AED1 billion worth of net foreign investments were recorded during the first quarter of 2017 in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, ADX, compared with AED1.7 billion in 2016.

Foreign investors bought 3.9 billion shares equivalent to AED8 billion, and sold AED3.8 billion shares equivalent to AED7 billion.

Institutional investment recorded net trading worth AED100 million in the first quarter buying 2.4 billion shares equivalent to AED7 billion and selling 2.8 billion shares equivalent to AED6.9 billion.

By the end of the first quarter of 2017, ADX index closed at 4443 points, showing a decrease of 2.3 percent and 103 points in comparison with the end of 2016.

Trading value by the end of the first quarter of 2017 increased by 7.7 percent to reach AED17.3 billion, compared with AED16.1 billion by the end of the first quarter in 2016. Trading volume reached 10.7 billion shares compared with 10.9 billion shares during the same period of 2016.

Total market capitalisation of companies listed on ADX reached AED459 billion, of which AED429 billion were for local listed companies, compared with AED458 billion during the first quarter of 2016, of which AED431 billion was for local listed companies.

By the end of first quarter of 2017, total number of investors in ADX reached 960,000. Around 1230 new investor numbers were issued during the first quarter of 2017, compared with 1095 in the first quarter of 2016. 1098 numbers were issued for individuals and 132 numbers for institutions.

UAE investors were issued 539 new numbers, 66 numbers were issued for GCC investors, 299 numbers were issued for Arab investors, and 326 for other nationalities.