Connect with us

Business

Markaz Market Maker Desk Solidifies Leadership with Strong 2024 Performance

Published

on


KUWAIT CITY, Apr 16: Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz” has reinforced its financial market ‎leadership through the exceptional performance of its Market Maker Desk in 2024. The ‎desk successfully traded KD 762 million, accounting for 33.4%, on average, of the total ‎trading value within the market maker portfolio, and representing 5.1% of the total market ‎trading value on Boursa Kuwait. These results highlight Markaz’s expertise in market ‎making and its ability to drive liquidity, enhance market efficiency, and create tangible ‎value for a diverse range of blue chip and small-sized companies.With a diversified portfolio ‎encompassing 15 listed companies across various sectors, Markaz continues to lead among ‎Kuwait’s largest market makers.‎

Throughout 2024, Markaz played a leading role in maintaining or securing Premier Market ‎positions for 10 listed companies in Kuwait. Two additional companies, Combined Group ‎Contracting Co. and Al Eid Food Co., also entered the watchlist for Premier Market ‎eligibility. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of Markaz’s market-making ‎strategies in strengthening the market positioning of its portfolio companies.‎

Backed by deep sectoral expertise and advanced trading infrastructure, Markaz is one of the ‎largest market-making desks in Kuwait. The company continues to lead in providing ‎financial solutions that enhance stability, price discovery, and overall trading activity. ‎Markaz was also among the first financial institutions in Kuwait to obtain a Market Maker ‎license from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), reflecting its commitment to fostering a ‎well-functioning and liquid financial market. The company’s approach to market making is ‎rooted in a data-driven strategy that ensures listed companies meet liquidity requirements ‎for Premier Market status while simultaneously contributing to a dynamic and efficient ‎trading environment.‎

Mr. Azzam B. Al-Otaibi, Assistant Vice President, MENA Equities at Markaz said: “We are ‎proud to be among the first financial institutions to obtain a Market Maker license from ‎Kuwait’s Capital Market Authority (CMA). Today, our market maker portfolio comprises of a ‎diverse set of 15 companies across different segments of Boursa Kuwait, 10 of which are ‎listed on the Premier Market. Over the past year, we have played a key role in supporting ‎consistent trading activity and enhancing overall trading efficiency across our portfolio.”‎

Mr. Al-Otaibiadded: “Market making continues to have a profound impact, not only on local ‎investors and the Kuwaiti market but also on the international stage. Increased trading ‎activityhas helped position companies in our portfolio for inclusion in key global indices, ‎such as the FTSE Emerging Markets Index and the KIA Shariah Index, further reinforcing ‎Kuwait’s position in the global financial landscape.”‎

With over 50 years of leadership in financial services, Markaz has consistently been at the ‎forefront of investment banking and asset management in the region. The company has ‎pioneered a range of innovative financial products and services, including Mumtaz, Kuwait’s ‎first domestic mutual fund; MREF, the first real estate investment fund in Kuwait; and Forsa ‎Financial Fund, the first options market maker in the GCC since 2005. Markaz also launched ‎the GCC Momentum Fund, the first passive fund of its kind in Kuwait and the wider GCC, ‎which was awarded Best Momentum Fund Innovation by Global Finance in its first year. Its ‎commitment to excellence and strategic market-making expertise continues to support the ‎growth and development of Kuwait’s capital markets, reinforcing its reputation as a leader ‎in financial innovation.‎

As Kuwait’s capital markets evolve, Markaz remains committed to expanding its market-‎making role and empowering listed companies with the tools needed to thrive in a ‎competitive financial environment.Markaz’s role as market maker is based on its firm belief ‎in the importance of this tool on the financial markets and the shares of listed companies. ‎The market maker service aim to create a balance between supply and demand, bridge the ‎gap between the buying and selling prices, thus narrowing down bid-ask spreads to enhance ‎trading efficiency. Market making can positively affect companies’ borrowing costs, andaids ‎in price discovery. Market making services also support the overall development of the ‎Kuwaiti economy by motivating companies to list their shares on the national stock ‎exchange.‎

Business

World markets mixed, Japan’s shares dip after election leaves Ishiba’s future in doubt

Published

on

By

XEH105

A person stands near an electronic stock board, left top, showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm on July 22, in Tokyo. The traffic signs read: No Crossing. (AP)

BANGKOK, July 22, (AP): World shares were mixed on Tuesday after U.S. stock indexes inched to more records at the start of a week of profit updates from big U.S. companies. Germany’s DAX lost 0.5% to 24,186.14 and the CAC 40 in Paris gave up 0.4% to 7,768.46. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower, to 9,009.34. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were virtually unchanged.

