Egypt money supply tipped 6.7% last year
February 01, 2012--The Egyptian central bank has said the country’s M2 money supply rose by 6.7% in the year to the end of December, Reuters has reported.
Money supply was EGP1,039bn ($172.26bn), up from EGP1,032bn at the end of November and EGP974bn at the end of December 2010. M2 is a category of money supply that includes general use in addition to all time-related deposits, savings deposits, and non-institutional money-market funds.
Source: AME Info
Iran grain shipments stranded due to sanctions, 400,000 tonnes
February 01, 2012--Around 400,000 tonnes of grain have been held up on at least 10 ships outside Iranian ports for as long as three weeks as the result of the European Union sanctions, Reuters has reported, citing trade sources.
"The myriad of sanctions have worked to the point where the Iranian banking system is virtually defunct, thereby not allowing international trade houses to receive workable letters of credit," one European grain trader said. "Their ships are stopped while people figure out how to get payment done, it's a mess." The trader said. "The exporters cannot unload without payment as they would face multi-million dollar losses if they do not get their money," said another grain trader.
Source: AME Info
Iran reserves total $120 billion cash, 907 tons of gold
February 01, 2012--The chairman of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce announced Iran has $120bn in foreign exchange reserves and possesses 907 tonnes in gold reserves,
Mehr news has reported. Iran had purchased the gold in recent years at an average $600 per ounce, said Yahya Ale-Eshagh.
Source: AME Info
Egyptian officials look to set up Islamic index
February 1, 2012--Egypt's newly-elected Islamists say they want to introduce an index of companies that comply with sharia law as part of a wider move towards an Islamic economy.
Officials from Freedom and Justice, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, and from Nour, a party of ultraconservative Salafi Islamists, argue that such an index would encourage a slice of investors who, they allege, have shunned the bourse for fear that it might somehow contravene religious law.
Source: FT.com
Tadawul market adds 3.25% in January
January 31, 2012--The Saudi Arabian Tadauwul All Share Index advanced one per cent Tuesday, closing at 6,626.04 points. Market bellwether Sabic added likewise one per cent.
During the first month of the year, the Riyadh-based gauge gained 3.25%, the second highest GCC performance behind the Dubai Financial Market (up six per cent). Rising oil prices supported the sentiment. The barrel oil rose over 2.3% to reach $101 on concerns over an escalation of the tensions between the West and Iran.
Source: AME Info
Saudia Dairy & Foodstuff Co. advances on land ownership registration in Riyadh
January 30, 2012--Saudi Arabia's Tadawul market index continued its step-by-step rise, climbing 0.10% higher at 6,560.25 points.
While petrochemicals and metals giant Sabic ended even, shares of Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia, known as Zain Ksa, hit an 11-month high at SR7.55 (up 4.90%). Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company or Sadafco gained half a per cent to reach SR52.25. Earlier in the day, Sadafco announced the completion of all regulatory and legal requirements to register the ownership of the land in Riyadh Sulaymaniya district on Sunday. Year-to-date, the Tadawul gaugae gained 2.22%. the bourse's announcement to allow forein companies to list its shares in Riyadh soon has lifted the market sentiment. The move is expected to have positive spill-over effects in all GCC capital markets.
Source: AME Info
DP World, Damas advance at NASDAQ Dubai
January 30, 2012--The FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed at 1442.66 up half a per cent from the previous close.
Global maritime port operator and market bellwether Dubai Ports (DP) World rebounded by two per cent to hit $10.97, while jewelry trader Damas added 2.86%, closing at $0.36.
Source: AME Info
Al Khaliji Holding gains as net profit increases slightly
January 30, 2012--The Qatar Exchange (QE) Index closed 0.61% higher at 8,491.56 points as shares gained across the board.
Al Khaliji Holding added 1.10%. The manufacturer and import company of cement has achieved a net profit of QR74m in 2011 compared to QR71.2m in 2010.
Source: AME Info
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