Middle East ETF News Older than One Year
Jordan's inflation dipped to 3.8% in February
March 13, 2012--Jordan's Department of Statistics has revealed that the Kingdom's consumer price inflation dropped to 3.8% year-on-year in February compared to 5.1% in January, Reuters has reported.
Headline inflation was predicted to increase above 6% in 2011 compared to an official forecast of between 5 to 5.5%, according to economists.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Arabia's dairy leader Almarai soars on sukuk issuance
March 12, 2012--The Saudi Arabian Tadawul market gained the trading session straight Monday, closing 0.10% higher at 7,539.7 points.
The GCC's largest dairy producer Almarai jumped 2.28%. Earlier in the day, Almarai added to its statement from March 11 on its successfull completion of the first Sukuk issuance for an amount of SR1bnon 7th March 2012, that tha "total order book reached more than SR4.7bn , i.e. 4.7 times the issuance size. The Sukuk are private offering to sophisticated investors resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Almarai would like to clarify the Sukuk are seven years floating rate," the firm said in a statement to the Tadawul bourse. Petrochemical leader Sabic dipped 0.70%. on profit booking. Sabic gained over nine percent year-to-date.
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi market investigation blurs real estate merger euphoria
March 12, 2012--The ADX General Index gained one percent to close at 2,614.83 points Monday, but a reported investigation of the ADX regulator casted a shadow on the announced merger talks between real estate giants Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate (both up 9.84%).
The National reported earlier today the lockstep rise of both shares prior to the merger talks announcement triggered an investigation by the ADX market surveillance. If the merger succeeds, combined assets of Aldar and Sorouh would stand at Dhs13.61bn ($3.77bn), according to Gulf News. Sanyalak Manibhandu, real estate analyst at National Bank of Abu Dhabi told AMEinfo.com that "the key challenge for a merger would ebe to determine an exchange ratio of existing shares in a new company that would be acceptable to shareholders of both companies", as Aldar would contribute slightly more in euqity than Sorouh, but Aldar is highly indebted (Aldar: 87.3% debt to total liabilities vs. 12.7% at Sorouh). ADX market bellwether Etisalat and Dana Gas ended flat. Investbank ended as a top loser (down six percent).
Source: AME Info
Muscat market advances for the third consecutive trading session, as financials soar
March 12, 2012--The Omani MSM30 Index added 0.28% to reach 5,901.82 points Monday. Shares of Bank Sohar surged two percent.
Earlier in the week Bank Sohar announced it has signed an agreement with Dubai-based Dar al Sharia Legal and Financial Consultancy to help the bank launch its Islamic Banking Window. The Sultanate of Oman has legalized Islamic Banking in May 2011. The U-turn triggered a run among local and foreign lenders, such as Swiss private bank Sarasin, to launch Shari'ah-compliant products and services in the south-eastern GCC state.
Source: AME Info
Dubai bourse slips despite Abu Dhabi merger euphoria
March 12, 2012--The DFM General Index edged up higher at the opening Monday but eventually lost steam and closed 0.74% lower at 1,674.14.
Dubai's first developer and market bellwether Emaar Properties, as the most liquid share, added 0.67% to reach Dhs3.02. Emaar, which added surged over three percent at the opening on news that its Abu Dhabi rivals Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate entered merger talk, failed to keep momentum after The National reported that the Abu Dhabi ADX supervision decided to examine 'unusual shareprices movements' prior to the announced merger yesterday, when both shares rose by the same percentage (as they did today). At the DFM, Arabtec Construction gained 1.70% to close at Dhs2.98. Market breadth turned into negative territory as five stocks advanced and 23 declined.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Arabia's February inflation at 5.4%, 14 month high
March 12, 2012--According to data from Saudi Arabia's Central Department of Statistics, the Kingdom's inflation increased to a 14-month high of 5.4% on an annual basis in February, mainly due to higher food and housing costs, state news agency SPA has reported.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.3% after a 0.1% rise in January, the data has shown.
Source: AME Info
Dubai Investments looks to exit some businesses as economy recovers
March 12, 2012--The CEO of Dubai Investments PJSC (DIC) has said that the company is looking to exit some of its businesses as the emirate's economy shows signs of recovery, Bloomberg has reported.
CEO Khalid bin Kalban has added that DIC, which owns stakes in more than 40 companies, has three companies under evaluation or due diligence for private placements and by summer we can decide on exits. The company sold 40% of its private equity unit Masharie LLC for Dhs400m ($109m) in 2008. One of the companies it will divest this year is part of Masharie, Kalban said.
Source: AME Info
UAE economy grew 3.3% last years, says minister
March 12, 2012--UAE's economy minister has said that the country's economy reported an estimated 3.3% growth last year, Reuters has reported.
The UAE which had faced unprecedented regional and global challenges last year, was helped by the rising contribution of non-oil sectors, Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri has added.
Source: AME Info
DGCX February Volumes Rise 147%; Exchange Records Highest Ever Daily Volume during the Month
March 12, 2012--Overall monthly volumes on the Exchange total 519,222 contracts, valued at $21.92 billion
DGCX registers highest ever overall daily volume of 39,034 contracts on 29 February
Indian Rupee futures set monthly and daily volume records
Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) built on its excellent start to the year with a 147% year‐on‐year rise in monthly volumes in February. Total monthly volumes on the Exchange in February touched 519,222 contracts, valued at $21.92 billion.
Brisk trading during the month saw DGCX setting four all‐time daily volume records on 29 February. Total overall daily volumes of 39,034 contracts registered by DGCX on the day surpassed the previous highest of 35,996 contracts set in September 2011. DGCX also recorded its highest‐ever number of daily trades of 23,950 contracts on 29 February.
Source: Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX)
Qatar plans up to $2bn investment in Sudan for bonds and resources
March 08, 2012--Qatar has announced plans to invest up to $2bn in Sudan, including purchase of government bonds, the Associated Press has reported.
In addition to buying Sudanese bonds, Qatar is also considering investing in the country’s mining, oil and agriculture sectors.
Source: AME Info
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