Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank shares dip as bank sues Credit Suisse and S&P
November 25, 2010--The Abu Dhabi market ADX ended almost flat at 2,756.89 points as 11 shares gained and 11 lost value (four stocks remained unchanged). The UAE's third largest lender Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) weakened 0.43%, ending atDhs2.33.
Earlier in the day ADCB said in a statement it has initiated legal actions in the US against Switzerland's largest bank Credit Suisse (CS) and rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P). ADCB accuses CS of "providing misleading information when structuring, marketing and selling an investment, known as Farmington" and S&P of providing "inaccurate, investment-grade ratings" to assets associated with the aforementioned structure. Farmington was designed as an emergency structuring transaction related to an SIV (structured investment vehicle) known as Stanfield Victoria which faced liquidity issues in 2007. ADCB invested in that SIV in 2005 and 2006, the bank says. On October 27, ADCB has reported 3Q net income of Dhs325m (versus net loss of Dhs531m in Q2 10).
Source: AME Info
Nasdaq Dubai listed shares gain slightly
November 25, 2010--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index lost 1.06%, edning at 1,785.56. Dubai Ports (DP) World added 0.17% to close at $0.601. Interior designer Depa Ltd. closed 1.39% higher at $0.73. The value of equities traded on Nasdaq Dubai increased by 30% to 155 million dollars in October 2010, from 119 million dollars in October 2009, the exchange revealed.
In October, Al Futtaim HC was the most active Member of the exchange by traded value for the fourth successive month. Deutsche Bank was second, followed by EFG Hermes.Three more UAE brokers joined Nasdaq Dubai in October to take advantage of the merger of its liquidity pool with DFM: Al Dhabi Brokerage, Index Securities and NAEEM Shares & Bonds as join Nasdaq Dubai Individual Clearing Members. This raises the number of NASDAQ Dubai Members to 34. The exchange awaits its first initial public offering since 2008. Axiom Limited has announced it plans to IPO on NASDAQ Dubai in December 2010. Axiom announced a price range of $0.80 to $1.15, implying a market capitalization of between $760 million and $1.093 billion. Up to 35% of Axiom's issue shares are to be offered.
Source: AME Info
Kuwait market dips 0.10%
November 25, 2010--The KSE Price Index ended Thursday at 6,928 straight in a lackluster trading session. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) weakened 1.51% to close at KD1.320.
MENA Real Estate Company (off 7.69% at KD0.060) posted the largest decline while Al-Mowasat Health Care Co. (up nine percent at KD0.120) topped the charts.
Source: AME Info
Qtel shares gain on rating agencies' comments
November 25, 2010--The Qatar Exchange in Doha added 0.37%, finishing at 8,178.77 points. On a year to-date basis, the QE (up 17.53%) posted the largest advance among GCC stock markets. Qatar Telecom (Qtel) shares gained 1.84% to close at QR183.00.
Yesterday, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings and outlook on Qatar Telecom (Qtel) (A/Stable/A-1), incumbent fixed-line and mobile telecoms operator in the State of Qatar (AA/Stable/A-1+), are not affected by Qtel's announced signing of an agreement with a consortium led by Tunisian Princesse Holding to acquire from Orascom's 50% stake in mobile operator Orascom Telecom Tunisie S.A. (Tunisiana) for about $1.2 billion cash. Tunisiana leads among Tunisia's mobile operators and on June 30, 2009, had a 52.9% subscriber market share. Rating agency Moody's followed today with similar statements, saying its rating (A2/stable) on Qtel would not be affected by the telecom provider's acquisition plans.
Source: AME Info
DME Oman linked swap and option contracts to be launched
November 25, 2010--The contracts, which will be listed for trading on Sunday December 5 for trade date Monday, December 6, 2010, are subject to the rules and regulations of NYMEX and Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
The Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) today confirmed the upcoming launch of a suite of DME Oman-linked swap and option contracts in early December. The contracts will be listed by CME Group which is a core shareholder of DME and the world’s largest derivatives exchange.
The six futures contracts that will be available for clearing on CME ClearPort are:
DME Oman Crude Oil Swap Futures
DME Oman Crude Oil vs. ICE Brent Swap Futures
DME Oman Crude Oil Average Price Option
Singapore MOGAS 92 Unleaded (Platts) vs. DME Oman Crude Oil Swap Futures
Source: Business Intelligence Middle East
Dubai's first Real Estate Investment Trust launched
November 24, 2010--A joint venture that will lead to the creation of Dubai's first Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) was officially launched on November 23, 2010 at a high-profile event attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive and Chairman of The Emirates Group
and His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness The Ruler's Court of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), along with more than 100 public and private-sector decision-makers and investors.
Source: AME Info
Tadawul bourse loses insignificantly
November 24, 2010-The Saudi Stock Exchange's Tasi composite ended 0.07% lower Wednesday, closing at 6,291.3 points. Shares of Middle East Specialized Cables Co. bucked the fickle trend by ending 2.95% higher at SR15.70.
Saudi Arabia, which currently has a 38% share of the total construction projects in the region, is expected to launch contracts worth $86bn in 2011, according to MEED research. Saudi Arabian Mining Company lost 3.60%, ending at SR21.40. The stock gained over 40% between May and Ocotber 4, when it topped out at SR23.45.
Source: AME Info
Qatar Exchange recovers on banking and services
November 24, 2010-The Doha-based Qatar Exchange (QE) advanced 0.33% to close at 8,148.30. Qatar National Bank (QNB), the country's largest lender gained 0.11% to finish at QR174.70. Shares of Nakilat, the leading Qatari gas transport company,
jumped 5.21%, ending at QR20.20. As parts of Europe were surprised by an early winter outbreak this week, the demand for liquified natural gas (LNG) is expected to rise.
Source: AME Info
Banks fuel Kuwait bourse's rebound
November 24, 2010--The KSE Market or Price Index added a quarter percentage point, closing at 6,935 straight. Shares of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) gained 1.53% to end at KD1.320.
Islamic Bank Kuwait Finance House (KFH) rebounded 1.69% after a recent fall from its double-2010-top at KD1.280. But from a chartechnical point of view the KFH shares still moves in a downward channel.
Source: AME Info
Taqa rises on restart of North Sea Rijn oil production
November 24, 2010-The ADX General Index in Abu Dhabi ended flat at 2,755.87 points. While most sectors advanced, losses in the real estate segment weighed on the market. Shares of Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., also known as Taqa, ended 1.39% higher at Dhs1.46.
Earlier in the day Taqa announced the successful restart of crude oil production from the Rijn field offshore the Netherlands, 12 years after being shut down. Taqa has a 38.27% operating interest in the Rijn field. The current production rate from the Rijn field is approximately 3,500 barrels of oil per day. Real estate bellwether Aldar Properties dipped 1.33% to finish at Dhs2.23.
Source: AME Info