the past 2 weeks is attributed to the:
In the real estate sector, Solidere A and B shares gained 2.25% and 2.11% to stand at $6.82 and $6.76, respectively.
In the industrial sector, HOLCIM’s listed shares increased by 2.85% to end the week at $16.99.
The first full week of trading after the Eid el Adha holiday showed subdued activity on the Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE); the downward trend is likely to be extended in the coming weeks if a new government is not swiftly formed.