Author
Varsha K
Varsha is a finance professional specializing in market research and investment strategy with strong experience in financial services and comapnies like Morningstar. Her work focuses on analyzing global trends, evaluating opportunities across asset classes, and delivering thoughtful perspectives that help investors make informed decisions.
Articles by Varsha K
Albilad Gold ETF vs. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): Which Gold ETF Fits Your Portfolio?
Compare Albilad Gold ETF and SPDR Gold Shares across structure, costs, performance, and accessibility. Discover which physically backed gold ETF suits GCC investors best.
GLDUS
Morgan Stanley's AI Infrastructure Thesis: Why Power Is the Next Bottleneck
Morgan Stanley identifies electricity supply as the critical bottleneck for AI expansion, projecting a 38 GW power shortfall through 2028 despite $1.4 trillion in hyperscaler capital commitments.
CHHK vs. KWEB: Which China ETF Fits Your Investment Goals?
CHHK and KWEB offer different approaches to China's equity market. CHHK provides Shariah-compliant exposure to Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies, while KWEB focuses on internet and digital platform leaders across multiple exchanges.
CHHKAE
SpaceX Posts $7.8B in First Public Earnings as Lock-Up Period Near End
SpaceX delivered its first public earnings report on August 4, 2026, posting $7.81B in revenue and narrowing losses, though AI segment capex concerns triggered an after-hours sell-off.
AGIXUS
ADX Outperforms the Region as GCC Markets Post a Third Straight Monthly Decline
Abu Dhabi's ADX index rose 1.1% in July, bucking a regional trend as the MSCI GCC Index fell 0.7% for a third consecutive month. Kuwait's Premier Market also gained 1.53%, while most other GCC markets declined amid softer oil prices.
Oil Prices Slide More Than 5% after Trump Delays Iran Strike. Oil ETFs React.
Oil prices dropped more than 5% on August 3, 2026, after President Trump delayed a planned military strike on Iran and signaled renewed diplomatic negotiations. Brent crude fell to $83.32 per barrel while WTI declined to $80, unwinding geopolitical risk premiums built up during July's 25% rally.
KraneShares Adds More Private AI Companies to AGIX ETF and Launches Photonics ETF LUMA.
KraneShares has added Ayar Labs to its flagship AGIX AI ETF and launched the new Photonic and Optical ETF (LUMA), addressing optical connectivity as a critical AI infrastructure bottleneck. The moves capitalize on Goldman Sachs' estimate of a US$154 billion AI optical networking opportunity.
AGIXUS
Active ETFs Hit Record US$500 Billion Net Inflows YTD as Assets Reach US$2.56 Trillion
The global active ETF industry achieved record-breaking growth in the first half of 2026, with $500.88 billion in year-to-date net inflows and total assets reaching $2.56 trillion. This milestone represents 75 consecutive months of net inflows into actively managed ETFs.
U.S. Equity Funds Extend Outflow Streak Ahead of Big Tech Earnings
U.S. equity funds extended outflows to a second consecutive week with $7.34 billion in net sales, as investors grew cautious ahead of major Big Tech earnings and rising oil prices weighed on sentiment.
Alphabet's First Negative Free Cash Flow Shakes Tech Stocks and ETFs
Alphabet's negative free cash flow in Q2 2026 sparked a tech selloff, with investor concerns over accelerating AI infrastructure costs outweighing strong operating results. The QQQ ETF remained highly liquid despite the downturn.
QQQUS
What Morningstar's Q2 2026 Report Reveals About Europe's Active ETF Market
Europe's active ETF market posted record growth in H1 2026, reaching EUR 108.3 billion in assets with 26.5% quarterly growth. Fixed income ETFs are emerging as the next major growth engine, representing 27% of active ETF flows.
Albilad MSCI Saudi Equity ETF vs. Albilad MSCI Saudi Growth ETF: Which Saudi Strategy Fits Your Portfolio?
Albilad Capital offers two complementary Saudi equity ETFs: a broad market-cap-weighted Equity ETF tracking the entire Saudi market, and a targeted Growth ETF focusing on SMID stocks with stronger growth characteristics. Understanding how these strategies differ helps GCC investors build optimal por