Ascent's Farley sets the spotlight on the growth of investment activity by women on the stock market

Taking part in a roundtable discussion during MEED's Middle East Capital Markets 2006 conference, held on 20-21 November 2006 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai, UAE, Peggy Farley, president and CEO of US-based Ascent Capital Management, shed light on the growth of female investment activities on the world's stock markets.

"More women are entering the market every day. There is a clear trend of female entrepreneurs willing to invest more capital in the securities markets, and this trend is also clear in this (Middle East) region," said Farley.

The regional economies are passing through a period of rapid change. Governments are working hard to further liberalise economies, implement political reforms and enhance their capital markets. On the other hand, women, with their growing socio-economic role, are becoming a critical player in these markets.

With the region's GDP projected to rise from $600 billion in 2006 to $1,000 billion in 2010, an increase of 75 per cent, the region is enjoying a period of growth and prosperity unprecedented in its recent history.

"Regional economies are changing rapidly, thus there is a clear change in the role women traditionally play. With enticing capital markets and growing wealth among families and businesses, it is becoming clear that women are grabbing the opportunities that become available,"

added Farley.

Surveys predict a bright economic outlook for the region. But, according to Farley, the region is facing many challenges within its socio-economic framework that need to be dealt with correctly.

"Although there are great challenges, the market should take a closer look at the growing role of women for further development, thus leading to more enhanced and stronger stock markets.

"Nurturing the domestic capital markets can be achieved by encouraging more women into entering these markets and investing their wealth efficiently," highlighted Farley.

"Women can play a critical role in developing the economies; this trend is true as we are having more listed companies run by women, many more women-only events, and more female entrepreneurs. Moreover, women in the US play a very important role in the medical industry, and we should be able to see this in the Middle East where women can play a bigger role in this industry," she ended.

With more than 250 delegates attending the conference, the two-day Middle East Capital Markets 2006 has stirred timely debate on global and regional capital markets by over 51 speakers over 21 sessions.

US-based Ascent Group has launched its $100 million Ascent Medical Technology Fund II, a private equity vehicle aiming to promote the development of the Middle East medical industry. And only recently, it closed on the first deal of this fund.

The Fund invests in US companies that have cutting-edge products and services. It then requires those companies to use 50 per cent or more of the funds to operate or produce their product or service in the Middle East.