11 Feb, 2019Brokerage House Securities leads Nasdaq Dubai equity futures market activity

·BHS is most active brokerage for Saudi futures

·Success comes amid investor awareness campaign conducted jointly with Nasdaq Dubai

BHS has also been the most active broker in trading Saudi single stock equity futures since the exchange launched these one month ago on January 9, 2019, with a share of more than 90% by value excluding liquidity provision.

BHS’ successful activity comes amid an investor awareness campaign launched jointly by Nasdaq Dubai and BHS last year aimed at expanding public understanding of the benefits of equity futures.

Abdul Hadi Al Sadi, Managing Director of BHS, said: "Interest in trading Nasdaq Dubai’s equity futures market is increasing rapidly among our GCC and overseas clients, many of which now include the futures contracts as a key component of their investment portfolio. The futures provide them with unique tools to gain exposure to the UAE and Saudi equity markets and we look forward to working on behalf of a growing number of institutional and individual investors who appreciate the flexibility that the exchange’s futures provide."

Advantages of futures trading include leverage, which magnifies the financial outcome of an investment, and the ability to make gains in both a rising and falling market. Futures can also be used to hedge existing investments and manage cash flow.

Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of Nasdaq Dubai, said: "As one of the UAE’s most prominent brokers, BHS’s contribution is key to driving the growth of futures trading for the benefit of investors by raising awareness of the market across the capital markets community. We will increase our collaboration with BHS as we expand our derivatives market further in coming

months and years to include more single stock and index futures products as well as options covering a range of GCC and regional markets."

Launched in September 2016, Nasdaq Dubai’s derivatives market currently offers single stock futures on 17 leading UAE-listed companies including Emaar Properties and First Abu Dhabi Bank, as well as 12 Saudi single stock futures including Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Al Rajhi Bank. The market also includes futures on the DFMGI index of Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the ADI index of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and the MSCI United Arab Emirates Equity Index. Futures on the FTSE Saudi Arabia Index will be launched later this month subject to regulatory approval.

BHS is active across the UAE capital markets and is part of the Abu Dhabi-based KBBO investment group, which has a diverse portfolio of interests and operates across the Middle East.