Bahrain All-Share Index hits 3-month low
September 5, 2013--The sell-out continued at GCC markets on Thursday and sent the Bahrain Bourse in Manama down by 0.35% to 1,180.77 points, the lowest level since June this year.
Islamic bank Gulf Finance House (GFH) plummeted 8% to hit $0.115. Yesterday, GFH said Capital Intelligence's decision to assign its with long- and short-term rating with BB- and B, respectively, reflected "a significant reduction in leverage as a result of debt repayment and increases in equity."
Source: AME Info
Saudi Stock Exchange declines in lockstep with GCC peers
September 4, 2013--Like the market indices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, the Riyadh-based Tadawul All-Share Index fell to a 2-month low on Wednesday, approaching the lower Bollinger band.
Signals sent from U. S. congress leaders of Democrats and the GOP that America's lower house might give a nod to Barack Hussein Obama's plans to launch a bombing campaign against the Syrians rose tensions at capital markets worldwide. Earlier in the day, Russian president Vladimir Putin sent a staunch warning to Washington, saying Moscow would oppose a U. S. attack without green light from the United Nations (UN) Securities Council. UN general secretary Ban Ki-moon also said he was opposing a new war in the Middle East. However, gold prices declined below $1,400 per ounce, indicating a de-escalating mood. In Riyadh, Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance Company lost the most (off 6.42%), while Al Ahlia Insurance Company gained the most (up 7.43%). Sabic, the world's biggest producer of petrochemicals and - increasingly- metals, dipped 1.30% to SR95.25.
Source: AME Info
Lackluster Bahrain Bourse bucks sluggish global trend
September 4, 2013--Against all odds, the Manama-based market index added 0.04% to close at 1,184.92 points.
Trading activity was concentrated on the financial sector. Ahli United Bank advanced 0.74%, while Islamic bank Ithmaar closed unchanged. Al Salam Bank Bahrain dived 5.62%, finishing an unspectacular trading day as a top loser.
Source: AME Info
Missile maneuver drags Saudi market index down
September 3, 2013--The Tadawul All-Share Index closed 1.29% lower at 7,831.76 points on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Russia broke the news by saying that two missiles were launched in the Mediterranean Sea. Afterwards, Israel confirmed and said they were part of a joint maneuver with U. S. forces using live rounds. The incident rose tensions again around the civil war in Syria. Last week the U. S. threatened to attack the Syrians with military force. In Riyadh, Sabic closed flat, while Islamic banking giant Al Rajhi fell 0.64% to SR77.50. Islamic insurance operator Aljazira Takaful Taawuni Company jumped 4.76% to reach SR60.50 (top gainer).
Source: AME Info
Selling pressure keeps Doha market at bay
September 3, 2013-The QE 20 Index ended off 0.85% to 9,536.12 points on Tuesday.
Qatar National Bank, the biggest lender in the GCC by assets, finished as a lonely gainer among the financial shares, closing 0.42% higher at QR168. Islamic Holding lost the most, ending down 4.30% to QR39. Gulf Warehousing Company posted the largest increase, ending up 1.75% at QR40.80.
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi bourse loses 1.83%
September 3, 2013--The ADX General Index closed 1.83% lower at 3,733.96 points on Tuesday.
Green Crescent Insurance Industry gained the most, closing 6.67% higher at Dhs1.28. Aldar Properties dived 5.81% to Dhs2.43. Market bellwether Etisalat lost Dhs0.25, finishing at Dhs11.50. Around 200m shares were traded, valued at Dhs281m.
Source: AME Info
Dubai market plummets on flat HSCB UAE Purchasing Managers' Index
September 3, 2013--The Dubai Financial Market General Index failed to crack the 2,600 resistance barrier in the first hours of trading and eventually closed 3.72% lower at 2,489.38 points on Tuesday.
Three shares advanced, while 25 declined in value. Earlier in the day, the seasonally adjusted HSBC United Arab Emirates PMI™ – a composite indicator designed to provide a single-figure snapshot of the performance of the non-oil private sector – was released, showing the gauge stood at 54.5 in August, unchanged from July’s reading. An HSBC UAE PMI index above 50 indicates an expanding economy and vice versa. Nevertheless, HSCB said that the job market was expanding and that inflationary pressure remained low. Shares of Islamic financial institution Ajmanbank and Shuaa Capital gained 1% and 0.70%, respectively. Union Properties, Dubai's second developer dived 5.46%, while market bellwether Emaar plummeted 5.43% to Dhs5.57. Trading volumes reached a record of 1.4bn shares being traded, valued at Dhs1.4bn.
Source: AME Info
Bahrain bourse hit by all losers trading day
September 3, 2013--Like all other GCC markets, the Manama-based Bahrain Bourse ended in the red on Tuesday after reports about a joint US/Israeli missile test in the Mediterranean which Russia made public spoiled the investors' mood.
The Bahrain All-Share Index declined by 0.36% to 1,184.40 points on Tuesday. Islamic bank Al Salam Bahrain lost the most (off 4.30% at BD0.089. Not a single stock gained value in Manama.
Source: AME Info
Tadawul bourse re-flirts with 8,000 points
September 2, 2013--The Saudi Arabian equity market measure Tasi gained 0.7% to hit 7,933.95 points, a one-week high after the Syria tensions pulled the gauge down to 7,722.
On Monday, Sabic added 0.26% to close at SR96.50. The Saudi market bellwether has been trading in a range between SR90 to SR98 for the last six months. Abdullah A. M. Al-Khodari Sons Company soared two percent, finishing at SR35.60. Earlier in the day, the contracting firm said the financial impact of a project for a 300 bed maternity hospital awarded by the Ministry of Health, valued at SR245m is expected to start in the third quarter of the financial year 2013.
Source: AME Info
Kuwait Stock Exchange falls below 7,600
September 2, 2013--Despite easing tensions in the crisis in Syria, the KSE Market Index head down by 27.6 points to close at 7,595.8 points on Monday.
Osoul Investment Co. gained the most (up 8%). IFA Hotels and Resorts ended as the top losing shares, finishing off 7.14% at KD0.650.
Source: AME Info