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Abu Dhabi stocks finish on a mixed note
August 17, 2011--The ADX General Index ended flat at 2,584.98 points while trading turnover was close to a meltdown. The UAE's first telecom firm Etisalat ended likewise flat, at Dhs0.54.
Investors shunned shares of the emirate's real estate bellwethers Aldar and Sorouh, which closed both down 0.85% at Dhs1.19 and Dhs1.16, respectively. Only 27m shares were traded, valued at Dhs51.4m.
Arabtec shares surge on new Nakheel contract
August 17, 2011--Despite increasing worries over a contagion Eurozone crisis, the DFM General Index turned a red day into a small plus (up 0.04% at 1,467.15 points).
Arabtec Construction was the most liquid stock in relation to value and trading volumes, closing 1.48% higher at Dhs1.37. Earlier in the day, Arabtec announced it has received a contract from Nakheel to execute and complete Jumeirah Village Circle Project. The Jumeirah Village in Dubai is located between Emirates, Al Khail and Al Barsha Roads. State-owned real estate developer Nakheel is currently preparing a new $1.13bn Sukuk, scheduled to launch n August 25th, in order to restucture its $13bn debt. Consumer staples giant Gulfa lost the most (down 4.91% at Dhs2.52). Emaar recovered 0.71%, finishing at Dhs2.82. Eight shares gained, seven lost and eight ended even. Trading turnover remained low as some 39m shares changed hands, valued at Dhs53.9m.
Bahrain Islamic Bank gains for the second day straight
August 17, 2011--Like the ADX in Abu Dhabi, the Bahrain Bourse ended even at 1,266.26 points.
Shares of Bahrain Islamic Bank jumped two percent, closing at BD0.101. BIB still benefits from its merger talks it started with its local rival Alsalam Bank. [AMEInfo.com]
Qatari banks lift QE Index slightly higher
August 16, 2011--The Doha-based QE Index added 0.28%, closing at 8,137.00 points. Shares of Qatar Islamic Bank was the top gainer among the financials, advancing by 1.56% to reach QR77.90. The country's second largest lender Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) ended up 1.10% (at QR73.60).
Salam International dipped 1.85%, closing at QR11.14. Earlier in the day, the investment company announced The reviewed financial statements for the second quarter of 2011 revealed a net profit of QR81.151m in comparison to QR68.771m for the same period last year.
Abu Dhabi blue chip shares close unchanged
August 16, 2011--The ADX General Index dipped half a percent on Tuesday, closing at 2,585.80 points. The ADX heavyweights Etisalat, Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate ended flat.
United Insurance Co. (UIC) closed even at Dhs4. Earlier in the day, UIC announced a net profit for the second quarter of Dhs492,193 compared to a loss of Dhs647,000 in the same period last year. Dana Gas was the most liquid shares and finished 1.79% lower at Dhs0.54. Five shares gained, 17 lost and seven ended flat.
Dubai market declines amid lack of catalysts
August 16, 2011--While European governments are undecided whether common Eurobonds should be issued to tackle the debt crisis in the Eurozone, global stock markets remain in a stutter mode. Dubai's DFM General Index ended down 0.27% at 1,466.50 points.
Gulf General Investment Co. advanced the most (up 2.77% at Dhs0.297). Emirates NBD, the UAE's largest lender by assets, dived 1.97% to close at Dhs3.99. Earlier in the day, Fitch Ratings affirmed ENBD's 'A+' rating, but removed the bank from Rating Watch Negative. Six stocks gained, 13 lost and two ended flat. Around 48.32m shares were traded, valued at Dhs71.64.m.
Bahrain Islamic Bank soars on merger plans with Al Salam Bank
August 16, 2011--The Bahrain Bourse's benchmark index BASI dipped 0.06% to 1,266.22 points. Shares of Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIB jumped 2.06% to reach BD0.099. BIB is in talks with Alsalam Bank to merge in order to establish the largest Shari'ah-compliant bank in the Kingdom.
Earlier in the day it was revealed that French bank Crédit Agricole would shut down its Bahrain offices and shift 65 staff to Dubai. Shares of Bahrain Telecom ended down one percent, closing at BD0.406.
Saudi market reacts to global recovery rally
August 15, 2011--Investors in KSA hailed index advances in East and West amid falling credit risks and sent the TASI benchmark up 0.34% to the level of 6,136.1 points. The European Central Bank has started buying sovereign bonds of Eurozone's "trouble candidates", like Greece, Portugal or Ireland. Rising oil prices, adding over 2% on Monday, also helped the Tadawul bourse to regain territory.
Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company surged 2.48% to reach SR16.50, while its rival and market bellwether Sabic ended down half a percent, finishing at SR97.75. Saudi Arabian Mining Co., known as Ma'aden closed 0.40% higher at SR25.30. In a jointventure with the U. S. blue chip company Alcoa, Ma'aaden started to build the GCC's largest integrated aluminum production site in Ras al Khair last Saturday. One hundred shares gained, 25 lost and 20 ended even.
DGCX volumes cross two million mark in 2011
2 million mark milestone achieved for the first time in any year since inception, YTD volume valued at US $98.7 billion
76% increase on YTD volume compared to 2010
August 15, 2011--The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) today announced that its year-to-date (YTD) volumes surpassed the two million contracts mark on August 12, 2011, the first time since inception.
Close of trading on August 12, 2011, saw year-to-date volumes reach 2,005,566 contracts, valued at US $98.7 billion, a 76% increase from last year. Year-to-date average daily volumes also rose by 67% to touch 12,963 contracts this year.
DGCX currency contracts, in particular the Indian Rupee/Dollar contracts, were the key drivers of the Exchange’s volumes, with Indian Rupee year-to-date volume reaching 1,356,993 contracts a 1331% increase from last year. Precious metals also witnessed increased interest and participation, with YTD volume touching 328,856, up by 1%.
TASE Launches Options On Israel Government Bonds
August 15, 2011--The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) continues to expand Israel’s derivatives market with the launch of options on non-linked shekel-denominated government bonds. The new options were designed by a joint team of TASE, the Ministry of Finance, and Prof. Dan Galai. Trading is scheduled to commence on 10 November 2011.
TASE is making preparations for the designation of market makers for these new derivative products, in order to provide liquidity of the market from its inception.
The new options augment the tools at the disposal of bond investors, broaden the spectrum of investment strategies in fixed income instruments, and enable investors to more effectively hedge their investments. The options will be launched on two series of government bonds: series 0120, maturing in January 2020 and series 0217, maturing in February 2017.
