New ESCWA & UAB brief: Major Arab stock markets register value losses of about 25% in the first quarter of 2020

Beirut, 14 May 2020--The Arab region is not only struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact—as deep and devastating as it may be for all aspects of life and all social and economic sectors—it is also facing unprecedented fluctuations in oil prices. Those crises combined have caused losses of about 25% of Arab stock markets value in the first quarter of 2020, according to a new policy brief (attached) by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Union of Arab Banks on the current situation of Arab financial markets and the banking sector in the Arab region.

Heightened volatility in oil markets and the pandemic have lowered investors’ appetite for risk and decreased trading in stock markets, investment, tourism and remittances inflows, rendering future growth prospects beak.

To respond to these repercussions, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti called on Arab sovereign wealth funds to participate in boosting regional economic recovery. “This would actually be a win-win measure, as shifting part of these funds’ global investments towards Arab economies would ease the pandemic’s repercussions and reduce rampant unemployment, while limiting Arab funds’ exposure to the volatility of international financial markets,” she argued.

As for banks in the region, ESCWA and the Union of Arab Banks expect liquidity constraints to adversely affect their deposit growth, funding and overall valuation. They also expect that credit to the private sector will contract by $14.5 billion in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and by $11.3 billion in non-oil middle-income countries, amounting to a decrease of about $26 billion in 2020.

The health and oil crises also decreased the share price values of the largest GCC banks by 25 per cent in the first quarter of 2020. Default rates may reach 10%, up from 5% in 2019.

Dashti stressed on the need for Arab central banks to continue providing adequate liquidity to the financial system at any cost during the relief period and during recovery. “This measure would allow banks to stay solvent and facilitate corporate credit, especially to small and medium enterprises, to avoid mass bankruptcies,” she concluded.

The policy brief is part of a series of impact assessments of COVID-19 undertaken by ESCWA to support Arab Governments in joining efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

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About ESCWA
One of five United Nations regional commissions, ESCWA supports inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Arab States, and works on enhancing regional integration.

For more information:
- Ms. Maryam Sleiman, Public Information Assistant, +961-81-769-888; email: sleiman2@un.org
- Ms. Rania Harb, Public Information Assistant, +961-70-008-879; email: harb1@un.org