The Jordan Strategy Forum’s (JSF) Jordan Investor Confidence has increased by 2.96 points from 144.6 points in December 2020, reaching 147.6 points in January 2021.

On average, confidence in the Real Economy has decreased from 144.6 points in December 2020 to 134.6 points in January 2021.

The capital of registered companies has also increased from JD5.82 million December 2020 to JD 6.98 million in January 2021, while the number of companies registered increased from 363 companies in December 2020 to 415 companies in January 2021, according to a JSF statement.

The manufacturing quantity production index decreased from 87.30 points in December 2020 to 86.00 points in January 2021, and the number of construction permits decreased from 2,393 permits to 2,234 permits.

The total tax from the real estate volume went down from JD8.90 million to JD4 million.

 Meanwhile, confidence in the Monetary System witnessed an increase from 182.2 points to 191.3 points, marking its highest value in the last four years.

The Central Bank of Jordan gross foreign reserves dropped from JD13.20 billion to JD13.06 billion, while interest rate differential between the Jordanian Dinar and the US Dollar remained at 2.41 per cent in January 2021.

The statement also noted that the value of returned cheques went down from JD130.2 million to JD105.3 million. 

Moreover, Confidence in the Financial System increased from 107.1 points in December 2020 to 129.8 points in January 2021.

The Amman Stock Exchange’s (ASE) Weighted Index reached 3,168.04 points in January 2021, thereby increasing by 118.47 points from the previous month, said the statement.

"Purchased-to-Sold shares by non-Jordanians” ratio in the ASE increased from 85 per cent in December 2020 to reach 98 per cent in January 2021.

The growth in private sector credit increased from -0.1 per cent to 0.4 per cent, concluded the statement.