Egypt works out IMF-backed economic programme
April 12, 2012--The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it is in close touch with Egyptian authorities as they work out a budget and round up political support that would make an IMF financing package possible, Reuters has reported.
An IMF mission was in Cairo from March 25 until Tuesday discussing details of an IMF-backed economic programme. "A financial arrangement to support Egypt's economic programme will be presented to the IMF Executive Board once this work is completed and external financing from bilateral donors and other international institutions is confirmed," the IMF said.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Stock Exchange rebounds on Alcoa, oil price recovery
April 11, 2012--The Saudi Arabian Tadawul bourse closed 0.28% higher at 7,573.28 points Wednesday, as U. S. markets rebounded across the board. Aluminium producer Alcoa opened Tuesday the earnings season and surprised markets by announcing a quarterly
profit. A recovery in oil prices, climbing above $102 per barrel after a sharp decline last week, also helped the Tadawul to stabilise. Earlier in the day, Swiss private bank Sarasin's Gobal Second Quarter outlook stated that "the rise in the price of oil is not a threat so far, but it remains a risk to the global cycle." Petrochemicals and metals giant Sabic edged a quarter percent higher. Saudi Industrial Development Co. fell the most (down 4.80%). The Tadawul market rose despite a negative market breath. 35 shares advanced, while 104 declined. Some 713m stocks were traded, valued at SR13.9bn.
Source: AME Info
Jazeera Airways corrects further as oil prices push carriers' cost base up
April 11, 2012--The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) Market Index advanced 0.25% to reach 6,164.30 points Wednesday, as industrials and real estates pulled the gauge higher.
Shares of The Commercial Real Estate Group soared 3.25% to close at KD0.095. Low-cost-carrier Jazeera Airways fell 2.17%, as
Source: AME Info
Islamic banks outperform at Abu Dhabi market ADX
April 11, 2012--The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange ADX declined 0.58% to 2,532.03 points, as share fell across all sectors.
While the conventional Bank of Sharjah or Bos dipped 0.60%, shares of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, known as ADIB, and Sharjah Islamic Bank advanced 1.74% and 1.12%, respectively. According to The Banker Middle East, Shari'ah-compliant UAE lenders account for 30 percent of the global islamic banking industry. 64.5m shares were traded, valued at Dhs103.5m.
Source: AME Info
Air Arabia shares extend bullish flight
April 11, 2012--The Dubai bourse DFM dipped slightly on Wednesday, ending off 0.38% at 1,672.01 points.
While the UAE's first developer Emaar slipped 0.62%, logistics provider Aramex gained the most (up 1.11% at Dhs1.82). Air Arabia advanced 0.42% to close at Dhs0.721. Earlier in the week, the low-budget carrier from Sharjah decided to raise its dividen payout to 6 fils per share. Some 177.1m shares were traded, valued at Dhs238m.
Source: AME Info
Egypt inflation dips in March
April 11, 2012--According to figures by Egypt's state statistics agency CAPMAS, urban consumer inflation was 9% in the 12 months to March, down from 9.2% in February, Reuters has reported.
On a monthly basis, urban inflation increased 1.2%. The urban consumer price index for March was 122.6 versus 112.4 a year earlier, the data showed.
Source: AME Info
Sabic shares hit five-week low as sluggish oil prices weigh on Riyadh
April 10, 2012--The Tadawul All Share Index or Tasi could not follow the rebound in Dubai (up 1.26% on Tuesday) and fell for the fifth session straight, closing off 1.89% at 7,551.88 points as Asia,
European and U. S. markets started weakly into the post-Easter week. Declining oil prices (down 4.24% month-on-month' 6.25% lower year-on-year) added to the negative sentiment in Riaydh as well. Petrochemicals giant Sabic fell to the lowest level since March 6, diving 2.61% to SR102.50. ACE Arabia Cooperative Insurance Company gained the most (up 9.91% at SR94.25). 19 out of 148 traded shares advanced, while a whopping 124 declined in value.
Source: AME Info
Qatar Exchange week-long decline halted
April 10, 2012--The Doha-based measure QE 20 added 0.16% Tuesday, closing at 8,771.07 points.
All sector indexes ended in the green. The country's largest lender Qatar National Bank or QNB added 0.10%, so did market bellwether Industries Qatar.
Source: AME Info
Kuwait shares gain across the board, lift market by half a percent
April 10, 2012--The KSE Market Index finished at 6,148.7 Tuesday, 0.47% higher compared to the previous close. According to a study released today by Global Investment House (unchanged),
Kuwait’s public finance in 2011/12 is all set to post a surplus for the thirteenth year in a row. "Total government revenue is expected to reach KD29.5bn for 2011/12 while expenses even if they touch the usually budgeted high figure of KD19.4bn will amount to a budget surplus of KD10.1bn," Globa said. Islamic financial institution Boubyan Bank soared 3.57%. Ajwan Gulf Real Estate lost the most (off 7.5%).
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi bourse's real estate rebound offset by sluggish Etisalat shares
April 10, 2012--The Abu Dhabi market gauge ADXGI closed even at 2,546.82 points.
Developers Aldar and Sorouh gained 2.56%, while market heavyweight Etisalat fell
Source: AME Info