The Lebanese Bourse Closes in the Green for the Second-Week Running
| 04/12/2015 | 27/11/2015 | % Change | |
| BLOM Stock Index* | 1,172.47 | 1,162.24 | 0.88% |
| Average Traded Volume | 154,085 | 184,818 | -16.63% |
| Average Traded Value | 1,738,719 | 1,793,166 | -3.04% |
The Beirut Stock Exchange is benefitting from the positive political developments witnessed recently as the BLOM Stock Index (BSI) inched up by 0.88% to end the week at 1,172.47 points. The average traded volume fell from 184,818 shares to 154,085 shares while the average traded value declined from $1.79M to $1.74M this week.
As for the market capitalization, it grew from $9.66B to $9.74B this week.
The BSI managed to outperform its regional peers, as the S&P Pan Arab Composite Large-Mid-Cap Index, the Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Index (MSCI), and the S&P AFE 40 Index slumped by 0.17%, 2.25% and 0.34%, respectively.
In the Arab Bourses, Egypt was the top performer with a 5.47% gain followed by a 0.79% uptick for Amman, 0.41% for Saudi Arabia and 0.39% for Abu Dhabi.
The biggest losing Arab stock market was Muscat with a weekly decline of 1.95% followed by a 0.45% drop for the Bahraini bourse.
Back to the Beirut Stock Exchange, the real estate sector captured 55% of the total traded value during the week, the banking sector grasped 45% while the industrial sector took-up a marginal 1%.
In the real estate sector, Solidere A and B shares grew beyond the $11.00 mark by adding a weekly 2.50% and 6.04% to close the session at $11.47 and $11.41, respectively.
In the banking sector, BLOM GDR shares shed a weekly 0.31% to end the week at $9.62 while Bank Audi’s GDR shares added 0.50% to reach $6.00.
As for the performance of preferred shares, the BLOM Preferred Shares Index (BPSI) gained 0.19% to 105.85 points. Bank Audi’s preferred F and G shares increased by 0.10% and 0.40% to $101.50 and $101.10, respectively. Bank Byblos’ preferred 08 and 09 also rose by 0.10% and 0.79% to $101.10 and $101.70, respectively. Bank of Beirut’s preferred I shares gained 0.57% to $26.50 while BLOM’s preferred 2011 shares slid by 0.10% to $10.15.
In the industrial sector, HOLCIM shares slid by 0.20% to $14.97 while Ciments Blanc’s Bearer shares slid from $4.00 to $3.00.
Investor sentiment on the Lebanese bourse has been boosted by positive political news and will continue to do so if further progress is made over the coming period.
