DFM index surges 2.79% on global cues
October 21, 2013--The Dubai Financial Market (DFM), re-opening after the Eid holidays, rallied on Sunday with its benchmark index closing at its highest level since October 2 after the US staved off a potential default.
Last week, the US Senate passed a bill that ended the Washington showdown over the country's debt limit and reopened the federal government.
Source: Zawya.com
DGCX volumes grow 69%
October 14, 2013--Year-to-date volumes on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) registered a growth of 69 per cent over last year, with a total of 11,357,329 contracts traded until the end of the third quarter of 2013.
The growth was supported by a 2 per cent year-on-year rise in monthly volumes in September, which saw 988,269 contracts worth $28 billion being traded.
Source: Zawya
Qatar National Bank profit jumps 14.1%
October 13, 2013--Qatar National Bank ( QNB ) Group reported a 7.1 billion Qatari riyal (Dh7.16 billion) net profit for the nine months ending September 20, 2013.
According to a QNB press release, the results represent a 14.1 per cent increasae over the same period in 2012 and include NSGB Egypt, in which QNB Group maintains a controlling 97.12 per cent stake.
Source: Zawya
UAE shares trade in opposite directions
October 10, 2013--Bulls continued to hold firm on Dubai shares on Thursday fuelled by insurance, investment and financial services sectors.
The DFM index closed 1.1.7 per cent up at 2830.92 points.
National General Insurance led the gainers list by 14.63 per cent, followed by International Financial Advisors by 13.27 per cent and GGICO by 8.42 per cent.
Source: Gulf News
Arab Countries in Transition-Economic Outlook and Key Challenges-Deauville Partnership Ministerial Meeting
October 10, 2013--Summary: In an environment of heightened socio-economic tensions, regional insecurity, and strained public finances, the Arab Countries in Transition (ACTs) 1 face the difficult task of delivering on the expectations for jobs and growth.
Despite patchy improvements in some countries, economic growth remains subdued, private investment is weak, and external and fiscal buffers are running low. Fostering social cohesion and avoiding a downward spiral of economic and political malaise calls for urgent implementation of economic reforms and coordinated support from the international community.
view the Arab Countries in Transition: Economic Outlook and Key Challenges policy paper
Source: IMF
Kuwait mkt gains 63.3 pts to end week on high note
October 10, 2013--Kuwait stocks paced up on Thursday to close the week on a high note. The index rallied 63.3 pts on back of strong buying in blue chips and select mid-caps while profit taking weighed on some of the low-priced stocks.
The market mood was positive even as the bourse closed for the weeklong Eid holidays. The KSX 15 benchmark jumped 6.36 pts 1,099.38 points taking the 2013 gains to over 99 pts while weighted index rose 3.06 points to 463.52 points. The volume turnover meanwhile rebounded after hitting a multimonth low in the previous session. 300.9 million shares changed hands--a 77.1 percent surge from the day before.
Source: Zawya
Morgan Stanly International Capital (MSCI) announced that Palestine has been added to the list of Standalone countries of MSCI
the MSCI Palestine IMI Index started on June 3, 2013
October 9, 2013--The Index consists of four listed companies including PALTEL, Bank of Palestine, PADICO Holding & Wataniya Mobile. Listing Palestine on MSCI indices responds to the Palestine Exchange's constant efforts in mapping Palestine on regional and international investment agenda.
We hope that this achievement will attract more investments in listed leading stocks and will enhance the exchange's liquidity.
Source: Palestine Exchange
KSE gains 32.5 pts as volume slumps
October 10, 2013--Kuwait stocks revved up on Tuesday, adding to the gains in the last two sessions.
The index climbed 32.5 pts to 7697.09 points helped by speculative buying in select counters. Some of the banks shined while other heavyweights closed.
Source: Zawya
UAE trading volumes low as both DFM and ADX close higher
October 9, 2013--Even as Union Properties surged close to five per cent in early part of yesterday's session amid the ongoing Cityscape, trading on UAE markets remain relatively subdued as volumes tapered
off that had begun on Tuesday, with investors retreating ahead of the holidays and earnings season that is to follow.
Source: Zawya
Palestinians Access to Area C Key to Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth
October 8, 2013--More than half the land in the West Bank, much of it agricultural and resource rich, is inaccessible to Palestinians. The first comprehensive study of the potential impact of this 'restricted land,' released by the World Bank today, sets the current loss to the Palestinian economy at about US$3.4 billion.
Area C constitutes 61 percent of the West Bank and is the only contiguous land connecting 227 smaller separate and heavily residential areas. The 1993 Oslo Peace Accords stipulated that Area C be gradually transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) by 1998. This transfer has never taken place.
view the World Bank report-West Bank and Gaza-Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy
Source: World Bank