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Qatar Exchange advances as investors await more earnings figures
July 10, 2012--The QE 20 Index ended up 0.30% at 8,271.79 Tuesday, mostly driven by gains in the insurance and real estate sector.
General Insurace closed as one of the top gainers (5.62% higher at QR47). The country's largest lender Qatar National Bank or QNB did not join the market rebounnd and fell 0.10% to finish the day at QR131.90. QNB started last Thursday the earnings season when it revealed a net profit of QR4.1bn for the first half of 2012, representing a 17.1% increase in comparison to QR3.5bn for the same period last year.
Sorouh Real Estate tests support-level at one Dirham
July 10, 2012--The Abu Dhabi equity gauge ADXGI ended its five-day losing streak by declining 0.15% Tuesday, closing at 2,474.97.
Market bellwether Emirates Telecommunication or Etisalat fell 0.22% to Dhs9.24. Abu Dhabi's second developer Sorouh Real Estate fell briefly below Dhs0.99 but eventuall closed at Dhs1.01 or off one percent. The share's 2012-high was reached on March 13 after Sorouh and Aldar Properties announced they entered into merger talks. Trading activity at the ADX remained dull but improved compared to the start of July. Around 43m securities were traded, valued at Dhs61.3m.
Arabtec withstands Dubai market's ebb and flow-mode
July 10, 2012--Despite the increase in market volatility the Dubai Financial Market's construction heavyweight Arabtec ended flat at Dhs1.28. Emaar Properties,
as the most liquid share, slipped 0.33% to Dhs3.05. Islamic home financing company Tamweel also closed even at Dhs1.28. Earlier in the day, Tamweel said in a statement it confirms media reports from June 19 2012 that it has not concluded any settlement any settlement arrangement with Al Mazaya Holding on the project "The Villa" in 2011. Some 77.8m shares were traded, valued at Dhs101.3m.
Saudi Airlines Catering Company accomplishes IPO mission
July 9, 2012--In Riyadh, the Tadawul All-Share Index lost 93.13 points or 1.43% to close at 6,756.99 following weak input from markets in Japan and Europe.
The decline was broad as 17 out of 155 symbols traded advanced while 132 fell in value. Sabic fell 1.12% to SR88.50. Shares of Saudi Airlines Catering Company celebrated its trading debut on Monday after the firms successfully completed a $347m IPO, floating 30% of its capital. The shares closed at SR62. According to the Saudi Gazette, the firm offered 24.6m shares between June 18 and 24 at a price of SR54 per share. Banque Saudi Fransi closed flat at SR34.10. Earlier in the day. the lender said that net income during the first six months of 2012 amounted to SR1.546bn compared to SR1.490bnfor the same period last year with an increase of 3.8%. Commenting on the performance, Banque Saudi Fransi said in a statement to the bourse "The reason for the increase in the net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period last year is the increase in the operating income."
Kuwait bourse risks of falling into the year-to-date-red
July 9, 2012--The KSE Market Index declined by another half a percentage point Monday, closing at 5,842.19 points as oil prices (DME Oman crude)
fell by $1.10 to $96.82. Palms Agro Production Co. adavnced the most (up 9%), while comsumer services and oil and gas shares weighed on the gauge. Arab Insurance Group posted the largest declined (down 10.42%).
Industries Qatar enters into Algerian iron steel joint venture
July 9, 2012--In Doha, the Qatar Exchange 20 Index declined 0.31% to 8,247.49 points.
The country's second lender by assets Commercial Bank of Qatar was one of the few gainers in the financial segment, closing 0.43% higher at QR69.50. Shares of Industries Qatar slipped 0.40% to QR131.50. Earlier in the day, the bourse's bellwether confirmed media reports that Industries Qatar will built in the east of Algeria an iron and steel factory with a 5 million tonnes-a-year capacity. The joint venture will be held 49% by Qatar and 51% by Algeria. Financial details were not disclosed.
Abu Dhabi bourse advances the fifth session straight
July 9, 2012--The ADX General Index gained 0.14% Monday to close at 2,478.67 points.
Market heavyweight Emirates Telecommunications or Etisalat edged up by 0.11% to hit Dhs9.22. Developers and merger candidates Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Eastate fell to close at Dhs1.13 (off 0.90%) and Dhs1.01 (down one percent), respectively. Some 31m shares were traded, valued at Dhs45.2m.
Dubai market struggles with barrier at 1,500 points
July 9, 2012--In line with a sluggish debit of the week in Asia and Eurooe, the Dubai Financial Market General Index ended 0.42% lower at 1,491.95 points Monday.
Market bellwether Emaar Properties fell 0.65% to Dhs3.06. Five out of 23 securities traded advanced, while 15 declined and 3 ended flat. Gulf General Investment Company or GGICO gained the most, finishing up 3.75% to reach Dhs0.36. Around 70m shares worth Dhs106.4m changed hands.
Muscat bourse rebounds, ends four-day losing streak
July 05, 2012--The Omani stock exchange's MSM30 Index closed Thursday trading with a gain of 0.36% and ended at 5,577.29 points.
National Bank of Oman topped the charts, closing 2.50% higher at OR0.288. Oman's banking sector got a boost from the government after it allowed Islamic banking services in May last year. Shares of Bank Muscat gained 0.92%, finishing at OR0.551. Earlier in the day, Zawya reported that Bank Muscat "is all set to raise OR96.m from a rights issue aimed at enhancing Tier 1 capital. The bank is offering 226.5 million shares at 0.427 baisa per share comprising a nominal value of 100 baisa, premium of 325 baisa and issue expense of 2 baisa per share." The proceeds will be used to finance the lender's expansion and its the Islamic window in particular.
Investors hail Qatar National Bank's half-year results
July 5, 2012--The QE 20 Index advanced 0.16% to reach 8,267.36 points Thursday.
Qatar National Bank or QNB, the Gulf state's largest lender by assets, closed 0.90% higher at QR133.80. Yesterday, QNB revealed a net profit of QR4.1bn for the first half of 2012 a 17.1% increase in comparison to QR3.5bn for the same period last year.