In Asian trading, Japan’s benchmark surged and then fell back as it reopened from a holiday Monday following the ruling coalition’s loss of its upper house majority in Sunday’s election. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.1% to 39,774.92. Analysts said the market initially climbed as investors were relieved that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to stay in office despite the setback

. But the election’s outcome has added to political uncertainty and left his government without the heft needed to push through legislation. A breakthrough in trade talks with the US might win Ishiba a reprieve, but so far there’s been scant sign of progress in negotiating away the threat of higher tariffs on Japan’s exports to the US beginning Aug 1.

“Relief may be fleeting. Ishiba’s claim to leadership now rests on political duct tape, and history isn’t on his side. The last three LDP leaders who lost the upper house didn’t last two months,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.4% to 25,082.78, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.6% to 3,581.86.

South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.3% to 3,169.94, with investors concerned over the Aug. 1 deadline for making a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump or facing 25% tariffs on all the country’s exports to the US. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1% to 8,677.20.

India’s Sensex gained 0.1%, while In Thailand, the SET sank 1.1% after the government named Vitai Ratanakorn as the new future governor of the central bank. He is viewed as likely to be less independent than the current governor, raising concerns about the bank’s independence, analysts said. Vitai will replace Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, when his term as governor ends in September.  

Continue Reading

Business

MEW gets CAPT approval to link external sites, NDCC

Published

on

By

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has obtained approval from the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) to issue a tender for linking the external sites of the ministry with the National Data Control Center (NDCC), say sources from the ministry. Sources indicated that this tender is included in the contracts of the ministry for the current fiscal year and are scheduled to be implemented by the Planning, Training and Information Systems Sector. Sources revealed that the tender is for linking the external branches with the data center in the main ministry building and the NDCC in order to allow the exchange of information and provision of electronic services.

Sources pointed out that “subject to the approval of CAPT, the tender will be announced and a date will be set for specialized companies to submit their bids, select the winning bid and implement the project under the regulations.” Sources added the ministry intends to install five main power transformer stations for the Automobile Circuit Project — Rawda Block Three, Kabd C, cow farms, Sharq Block Four and Al- Arabi Club; in addition to supplying and extending the necessary underground cables to feed the five planned stations through two tenders: the first for the stations and the second for the cables. Sources said the two tenders aim to provide the energy needed to expand the high-voltage and ultra- high-voltage electrical networks resulting from the increased demand for electricity in the aforementioned areas, as well as to provide electricity continuously throughout the day. Moreover, the ministry also confirmed the start of electricity connection in Al-Mutlaa Residential City (N1 District – parts of Block One; in cooperation with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). It reiterated that it is now receiving applications to connect electricity to 251 plots

By Mohammad Ghanem
 Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff 

Continue Reading

Business

DGCA of Kuwait and Japan Take Off on a New Chapter of Aviation Cooperation

Published

on

By

DGCA of Kuwait and Japan Take Off on a New Chapter of Aviation Cooperation

Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah receives the Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Jaber Al- Sabah said Sunday that the DGCA looks forward to promoting cooperation with Japan in civil aviation. Sheikh Humoud made the remarks while welcoming Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of civil aviation, the DGCA said in a press release. He underlined the importance of deepening the distinguished ties between both friendly countries, praising Japan’s advanced experience in technology and aviation industry, it said. For his part, the Japanese Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the Kuwaiti official for his hospitality, saying that his country is interested in furthering cooperation with the State of Kuwait in aviation, in a way that contributes to exchanging expertise and achieving integration in the fields that concern both sides. (KUNA)

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 SKUWAIT.COM .