Amman, August 2 (Petra) - Listed companies on Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) on Sunday reported a "robust" financial performance for the first half of 2026, driven by broad-based sector expansion, surging trading volumes, and robust foreign investment.
Net profits attributable to shareholders for listed companies rose 14.3% year-over-year to JD1.20 billion for the six months ended June 30, up from JD 1.05 billion in H1 2025, according to ASE CEO Mazen Wathaifi.
In a statement, Wathaifi said this growth marks the "second-highest" first-half earnings result in the exchange’s history, behind only H1 2022, announcing pre-tax profits climbed 10.7% to JD 1.67 billion.
Earnings growth was broad-based across all major market sectors. The services sector led the rally with a dramatic 64.3% increase in net profit, followed by a 17.5% rise in the industrial sector and a 6.7% gain in the financial sector.
As key market benchmarks mirrored this strong momentum, the ASE General Index (ASEGI) surged 11.1% from the end of 2025 to close at 4,012.6 points, while the ASE20 index grew 10.3% and the ASE Total Return Index (ASETR) advanced 16.0%. Investor participation and liquidity experienced a "significant" boost during the period. Total trading volume surged 75% year-over-year, lifting average daily trading values to JD 13.6 million, up from JD 8.8 million in H1 2025. Total market capitalization expanded 8.8% to reach JD 28.8 billion. Highlighting solid international confidence in the Jordanian market, non-Jordanian investors held 46.1% of the exchange's total equity value as of late July 2026. Wathaifi attributed the exchange’s performance to the "broader resilience" of Jordan’s economy and progress under the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV). National economic indicators reinforced this momentum, including 2.9% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026, a 25% increase in total investments, and a 5.8% expansion in exports during the year's first five months. Central Bank foreign reserves surpassed USD27 billion, providing macroeconomic stability while maintaining moderate inflation levels.
Corporate transparency and compliance remained exceptional, as 99% of all 155 listed companies filed their reviewed mid-year financial statements on time via the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) system.
However, the exchange suspended trading on Sunday, August 2, 2026, for two non-compliant firms: Tuhama Financial Investments (THMA) and Arab Investors Union Co for Real Estate Developing (UNAI). Under regulatory rules 15(a) and 15(c), if these companies fail to submit their required reports within three business days, their shares will reopen under restricted conditions, including shortened trading hours and stricter price fluctuation limits.
//Petra// HA
