Kuwait embraces women traders

" Women will be able to come, discuss market information and watch their own investments "
Wafa Alrasheed
Kuwaiti stock exchange

Wafa Alrasheed, a spokeswoman for the exchange, said the decision had been made following a high number of requests from women.

"Every stock exchange has one trading floor, but because of the nature of our society we have decided to create two," Ms Alrasheed told BBC News Online.

Women have already been allowed to invest in shares over the telephone or through a male relative or stock broker.

But they have been excluded from participating directly in share trading.

"They will now be able to come and sit at their ease, discuss market information and watch their own investments," Ms Alrasheed said.

War threat

The two trading rooms will be linked electronically, and the exchange is considering introducing female stockbrokers as a second step, if there is enough demand.

Kuwait's stock market was one of the world's best performers last year, rising 39%.

And it has risen by almost 4% in the first two weeks of 2003.

The recent surge has increased interest in share trading amongst locals, boosting turnover and the number of market participants.

But Ms Alrasheed was cautious about the recent rally, due to the threat of a US-led war against Iraq.

"The political situation could have a very negative effect on the market," she warned.