The TUNINDEX closed the March 24, 2026 session in negative territory at 15,539.44 points, shedding 0.29% amid volatile oil markets marked by Brent crude at $103.52 per barrel (+3.6% daily, -4.7% weekly), while the Tunisian dinar unexpectedly strengthened 0.80% against the dollar to 2.9111 TND, according to Conseil du Marché Financier (CMF) data. This benchmark decline occurs as global commodity markets reel from American trade barriers and Middle East geopolitical tensions, creating a challenging environment for net energy importers like Tunisia, which relies on imports for 95% of its energy consumption needs.
Hesitant Market Breadth Amid Global Headwinds
The benchmark TUNINDEX index extended its cautious tone with the TUNINDEX20 declining 0.36% to 6,893.74 points, reflecting selective risk appetite among institutional investors. Tunis stock exchange today witnessed negative market breadth with 18 gainers against 21 decliners and 36 unchanged among 75 active listings, indicating directionless trading despite the international oil rebound. This modest retreat comes paradoxically as crude prices recover from their weekly slump, highlighting the complexity of global commodity headwinds and imported inflation risks affecting the Tunisia stock market's forward valuations.
SOTRAPIL emerged as the session's standout performer, skyrocketing 5.4% to 27.4 TND on hopes of public infrastructure project revivals and road construction investments announced within the 2026 budget framework. This public works and construction company benefits from anticipated government procurement increases, while the commercial real estate sector shows tentative signs of recovery after two years of compression. This contrasts sharply with SIPHAT's plunge of 4.5% to 4.26 TND, dragged down by pharmaceutical margin compression fears amid rising active pharmaceutical ingredient import costs, predominantly denominated in foreign currencies.