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
Renewed US-Iran Tensions Reshape GCC ETF Performance
Renewed US-Iran tensions have reshaped GCC ETF performance, with UAE broad-market funds leading at +2.45% MTD while Qatar's QE Index ETF fell 9.0%, reflecting investor repositioning toward diversified equity and defensive fixed-income strategies.
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H1 2026 Global ETF Flows Reach Record Highs as Momentum Accelerates
Global ETF markets reached an all-time high of $23.08 trillion in H1 2026 with $1.07 trillion in net inflows, while GCC-listed ETFs recorded $16.1 million in outflows, reflecting the region's concentrated market structure.
IBM's Historic Sell-Off and the Quantum Disconnect
IBM plunged 26% on July 14, 2026, marking its worst trading day in nearly six decades after pre-announcing weaker-than-expected Q2 results and wiping out $70 billion in market value. The sell-off highlights the disconnect between long-term quantum computing optimism and disappointing near-term earni
UAE and Saudi Arabia Lead Arab FDI Rankings in 2025
The UAE and Saudi Arabia accounted for 67.7 percent of Arab FDI inflows in 2025, reinforcing the structural case for GCC capital markets and ETFs tracking them despite a 10 percent regional decline.
SpaceX Joins the Nasdaq-100: Implications for Global ETFs and GCC Investors
SpaceX achieved the fastest-ever Nasdaq-100 inclusion just 15 days after its IPO, automatically pulling the $2 trillion company into hundreds of global ETFs. GCC investors holding Nasdaq-100 index funds now gain automatic exposure to the space exploration giant.
Oil Prices Today: What They Mean for Oil ETFs and GCC Investors
Brent crude rallied to $79 per barrel following U.S. strikes and Iranian tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, while OPEC+ continues restoring production. For GCC investors, the market remains caught between geopolitical risks and rising supply fundamentals.
Ghaf Benefits and UAE Pension Schemes to Boost GCC Capital Markets and ETFs
Ghaf Benefits, launched by Abu Dhabi-based Lunate, introduces the UAE's Alternative End-of-Service Benefits Scheme, replacing traditional lump-sum gratuity with monthly contributions to regulated investment funds offering six diversified strategies.
Egypt’s Markets Gain Support as Its Football Team Captures Hearts at the World Cup
Egypt reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF unlocking $1.64 billion in fresh financing, with the fund raising its FY2026/27 real GDP growth forecast to 4.6%. The milestone reflects steady progress in the country's economic reform program despite inflation and geopolitical headwinds.
Lunate USGRWTH ETF vs. SP Fund SPUS ETF: The Key Differentiator is MAG7
USGRWTH and SPUS offer Shariah-compliant U.S. equity exposure, but differ significantly in MAG7 allocation, trading venue, and investor suitability. USGRWTH provides local ADX access for GCC investors, while SPUS offers greater liquidity and scale on NYSE.
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GCC Capital Markets Quarterly Review: Q2 2026
GCC equity markets experienced elevated volatility in Q2 2026 as geopolitical tensions eased and oil prices fell 38.4%. Dubai led regional performance with 9.6% gains, while oil-sensitive markets like Muscat declined 8.1%.
Top Shariah ETFs Index Providers: The Rulebooks Behind Islamic Investing.
Shariah-compliant ETFs in the GCC rely on specialized index providers and Shariah Supervisory Boards to screen eligible investments. MSCI Islamic indices apply business-activity and financial-ratio screens to ensure compliance with Islamic finance principles.
Saudi PMI Hits Four-Month High as Consumer Spending growth 6%
Saudi Arabia's PMI reached 53.3 in June, its strongest reading in four months, driven by resilient domestic demand and improved business confidence. The Kingdom's economic resilience is significantly influencing GCC-focused ETFs as it accounts for the largest share of regional equity benchmarks.