Sahem Weekly Trading Report (21-25)-10-2018

Palestine Stock Market PEX this week was dominated with a weak trading movement derived its weakness from the anticipation phase that dominated the investors, with the approach end of the legal period granted by the PEX to the listed companies to disclose their 9M financial data. On the other hand, trading value and volume decreased this week, to trade 1.00 million shares that worth $1.49 million, as a result Al-Quds Index decreased by 0.21% than its previous weekly closing level, to close at the level of 526.67 points. Regarding the significant news this week, the Arab Palestinian Investment Company APIC announced that Mr. Tarek Omar Aggad, Chairman and CEO of APIC, has transferred the amount of 497,062 of his shares in APIC to Gulf Taleed Commercial Services Company, a company he owns.

Regarding the listed companies’ trading for this week, the leading stock of the Arab Palestinian Investment Company APIC topped the PEX after executing a transaction on its stocks during the week, to close at the level of $2.29; up by 0.44% than its previous weekly closing level, following transactions worth $1.37 million. However, the stock of the largest bank in the PEX by market capitalization- Bank of Palestine BOP- followed when its transactions reached $0.29 million, to stabilize at the level of $2.37; without any change than its previous weekly closing level. Moreover, the stock of the largest investment company in the PEX in terms of market capitalization- Palestine Development and Investment Company PADICO - followed with transactions worth $0.23 million, to close at the level of $1.25; down by 1.57% than its previous weekly closing level. Moreover, Palestine Investment Bank PIBC followed with transactions worth $0.18 million, to stabilize at the level of $1.30; without any change than its previous weekly closing level. However, regarding the stock of the largest company in the PEX in terms of market capitalization- Palestine Telecommunications PALTEL- followed with transactions worth $0.14 million, to close at the level of JD4.35; down by 0.69% than its previous weekly closing level.

Regarding the financial statements disclosures, Palestine Securities Exchange Company PSE announced its financial statements for the first nine months of the year 2018, to record profits of $0.67 million compared to $0.36 million in the corresponding period of 2017; up by 82.12%. This followed a decrease in the general and administrative expenses. Moreover, based on the disclosed figured, PSE recorded Book Value BV of $1.21 and  P/BV of 4.09x. In another disclosure, Palestine Investment Bank PIBC noted posting net income attributable to the parent company of $3.50 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared with $2.78 million in the corresponding period of 2017; up by 25.92%. This followed an increase in net interest and commissions. Moreover, based on the disclosed figures PEC recorded Book Value BV of  $1.29 and  P/BV of 1.00x.