Kuwait's Al Dar National Real Estate Co. rises to ten-week high
January 30, 2012--The KSE Market Index advanced 0.13% to reach 5,865.4 points, as banks, investment firms and dvelopers pushed the measure slightly higher.
Al-Dar National Real Estate Co. gained the most (up nine per cent at KD0.018), the highest level since Novemember 17 2011.
Source: AME Info
Dana Gas share of the day, as Sharjah-based energy giant's profit soars 220%
January 30, 2012--The Abu Dhabi market gauge slipped 0.45%, closing at 2,421.68 points, as market bellwether Etisalat fell 0.60%. Dana Gas was the most liquid share, adding 2.70%.
Earlier in the day, the energy giant headquartered in the emirate fo Sharjah announced its net profit for 2011 rose 220% year-on-year amounting to Dhs506m ($138m) as higher output and energy prices lifted the result. Bloomberg, however, reported in recent weeks that the Dana Gas sukuk yield soared on concerns in the market that it might be unable to repay a $1bn Islamic bond due to in October this year "as the firm failed to provide details how to pay off" the maturing sukuk. Around 50m ADX-listed shares were traded, valued at Dhs48.2m. Abu Dhabi's Finance House (FH).
Source: AME Info
Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange Weekly Market Commentary
January 29, 2012--Economic Data Overview
The coming week presents a fairly steady flow of economic data releases, but only a few are likely to grab market attention ahead of the key payroll data on Friday.
The January report on the employment situation on Friday will include the annual revision to the establishment survey. Revisions will likely push the numbers for 2011 up a bit, but the focus will be on January 2012 and if there continues to be improvement in private payrolls.
At the moment, analysts expect payrolls to rise 148,000 in January after jumping 200,000 in the previous month on widespread gains. The unemployment rate is expected to rebound to 8.6%.
The ADP National Employment Report for January at on Wednesday should signal another increase in private payrolls. The numbers have registered a fairly substantial miss in the last two months, but have been consistent with the direction of private payroll gains and should at least hint at whether markets can expect another decent reading.
The Challenger report on layoff intentions for January on Thursday may show some pick up in the pace of job cuts. No one industry seems particularly active for the month, but a variety of announcements could add up to a slight deterioration in what has been a largely unchanged rate of layoffs intentions in the last three months of 2011.
Initial jobless claims for the week ended January 21 on Thursday should remain on track with an uneven trend slowly downward. Most of the volatility seen earlier in the month due to a mismatch in seasonal adjustment and movements in unadjusted claims levels should have cleared the numbers, and the underlying trends should be more visible.
The ISM Manufacturing Index for January at on Wednesday is expected to reflect the modest expansion shown in the various surveys of manufacturing from regional purchasing managers and Fed District Banks. The factory sector is still regaining some upward direction after the softness seen in the summer months in 2011.
Prior to the release of the national data from the ISM
Source: Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX)
Egypt's external debt climbs to $34.9bn
January 29, 2012--The central bank of Egypt has said the country's external debt has reached $34.9bn at the end of the 2010-11 financial year, up by $1.2bn on the year before, Ahram has reported.
The European Union is Egypt's largest creditor and is owed a total of $10.8bn by the country. Japan is listed as the second biggest creditor to the tune of $4.2bn, while the US is in third place with $3.1bn. Kuwait topped the list of Arab creditors, with total loans to Egypt of $854.1m by the end of the 2010-11 fiscal year in June, followed by Saudi Arabia with $307.6m, while the UAE is owed $162.4m, the figures showed.
Source: AME Info
Egypt benchmark stock index climbs most in 10 months after uprising anniversary
January 26, 2012-- Egypt's stock market posted its strongest gains in about 10 months, with the benchmark index rallying over 7 percent on Thursday as the peaceful passing of the one-year anniversary of the uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak injected optimism.
The Egyptian Exchange's briefly halted trade after the broader EGX100 index hit a 5 percent circuit-breaker — a measure aimed at calming the market. It continued its climb after trading resumed, closing up 5.76 percent and gaining almost 300 points, or 7.18 percent, by the end of the trading day.
"There is a gradual stability (in the political scene) emerging day by day, and there is growing confidence in the economy, day by day," said Khaled Nagah, trading manager at Mega Investments.
Source: Star Tribune
Dubai market gauge knocks out 1,400-resistance, hits six-week high
January 26, 2012--After a tricky opening amid profit booking, the DFM General Index quickly regained momentum and eventually closed 0.70% higher at 1,405.82 points. DFM shares improved to Dhs80 (up 0.63%). Market bellwether Emaar could not follow and dipped 0.74%.
Investment bank Shuaa Capital gained the most (up 3.33% at Dhs0.527). Some 164m shares were traded, valued at Dhs188.5m. Year-to-date, the DFM General Index has advanced by 3.60%, the second highest performance in the Arab world after the Egyptian Stock Exchange (up 21%).
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank shares bullish amid soaring net profit
January 26, 2012--The Abu Dhabi market measure ADXGI advanced 0.63% to 2,390, Thursday. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank jumped 5.70% to reach Dhs3.02. Earlier in the day, ADCB reported a 12-month-profit of Dhs3.045bn, compared to Dhs390.6m in the year before.
Income from net trading and from Islamic financing improved in particular. Some 70m ADX-listed shares were traded, valued at Dhs79.2m.
Source: AME Info
DP World rises to two-month high, sells stake in UK's Tilbury Container Services
January 26, 2012--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed 1.74% higher at 1451.91. Global maritime port operator DP World surged 3.10% to hit $10.98.
Earlier in the day, DP World said it has sold all 34% of its shares in Tilbury Container Services Limited (operator of Tilbury Container Terminal in the United Kingdom) to a subsidiary of Otter Ports Holdings Ltd, owner of Forth Ports Limited, for a total consideration for the shares of £48.45m ($75.48m). Following a similar transaction with Associated British Ports, the shareholder of Forth Ports now own 100% of Tilbury Container Services. As the price for the ounce of gold surged above $1,700, Dubai Gold Securities were also demanded (up 2.36% at $168.90). Jewelry trader Damas closed even at $0.35.
Source: AME Info
Banks drive Kuwait bourse rise
January 26, 2012--The KSE Market Index addd 0.21%, finishing at 5,852.2 points. Shares of Kuwait Real Estate Company gained the most (9.8% higher at KD0.056).
With a day gain of 1.12%, the banking sector index was the top segment. Year-to-date, the KSE Market Index advanced 0.65%.
Source: AME Info
Commercial Bank of Qatar dips slightly, reports higher annual net profit
January 26, 2012--The Qatar Exchange gained 0.20% Thursday to reach 8,434.70 points. The country's second bank by assets Commercial Bank of Qatar or CBQ fell 1.50% to QR80.40. CBQ said it achieved a net profit of QR1.88bn in 2011, compared to QR1.63bn in 2010.
Earnings per Share (EPS) amounted to QR7.71 compared to QR7.24 in 2010. The bank recommended a profit distribution in the form of 6QR per share cash dividend. HE, Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CBQ commented: “The year 2011 proved to be yet another unsettling year for financial markets. Middle Eastern markets were unsettled in the first half of the year and the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe has undermined the potential for global recovery. Despite this, Qatar’s economy has remained resilient and has demonstrated significant progress and growth during 2011, and CBQ has successfully identified market opportunities to grow its business and has delivered a record set of results for the full year.”
Source: AME Info