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Dubai market starts quarter-end rally
March 28, 2012--After world shares touched an eight-month high Tuesday on dovish remarks made by Fed chairman Ben Bernanke,
the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index gained 1.86% to reach 1,683.18 points. Emaar (up four percent at Dhs.09) was the most liquid share, while Dubai Islamic Bank closed unchanged. Mazaya lost the most (off 9.40% at Dhs1.35). Around 208m shares were traded, valued at Dhs332m.
Jewelry group Damas soars after bidders put their cards on the table
March 28, 2012--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed at 1698.390 today, up 1.78%, from the previous close.
Global port operator DP World continued its up-and-down trading and added 1.31% to reach $11.58. Depa Limited, the interior designer firm which was responsible for the inner beauty of the world's tallest tower Burj Khalifa (828m), ended even. Dubai-based jewelry giant Damas International jumped 3.66% to close at $0.425. Earlier in the day, Mannai Corporation of Qatar and Egypt's investment EFG-Hermes made a joint cash bid for Damas, valuing the firm at $445m, The National reported. While Mannai already announced its intention for a takeover in January 10 this year, the offer price of $0.45 per share represents a 45% premium compared to the closing before the aforementioned date.
Egypt to offer $3.8bn worth of repurchase agreements
March 28, 2012--Egypt plans to offer a record EGP23bn ($3.8bn) of repurchase agreements today as the government sold more debt than targeted in March amid declining yields, Bloomberg has reported.
The seven-day repos allow holders of government debt to sell them back to the central bank to access funds for a week at 9.75%, according to central bank data. The regulator accepted all EGP19bn of repos last week after receiving bids for EGP22.6bn pounds, the data showed.
Saudi Stock Exchange dips slightly after gauge touched upper Bollinger Bands
March 27, 2012--In line with tiny losses at most GCC markets on Tuesday, the Riyadh-based Tadawul All Share Index (Tasi) ended off 0.20% at 7,767.33 points.
On Monday the Tasi touched the upper Bollinger Bands, which indicated an overbought market which is ripe for a correction. Shares of Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company fell 4.80% to SR19. Earlier in the day, Saudi Kayan announced that it has begun the trial operation of Amine project at its complex in Jubail Industrial City. Market breadth was almost even, as sixty-three shares advanced, while 81 declined.
Qatar shares gain across the board, push market index close to year-to-date break-even
March 27, 2012--The QE 20 Index climbed half a percent higher to reach 8,772.96 points. The exchange's bellwether share Industries Qatar gained 0.57%.
Shares of Qatar Islamic Bank or QIB declined 0.39%. Earlier in the day, QIB announced that it had achieved compliance with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) version 2.0. PCI DSS compliance is required by all merchants and service providers that store, process, or transmit cardholder data and applies to all payment channels, including retail and e-commerce by the Payment Card Industry Council; a consortium of the major card brands i.e. VISA, Master Card, American Express, JCB and Discover. Adhering to the PCI DSS compliance requirements represents a bank’s best protection against card holder data thefts.
Abu Dhabi stock market slips as oil prices remain fickle
March 27, 2012--The ADX General Index slipped 0.11% to 2.574.57 points as listed shares anded mixed.
Real estate bellwether Aldar Properties and energy giant Dana Gas from Sharjah closed even, while International Fish Farm Holding or Asmak advanced for the eighth consecutive day (up 9.97%). Ras al-Khaima-based pharmaceutical producer Julphar fell 4.61%. Around 90m shares were traded, valued at Dhs116m.
While Emaar rebounds, the Dubai bourse falls the second day straight
March 27, 2012--The DFM General Index slipped 0.18% to 1,652.44 points, as DFM shares (off 1.74%),
Tabreed (down 7.60%) and Islamic home financing firm Tamweel (1.63% lower) weighed on the gauge. Earlier in the day, Tabreed said ita had o postpone its annual general meeting to April 4 "due to a lack of quorum". Market bellwether Emaar Properties gained against the trend (up 0.34%).
Tadawul market hard on the heels of Dubai bourse's first quarter performance
March 26, 2012--Contrary to most GCC markets declining on Monday, Saudi investors continued to push the Tadawul All Share Index (Tasi) up.
The gauge added 0.31% to reach 7,782.85 points, although eight sector indexes fell, while six ended higher. Local and regional bellwether Saudi Basic Industries Corporation or Sabic added 0.23%, while Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance Company gained the most (up 9.77%). Year-to-date, the Riyadh-based euqity measure soared 21.27%, while the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index 22.32%.
Abu Dhabi stock market dips amid lacklustre trading
March 26, 2012--The ADX General Index closed 0.40% lower at 2,577.40 points, as telco provider Etisalat fell 0.32%. Aldar Properties,
Dana Gas, Union National Bank and Waha Capital closed even. Some 56.3m shares were traded, valued at Dhs78m.
DP World recaptures $11 as port operator is ready to repay $3bn loan
March 26, 2012--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed off 0.35% at 1654.560 today.
The index tracks 20 liquid stocks listed on DFM, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and NASDAQ Dubai. It has been designed as a hedging and investment mechanism for GCC and international investors. While Depa Ltd. and Damas International closed even, shares of maritime port operator DP World closed 0.10% higher at $11.00. Earlier in the day, DP World announced that it will repay a $3bn revolving loan in April, ahead of its maturity in October this year, Gulf news reported. DP World will use its own cash reserves to pay off the loan.
