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Gulf Petroleum Investment leads Kuwait market rebound
February 9, 2012--The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) Market Index advanced the second day straight, closing a quarter per cent higher at 5,684 points.
Shares of Gulf Petroleum Investment gained the most (up 9.5%). Islamic bank Kuwait Finance House declined slightly to KD0.850.
Dubai bourse defies downturn as Emaar edges higher
February 08, 2012--After a sluggish start, which pushed the Dubai gauge more than one per cent down, the DFM General Index rebounded and closed 0.60% higher at 1,482.49 points.
While Arabtec dipped 1.48% on profit bookings, Emaar Properties rebounded 3.20% to reach Dhs2.90. Emaar surged 12% during the last four weeks of trading as local and foreign investors started bargain hunting. In 2011, the DFMGI fell 17%. Bank Emirates NBD dived 2.90%. Earlier in the day, the UAE's largest lender by assets announced that its Deputy CEO Mr. Al Fahim has resigned. Some 171.5m shares were raded, valued at Dhs323.1m.
Lacklustre Qatari bourse ends unchanged
February 08, 2012--The QE 20 Index closed at 8,690 points Wednesday, while market breadth ended down as 14 shares advanced and 20 declined. Market bellwether Industries Qatar closed even, too.
Earlier in the day, Industries Qatar announced that its subsidiary Qatar Steel Company has signed a sale and recycling slag contract with Slag Aggregate Producer (SAP), located in Doha. "As per this contract, Qatar Steel shall sell to SAP one million tonnes of slag as steel wastes. SAP will process, recover the scrap and return it to Qatar Steel to re-use it in their industry. The ensuing aggregate will be utilized in the constructions and infrastructure works. SAP will be processing about 100,000 tonnes of slag per month," Industries Qatar said in a e-mailed statement.
NASDAQ Dubai: DP World soars to three-month high, Depa Limited hits $0.40
February 08, 2012--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed at 1532.48 up 1.38%, from the previous close.
DP World advanced 1.83% to reach $11.10. Interior design company Depa Limited soared 5.26% to close at $0.40. Jewelry trader Damas ended even at $0.36. Some 2.9m shares were traded at the NASDAQ Dubai, valued at $2.5m.
Etisalat shares retreat, weigh on Abu Dhabi market
February 08, 2012--The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) General Index declined 0.15% to 2,464.88 points. Sorouh Real Estate was the most liquid share,
gaining 3.5%, while market bellwether Etisalat (off 0.32%) weighed on the ADX's gauge. According to Gary Dugan, Chief Investment Officer Private Banking, "the rally in markets has probably discounted all of the recent good news and more," adding that the investors are just starting to feel the temptation to take some profits. Some 50m shares worth Dhs59.8m were traded.
Saudi Cement Company rides high on construction boom in the Kingdom
February 08, 2012--The Saudi Stock Exchange advanced 0.80% to reach a 22-month high at 6,797.09, as bellwether Sabic added 0.52% to close at SR95.75. Shares of Saudi Cement Company added 0.30%. The stock has gained 72% in the twelve months.
Eariler in the day, Saudi Cement announced it net profit for 2011 hit SR831.2m, an increase of %26 over 2010. The firm commented: "The main reasons for the increase in profit in comparison with previous year are increased production efficiency from relying on new production lines that have achieved more stable operating efficiency and an increase in local demand." According to Ventures Middle East, the construction industry in Saudi Arabia is expected to spend up to $420b over the next three years.
DGCX January 2012 Volumes Jump 95% from 2011
Gold futures rise 355.7% from December 2011 to reach 30,567 contracts
Monthly volumes of 475,942 contracts represent value of $ 19.32 billion
India Rupee record the highest monthly volume every of 431,902 contracts in January
February 7, 2012--Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) got off to a strong start in 2012 with January volumes rising 95% from the same month last year to hit 475,942 contracts, valued at $ 19.32 billion.
Average daily volume (ADV) on DGCX in January was 21,634 contracts, up 86% from the 11,637 contracts traded per day a year ago.
January volumes were propelled primarily by currency futures, which aggregated 442,345 contracts, rising 124% from last year. Indian Rupee futures sustained its exceptional growth momentum, climbing 157% from January last year and reaching the highest ever monthly volume of 431,902 contracts. Among other currency futures, Sterling/Dollar grew 14% while Dollar/Yen rose 39% from December 2011 to reach 2,246 and 386 contracts respectively. US Dollar/Canadian Dollar futures also grew substantially by 104% over the previous month to reach 330 contracts.
Gold futures saw brisk trading in January, up 355.7% from December 2011 and hitting 30,567 contracts.
Stephen Gaterell, CEO of DGCX said: "The robust start to the year is a good portent for a strong performance in 2012. With volatility in currency and commodity markets continuing to be a feature of today's uncertain economic environment, DGCX products will be extremely valuable tools for market participants seeking to manage currency and commodity price risk. As a result, we are continuing to investigate options to expand our product offering as well as explore means of enhancing liquidity in our existing contracts."
Meanwhile, WTI Crude futures registered strong growth of 34% from the previous month, reaching 1,833 contracts.
The Middle East Investor Relations Society launches the Palestine Chapter, the latest initiative to promote IR best practice in the Middle East
February 7, 2012--2012 The Middle East Investor Relations Society (ME-IR Society) and a number of Palestinian companies following IR best practices met in Ramallah today to agree an Investor Relations Charter. The Charter will improve the quality of investor relations practices and educational resources in Palestine.
The Charter also creates an informal supervisory Board of ME-IR Society member companies which will assist with the development of IR initiatives in Palestine. The new Board consists of representatives from The Palestine Exchange (PEX); PADICO, PALTEL, Bank of Palestine, Jerusalem Pharmaceuticals; and Bank of New York Mellon.
The Charter was ratified by the inaugural Chairwoman of the Palestine Chapter, Fida Musleh/Azar - Manager of PEX Representative Office – Ramallah/ Manager of Public Relations and Investor Education Department and Maria Hunt, General Manager of the Middle East Investor Relations Society.
Kuwait Stock Exchange falls the second day straight
February 07, 2012--The KSE Market Index declined 0.22% to 5,827.20 points, as only the real estate sector index added value.
Union Real Estate gained the most (up 9.2%). Like most banking shares, National Bank of Kuwait closed unchanged. Islamic bank Kuwait Fincance House added 1.17% to reach KD0.860. [AMEInfo.com]
Abu Dhabi investment firm slashes jobs, more than 50% cut
February 07, 2012--Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, The National Investor (TNI) has made redundant more than 50% of its workforce and is planning more job cuts in a bid to reduce costs in response to tough financial markets, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed sources.
TNI, which operates in private equity, investment advisory and asset management businesses, had the first round of layoffs last year reducing its workforce to the current level of around 55 people the sources told the news service. "The latest round of redundancies began last week with more expected. Most lay-offs are in investment banking and equities," one source familiar with the matter said.
