Qtel advances as re-branding to Ooredoo is sealed
March 12, 2013--The Qatar Exchange 20 Index declined 0.40% to 8,512.18 points Tuesday.
Qatar Telecom or Qtel added 1.32% to reach QR114.90. Earlier in the day, the telco giant said that at major event in Qatar, leading communications company Qtel (Qatar Telecom) rebranded as Ooredoo (Arabic for "I want"). "More than 2,000 people attended the event, which was broadcast live on Qatar TV. Attendees included government ministers, ambassadors, media professionals and customers of the company, which was established as Qatar Telecom back in 1987."
Source: AME Info
Qatar Islamic Bank shareholders okay 35pct cash dividend
March 11, 2013--The QE 20 Index advanced 0.30%, finishing at 8,544.41 points.
Qatar Islamic Bank, known as QIB, gained 0.42% to hit QR71.60. Earlier in the day, QIB said the annual general assembly approved the board's recommendation to distribute cash dividends equaling 35% of the shares nominal value i.e. QR 3.5 per share for the year 2012.
Source: AME Info
Aldar gains on Arqaam's buy rating on 'Aldar Sorouh Properties'
March 11, 2013--The Abu Dhabi equity market index ADX General Index added 0.36% to reach 2,993.03 points.
Aldar Properties surged 0.70% to reach Dhs1.45. Aldar Sorouh Properties, the company to be created through the merger of Abu Dhabi's two largest developers Aldar and Sorouh (up 0.57% at Dhs1.77), has been rated 'buy' by Dubai-based investment bank Arqaam Capital, Bloomberg has reported. The price target for the shares was set at Dhs2.5, Dubai-based analysts led by Mohammad Kamal wrote in a March 7 note to clients. "We believe the market is not fully pricing in the impact of the merger on balance sheets" and "is overestimating leverage risk inherent in standalone businesses," the analysts wrote. "We see 77% in upside potential" in value creation from monetising land and long-term development value."
Source: AME Info
Shuaa Capital appoints new CIO, share remains volatile
March 11, 2013--The DFM General Index finished Monday trading 1.10% higher at 1,930.10 points.
Emaar advanced 1.62% to close at Dhs5.65, the highest price level since Oct. 22 2008. Shuaa Capital gained at the opening but eventually lost 0.17% to Dhs0.577. Earlier in the day, Shuaa said it appointed Dr. Sabah Al-Binali CIO of Shuaa Capital and CEO of Shuaa Credit. Al-Binali joined Shuaa last year as vice chairman of its UAE-based subsidiary Gulf Finance Corp. Al-Binali, who holds a Ph.D. in Computational Finance from Columbia University and a B.S.E. in Computer Science from Princeton University, also serves as Chairman of the recently established Gulf Installments Company in Saudi Arabia. Al-Binali said earlier last week at the SME Roundtable in the DIFC that he sees huge potential in SME financing in the region as bank loans to SMEs stand only for 2% of total loans in the GCC, compared to over 30% in Morocco.
Source: AME Info
Tadawul bourse slipped 0.12%
March 11, 2013--The Saudi Stock Exchange's market index Tasi ended Sunday 0.12% lower at 7,019.
Sabic closed flat at SR92.75. WAFA Insurance gained the most (up 9.71% at SR84.75). The research of National Bank of Abu Dhabi said yesterday "Expansionary development spending and stimulus packages targeting education, health, housing and infrastructure will continue to support non-oil economic activity in the coming years."
Source: AME Info
UAE economy seen to hit $410bn next year
March 11, 2013--US-based Institute for International Finance (IIF) has forecast the UAE economy to cross the Dhs1.5trn mark in 2014, Khaleej Times has reported.
"The UAE economy is to continue its rise to reach $395bn in 2013 and a record high of around $410bn in 2014,” the IIF report said. The UAE maintained its position as the second-largest Arab economy in 2012 after its GDP grew by $23bn in current prices, the report said.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Automotive Services Co. hits 6-month high
March 11, 2013--The Tadawul All-Share Index closed 0.17% higher at 7,030.93 points amid low trading turnover.
Sabic edged up by 0.54% to reach SR93.25. Saudi Automotive Services Co. jumped 10% to hit SR19.30, the highest level since Sep. 2012.
Source: AME Info
Kuwait Stock Exchange is up and away, KFH adds on real estate move
March 11, 2013--The KSE Market Index advanced 0.56% to close at 6,665.49 points Monday.
Burgan Bank and Kuwait's first Islamic bank Kuwait Finance House or KFH gained 1.8% and 1.22%, respectively. Earlier in the day, KFH said it consolidated all its real estate investment activities to one entity, KFH Real Estate. "All KFH's real estate investment activities shall be consolidated and managed by KFH Real Estate company, locally, regionally, and internationally," said Shaheen Al-Ghanim, KFH's general manager of international banking and acting CIO.
Source: AME Info
Qatar Islamic Bank shareholders okay 35pct cash dividend
March 11, 2012--The QE 20 Index advanced 0.30%, finishing at 8,544.41 points.
Qatar Islamic Bank, known as QIB, gained 0.42% to hit QR71.60. Earlier in the day, QIB said the annual general assembly approved the board's recommendation to distribute cash dividends equaling 35% of the shares nominal value i.e. QR 3.5 per share for the year 2012.
Source: AME Info
DP World gains on Hong Kong divestment
March 7, 2013--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed 0.11% higher at 2172.59 Thursday.
Dubai Ports (DP) World, globally the 3rd biggest maritime port operator with over 60 ports worldwide in its portfolio, advanced 0.76% to reach $13.20. Earlier in the day, DP World said it divested 75% of its interests in CSX World Terminals Hong Kong Ltd. (CT3), which operates berth 3 of the Kwai Chung Container Terminal and ATL Logistics Centre Hong Kong Ltd., a logistics centre located alongside CT3, and 100% of its interest in Asia Container Terminal Ltd, which operates Asia Container Terminal 8 West (CT8). "The total consideration to be received by DP World for the two transactions is $742m including the repayment of certain shareholder loans," the port giant said. The total net gain is expected to be approximately $151m, subject to transaction costs and currency movements. DP World will divest 75% of its equity interests in CT3 and ATL, for $463m, to Goodman Hong Kong Logistics Fund, a non-listed real estate trust. DP World will form a strategic partnership in respect of these assets. As part of this partnership, DP World will continue to manage the port operations. The Emirati port conglomerate also sold its entire 55.16% stake in Asia Container Terminals Holdings Ltd., the holding company of the entity that owns and operates CT8, for $279m to Hutchison Port Holdings Trust.
Source: AME Info