Kuwait bourse consolidates above 6,100
January 16, 2013--The KSE market index added 11.51 points Wednesday to hit 6,128.11.
Islamic financial institution Burgan Bank gained 1.75% to reach KD0.580. After its shares hit a three-week high Tuesday, Mobile Telecommunications Co. or Zain slipped 1.22% to KD0.810.
Source: AME Info
GCC Markets Performance -2012
January 15, 2013--In stark contrast to the emerging markets, which surged in 2012 due to the large influx of liquidity, the GCC markets' performance was lackluster.
The US Fed continued its indefinite bond-purchase program to ensure that long-term interest rates remain low; similarly, the (ECB) embarked on an unlimited bond-buying program to keep interest rates under check in troubled Eurozone countries. While the MSCI World and Emerging Market indices increased 13.2% and 15.1%, respectively, in 2012, the GCC region indices grew between 20% (Dubai) and -7% (Bahrain) during the year. Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the GCC, recorded an increase of 6.0% in 2012. Political unrest in the Middle East continued for a second year and had an adverse impact on the markets in 2012.
Source: Zawya
Kuwait's Al Safat Real Estate soars on minister statement
January 15, 2013--The KSE Market Index added 9.7 points Tuesday to reach 6,116.6 points, mainly driven by banks and telecom firms.
Shares of Al Safat Real Estate Co. jumped 7.70%, finishing at KD0.035. Earlier in the day, Kuwait's Minister of Transportation and State Minister for Housing Affairs, Salem Al-Othaina said at the 16th Housing Exhibition which he opened that a new system would be implemented soon to reduce the waiting time for private real estate investors, Kuwait Times reported. "The automation system that will be made applicable soon will fasten the process of receiving the demands," said the minister. Submitting applications will also be faster through this system. We are not able to meet all the demand currently but we will reduce the waiting period, he pointed out.
Source: AME Info
Global sukuk issuance surged 54% in 2012
January 15, 2013--Kuwait Finance House-Research has said the total of sukuk issuance by end of 2012 has reached $131bn with 54% increase than 2011, where total sukuk issuance in December reached $8bn with a 61% increase compared to last year, Saudi Gazette has reported.
A total of 55 sukuk were issued in December versus 55 sukuk in November and 72 in October. Malaysia took the top spot among sukuk issuing countries, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Governments remained the largest issuer type, representing 70.1% during December, while there were a number of significant issuances also issued in the financial services sector, the report said.
Source: AME Info
DP World shares hit 18-month high at NASDAQ Dubai
January 15,2013--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed at 1991.44, up 0.27% from the previous close.
Dubai Ports (DP) World, globally the third largest maritime port firm, surged 2.47% to hit $13.29, the highest price since June 1 2011 amid a general bullish outlook for the world economy in 2013. Earlier in the week, Swiss private bank Sarasin said the upside potential was higher among the emerging markets this year as they benefit from lower sovereign debt levels and low interest rates. DP World, albeit having strong links to the develop has massively expanded its footprint in emerging regions such as Africa, East Asia and Latin America.
Source: AME Info
Egyptian Exchange to list EGX 30 index futures on NYSE Liffe London
January 14, 2013--The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) has signed a license agreement with NYSE Liffe, the European derivatives business of NYSE Euronext, to list the EGX 30 index.
The agreement will enable NYSE Liffe to work with market participants to develop and launch a futures contract based on the EGX 30 index. "Futures contract on EGX 30 index will increase volumes on the underlying constituents of EGX 30 index, which will increase liquidity on EGX cash market," said EGP chairman, Dr Mohamed Omran. "Furthermore, it will introduce for the first time a beneficial hedging tool for investors to manage their risks."
Source: AMEInfo.com
Bahrain's Islamic banks push market index up
January 14, 2013--The Bahrain All-Share Index closed 0.10% higher at 1,072.82 points Monday, driven by Islamic investment bank Gulf Finance House (up 7.70%) and Islamic retail bank Ithmaar Bank (2.94% higher).
Bahrain Telecom or Batelco closed unchanged. Earlier in the day, Batelco said that its shareholders have voted to approve its acquisition of the various companies from Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) that comprise its Monaco and Islands Division. Shareholders also approved the issuance by the Company of debt instruments up to a value of $1bn as well as authorising and delegating the board of directors with all of the necessary authority in relation to determining the timing and conditions related to the issuance of any debt instruments and the steps required to issue them after obtaining the approval of the Central Bank of Bahrain. Earlier in the day, The National reported that Batelco plas to re-enter the Indian telecom market after it was forced to pull out from the subcontinent due to a corruption scandal triggered by India's former former telecom minister A Raja.
Source: AMEInfo.com
Saudi British Bank's Q4 net profit jumps 24.4%
January 14, 2013--The Saudi stock market Tadawul fell Monday by 0.38% to close at 7,087.83 points.
SABIC declined the third day straight, finishing at SR93.50 (off 0.27%). The earnings season continued with Saudi British Bank, known as SABB, whose share closed even at SR31.00. SABB reported a 24.4.% year-on-year increase in fourth quarter net profits, amounting to SR815m. The lender's net income during 12 months amounted to SR3.24bn against SR2.888b for the corresponding period of the previous year with an increase of 12.2%. SABB said in a statement to the Tadawul bourse the increase in net income during Q4 2012 was due to an increase in operating income and a decrease in operating expenses, while the same applied to the full-year net income increase.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Arabia moves to keep oil prices above $100
January 11, 2013--Saudi Arabia has cut oil production substantially,, moving to defend prices well above $100 a barrel and fend off a growing overhang in world oil supply, Reuters has reported.
The world's largest oil exporter produced 9.025 million bpd in December, down from 9.49 million bpd in November and 9.72 million in October and over 10 million bpd earlier in the year. Major customers of state oil company Saudi Aramco said the cuts were driven by lower demand. "It's nothing sinister. The call on Saudi Arabia's crude is much less and they are responding to that," said a major customer of state oil giant Saudi Aramco. "Whatever we ask for, we get - Aramco is not making the cuts."
Source: AME Info
40% growth in settlement window volumes on DME in 2012
January 10, 2013--United Arab Emirates: DME announced that average daily volumes (ADV) in the settlement window on the Exchange grew by 40% in 2012 reaching 1407 compared with 1003 in 2011.
November saw record levels of activity with a window AVD of 1,696 contracts and the Exchange's highest ever single day window volume on November, 15th at 2,545 contracts.
Source: AME Info