GCC Investors Guide 2008 (PDF)

Global Investment House is pleased to present the third issue of its “GCC Investors Guide”, for the top 100 companies listed in the GCC stock markets. Publication of this guide intends to serve two purposes. First to put together basic information and financial data of the biggest 100 GCC companies in terms of market capitalization, and to present them in a coordinated and uniformed manner. Secondly to enhance investors’ awareness through comparing financial ratios, thus enable market participants to take enlightened decisions.

The year 2008 proved to be one of the toughest years for stock markets all over the world. Global markets saw record falls in 2008 as the financial turmoil and economic slowdown ended the stock markets boom. GCC bourses were no exception. Though during the first half of the year, the markets performed well, they succumbed to financial crisis during the second half of the year. The biggest regional market – Saudi Arabia – as measured by Tadawul All Share Index ended the year 2008 at 4,803.0 points, thereby recording a decline of 56.5 percent YoY. The Kuwaiti & Qatari markets were also hit hard, as they ended the year 2008 down by 45.4 percent and 24.6 percent respectively. The market capitalization of GCC stocks stood at US$611.3bn (US$1.1 trillion in the end of 2007). The top 100 GCC companies constituted 73.6 percent of that amount, US$449.9bn.