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25% Growth In Saudi Arabian DBFX customers
August 30, 2010--dbFX, Deutsche Bank's online margin foreign exchange (FX) trading platform has seen customer numbers in Saudi Arabia increase by 25% from 2009, as the country's investors diversify their portfolios by investing in FX.
The increasing sophistication and need to diversify Saudi Arabia's small institutional and family office portfolios is leading to a growing adoption of FX as an asset class in addition to traditional equity and fixed income assets.
Tadawul market dips 0.23%
August 30, 2010--The Saudi Stock Exchange ended off 0.23% at 6,071.72 points. Market bellwether Sabic closed unchanged at SR85. Only the Hotel and Tourism sector index advanced significantly.
Losses, however, remained modest as investors prepare for Eid holidays and prepare to stay on the sidelines. Jezan Development posted the only loss exceeding two percent (off 2.57% at SR13.25).
Abu Dhabi market heavyweights drag index lower
August 30, 2010--Losses at Abu Dhabi's blue chips Aldar (down 2.58% at Dhs0.77), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ADCB (1.18% lower at Dhs1.70) and Dana Gas (off 1.28% at Dhs0.77) dragged the ADX General Index down by 0.37% to 2,499.36 points.
The emirate's energy bellwether Taqa resisted the general GCC downtrend, ending 0.83% higher at Dhs1.20. Some 26.86m shares changed hands in Abu Dhabi.
Weak financials weigh on Dubai market
August 30, 2010--The DFM General Index lost 0.38%, closing at 1,490.52 points. The DFM chare itself weakened two percent and finished at Dhs1.44. Ajmanbank was also among the top five losers, declining by 1.96% to Dhs0.75.
Only three shares, Aramex (up 1.17% at Dhs1.73), Drake and Scull International (0.48% higher at Dhs0.84) and low-fare flyer Air Arabia (gaining 0.25% at Dhs0.797) bucked the fickle trend. Traded value surged 57% to Dhs71.88m with 55.39m stocks changing hands.
Dubai Gold And Commodities Exchange Weekly Views
August 29, 2010--Commodities Overview
Gold and silver prices may remain elevated this week, at least during the first few days. Investors remain interested in these metals, as portfolio diversifiers and safe havens in the face of greater concern over U.S. economic performance. Industrial commodities may move sideways.
They weakened early last week as investors reduced their expectations for fabrication demand in the face of lower U.S. overall economic growth, but recovered late in the week as the markets moved away from the gloomy assessment. Investors realized U.S. economic conditions, while weakening, still were expanding, with the more important realization that economic conditions in the rest of the world still were in better shape.
Currencies Overview
Since July there has been a measurable deterioration of real economic activity, in the United States in particular but also in China and a few other nations. Investor pessimism and concern over economic trends and seemingly ineffectual governance compounded with the political impasse in the U.S. government are reducing capital expenditures, new business and real estate investments, and consumer spending, and economic growth and are threatening to push the U.S. economy into a new recession. It is not clear that this trend will result in an actual recession, but real economic activity clearly is suffering and the odds of much weaker economic performance in the United States have risen sharply. The upcoming U.S. midterm elections will worsen matters: They are likely to be extremely negative and should be expected to increase investor and consumer pessimism further. In this environment, the dollar already has halted the strong recovery that began at the end of 2009. The dollar is likely to trade sideways in a wide and volatile fashion over the next few months, with a possible range for the rest of this year of $1.15 to $1.40 against the euro.
Mena fund managers turn positive on financials, says Standard and Poor's Fund Services
August 26, 2010-Despite a lack of consensus among fund managers on whether the worst is over for the sector, financials bounced back strongly in the Mena region, according to the latest sector update published by Standard and Poor's Fund Services.
After being the main laggard in 2008 and 2009, the sector performed well in the first seven months of 2010, although the best-performing names have been the higher quality ones. "Some managers have turned more positive and have benefited from the re-rating of the sector," comments S&P Fund Services analyst, Roberto Demartini.
Qatar Exchange recovers slightly
August 26, 2010--The QE Index added 0.21%, finishing at 7,160.6 points. Most local insurance companies were the main gainers.
Doha Insurance (gaining 3.18% to Qr29.20) landed at the top of the charts, while Islamic Securities (off 1.56% at QR31.40) failed to jumpd on the bandwagon. Som 3.4m shares changed hands in Doha.
Industries, insurers weigh on Kuwait exchange
August 26, 2010--The KSE Market or Price Index lost 0.42% in Thursday and closed at 6,645.6 points. Advanced Technology Co. posted the largest loss (off 6.25% at KD0.750). While banks performed overall weaker,
Bahrain's Islamic Ithmaar bank bucked the trend, finishing at the top gainer at KD0.039 (6.84% higher).
Abu Dhabi market index recaptures 2,500 points
August 26, 2010--The ADX General Index ended 0.19% higher at 2,500.62 points. Real estate heavyweights Aldar Properties (up 4.57% at Dhs2.34) and Sorouh Real Estate (gaining 2.52% at Dhs1.65) lifted the sentiment in particular.
Most banks suffered losses, with First Gulf Bank (down 1.09% at Dhs13.65) and retail banking focussed Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (0.60% lower at Dhs1.68) underperforming the sector index (off 0.17%). The ADX benchmark lost some five points over the week.
Dubai bourse rebounds on Dubai World hopes
August 26, 2010--Reported news that that government-related Dubai World group offered a specific restructuring plan of its $23.5bn debt to creditor banks (that plan allegedly included proposed sales of key assets such as DP World) lifted the DFM General Index by 0.8%5% to 1,497.47 points.
Real estate bellwether Emaar pushed 2.17% higher at Dhs3.30. Nasdaq Dubai-listed DP World, which is controlled 80% by Dubai World, ended flat at $0.48. Traded value surged 96% to Dhs87.71m, 50.27m shares changing hands (up 44%). Over the week the DFM Index added 0.38%.
