Emaar, DFM shares lift Dubai market
November 1, 2012--The DFM General Index added 0.22% to reach 1,623.20 points.
Emaar Properties gained 1.1.40% to reach Dhs3.66. Shares of the DFM, which is the only publicly traded Arab exchange, bounced back by 2% to hit Dhs1.03. Investment bank Shuaa Capital and Islamic financial institution fell 2.70% and 3.70% amid negative news from Western banks like UBS, which started a new round of lay-offs. Trading turnover remained dull, as 93m shares worth Dhs90.8m changed hands.
Source: AME Info
Fitch says protests threaten Kuwait's AA rating
October 31, 2012--Fitch Ratings has warned Kuwait that a further escalation of political protests could put the Gulf country's 'AA' sovereign credit rating under pressure for a downgrade despite the nation's strong balance sheet, Reuters has reported.
Recent popular protests over a change in the election law decreed by the ruling emir "suggests a radicalisation of the political scene," the rating agency said. "Prolonged political stalemate could also undermine Kuwait's rating through its impact on the economy," Fitch said. The rating has a ‘Stable’ outlook.
Source: AME Info
Bahrain Bourse resumes trading, falls by 0.21%
October 31, 2012--On the first trading day after Eid holidays, the Manama-based Bahrain All-Share Index closed 0.21% lower at 1,057.91 points Wednesday.
The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait or BBK gained 3.16% to hit BD0.392, representing a one-month high. Ahli United Bank or AUB fell by 0.93%, finishing at $0.53. Earlier in the day, AUB said it will prolonge ist service and administration partnership with Ahli Bank Oman for another 5 years.
Source: AME Info
Bahrain Bourse resumes trading, falls by 0.21%
October 31, 2012--On the first trading day after Eid holidays, the Manama-based Bahrain All-Share Index closed 0.21% lower at 1,057.91 points Wednesday.
The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait or BBK gained 3.16% to hit BD0.392, representing a one-month high. Ahli United Bank or AUB fell by 0.93%, finishing at $0.53. Earlier in the day, AUB said it will prolonge ist service and administration partnership with Ahli Bank Oman for another 5 years.
Source: AME Info
DP World shares soar on firm's nine-month volume growth
October 30, 2012--NASDAQ Dubai-quoted shares of Dubai Ports (DP) World gained 2.10% to reach $11.85 Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the global maritime port operator said that gross container volumes grew 4.5% in the first nine months of the year "driven by strong growth across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East and UAE region." However, in Q3 DP World handled 14.2 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its portfolio of container terminals which was 1% lower than the same period last year "reflecting the divestment of three joint venture terminals and a decline in volumes in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Like for like gross container volume growth in the third quarter was 0.5%," the firm said in a statement. Group Chief Executive Mohammed Sharaf said that "The third quarter of the year has seen a slowdown in container volume growth with some of our regions reporting a small decline in volumes reflecting the challenging macroeconomic environment. Despite this, our volume growth for the first nine months of the year reflects good growth over the prior period and whilst there remains uncertainty within the macro economy, we continue to believe we will achieve EBITDA in line with expectations."
Source: AME Info
Kuwait bourse bounces back, remains in year-to-date red
October 24, 2012--Despite negative market day performances in Asia and Europe, the KSE Market Index closed 1.10% to hit 5,770.34 Wednesday.
Islamic bank Boubyan added slightly to reach KD0.630. Wethaq Takaful Insurance Co. posted the largest advance (up 16%). Year-to-date, the KSE Market declined 0.75%.
Source: AME Info
Tadawul market regains territory ahead of Eid holidays
October 24, 2012--The Tadawul All-Share Index almost completely erased the losses it suffered over the week and closed Wednesday trading 0.91% higher at 6,791.04.
The Riyadh-rebound was mainly driven by financial shares and the construction-related securities. The Tadawul rebound happened although oil prices dived further. U. S. crude lost seven percent in the last four weeks on disappointing quarterly results at market heavyweights in Asia, Europe and the U. S. In Riyadh, shares of AXA fell 1.60% to close at SR43.70. Earlier in the day, AXA said "the net loss before Zakat and tax for the third quarter is 1,871 thousand riyals compared to a net loss before zakat and tax of 344 thousand riyals for the same quarter of the previous year a increase of 443.9% and compared to a net profit before zakat and tax of 12,894 thousand riyals for the previous quarter. The net profit after zakat and tax for the third quarter ended September, 2012 is 20 thousand riyals compared to a net profit after zakat and tax of 115 thousand riyals for the same quarter of the previous period a decline of 82.6% and compared to net profit after zakat and tax of 9,054 thousand riyals for the previous quarter, a decrease of 99.8%."
Source: AME Info
Al Khaliji Bank nine-month profit soars, shares add slightly
October 24, 2012--The Doha-based QE 20 Index advanced 0.10% to 8,516.31 points.
Al Khaliji Commercial Bank added likewiese 0.10%, after the Qatari lender said interim financial statements revealed a net profit of QR378.5m for the nine months period ended September 30, 2012 in comparison to a net profit of QR 359.3m for the corresponding period last year.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Stock Exchange falls the fourth day straight
October 23, 2012--The Tadawul All-Share Index closed Tuesday trading 0.20% lower at 6,729.48 points as oil prices dived 2.66% (U. S. crude) on an accelerated sell-off at U. S. markets.
After New York-listed market heavyweights disapointed when reporting Q3 earnings, the sentiment turned bearish at the world's largest exchange. In Riyadh, shares of market bellwether Saudi Basic Industries Corp. or Sabic fell 1.13% to SR87.75. Saudi Arabian Cooperative Insurance Company gained 0.70% to hit SR72.50. Earlier in the day, the insurer said that net income before Zakat during the third quarter in 2012 was SR7.328m compared to a net income before Zakat of SR3.051m for the same quarter last year with an increase of 140.18%, and compared to a net income before Zakat of SR5.351m for the previous quarter in 2012 with an increase of 36.95%.
Source: AME Info
Qatar Gas Company slips as nine-month profit declines
October 23, 2012--The QE Index declined 0.3% to 8,511.97 Tuesday.
Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. or Nakilat, closed off 0.10% at QR15.49. Nakilat said earlierin the day, the interim financial statements for the nine-month perios revealed a net profit of QR562m in comparison to a net profit of QR624.8m for the corresponding period last year.
Source: AME Info