Middle East ETF News Older than One Year
Oil price rise to erase projected Oman deficit
April 8, 2010--Governor of Oman's central bank, Hamud bin Sangur al-Zadjali has said that rising oil prices could help the Sultanate avoid posting a budget deficit this year as forecast, even as it increases spending, Bloomberg has reported.
Rising oil prices and signs of global economic recovery "will give a strong push to the economy and will help boost investor confidence" in Oman, he said. Last November, the country had projected deficit for 2010 of OR800m ($2.1bn), or around 4% of gross domestic product, based on an oil price of $50 a barrel.
Source: AME Info
Tadawul posts slight rise
April 7, 2010--Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index (Tasi) rose 0.23% today to close on 6,774, led by the Building & Construction sector, which gained 1.30%.
Of the 138 symbols traded, 55 rose and 56 fell. Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co. climbed 3.88% to SR40.20.
Source: AME Info
UAE banks' government deposits fall 13%
April 8, 2010--According to official data by the UAE central bank, government deposits held in country's banks fell 13% in the first two months of 2010 to their lowest level since late 2008, Reuters has reported.
The drop is seen by analysts as an indication that policymakers are more comfortable with liquidity in the system. "We have been seeing that net government deposits in the banking sector has been coming down since the second quarter of last year across the GCC," Monica Malik, chief economist at EFG-Hermes in Dubai said.
Source: AME Info
DGCX volume increases 133% in first quarter of 2010
Trading in January-March stood at 495,059 futures contracts, valued at US $29.6 billion
March volume up 60% on last year at 162,034 contracts
April 7, 2010-- Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) recorded a 133% rise in volume in the first quarter of 2010, with 495,059 futures contracts traded, valued at US $29.6 million.
Volume in the January-March period rose on the back of strong demand for currencies, gold and WTI crude oil futures, which recorded volumes of 361,760, 112,077 and 13,457 contracts respectively. Volumes in the first quarter increased by 128%, 133% and 138% for currencies, gold and WTI crude oil respectively.
The Exchange recorded 162,034 contracts in March, valued at US $9.7 billion, a 60% increase on March 2009. Trading activity was spurred by healthy growth in gold and WTI futures of 91% and 125% respectively. Currencies, which have attracted increased participation year to date, saw volume of 122,271 contracts in March, up 49% on last year, largely led by increases in Sterling/Dollar, Indian Rupee/Dollar and Yen/Dollar futures.
"The increased demand for DGCX futures is evident from the growth trend in the first quarter of 2010. It endorses the success of our strategy of offering a diversified product mix and liquid markets through tighter prices," said Eric Hasham, Chief Executive Officer, DGCX.
"Looking ahead, the Exchange will continue to strengthen its product range, taking into consideration member requirements, and provide participants with an ever more efficient and secure environment to trade," he added. Average daily volume in March stood at 4,601 contracts, up 53% on the same period last year.
Source: Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX)
Dubai bourse halts trading on nine Kuwaiti companies
April 7, 2010--The Dubai Financial Market has suspended nine Kuwaiti companies for no disclosing their annual results within the deadline of three months from the end of the financial year.
The suspended Kuwaiti companies are: Grand Real Estate, Hits Telecom, KFIC, Gulf Petroleum, International Investment Group, Bayan, National Industries, Ekttitab and Almadina Investment.
Source: AME Info
79 per cent of brokers and fund managers say equity derivatives use will grow in 2010
April 6, 2010--The Middle East equity derivatives market is likely to expand in 2010 compared to last year’s levels, according to 79 per cent of fund managers and brokers polled by NASDAQ Dubai.
A total of 87 per cent described equity derivatives as useful tools for managing risk, while 72 per cent said their organisation was interested in learning more about the uses and benefits of equity derivatives.
The survey received responses from representatives of 40 fund managers and brokerage firms who attended the FOW Derivatives World Middle East conference in Dubai on March 16.
Jeff Singer, Chief Executive of NASDAQ Dubai, said: “The survey shows that investors are poised to make increasing use of the Middle East equity derivatives market, which is still in its infancy and has potential for rapid growth.
“NASDAQ Dubai will continue to drive the development of the market forward, by expanding its product range and by educating finance professionals and the public about the advantages that equity derivatives offer.”
NASDAQ Dubai launched the UAE’s only equity derivatives platform in November 2008. Trading volumes have expanded from 90 in January 2009 to several thousand every week by the end of the year.
The market currently consists of futures over 21 individual UAE stocks and over the FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 index, which is well correlated with equity markets across the MENA region and offers significant hedging and investment possibilities.
Useful additions to NASDAQ Dubai’s equity derivatives market would include futures listed on other GCC individual stocks and equity indices, as well as equity options, respondents to the survey said.
A total of 93% of respondents said that NASDAQ Dubai’s trading model provides useful protection against the risk of default by a counterparty, which can affect over-the-counter trades. NASDAQ Dubai operates a central clearing house which eliminates such risk.
NASDAQ Dubai Academy, the exchange’s training arm, will run two one-day training courses that explain the benefits of equity derivatives and how to trade them. The first course, on April 13, is suitable for the general public and the second, on April 14, is aimed at finance professionals. More information is available at www.nasdaqdubai.com/academy
Source: NASDAQ Dubai
Islamic finance industry faces need for innovation, including its own derivative products
April 6, 2010--A combined use of securitisation and derivatives offers considerable scope for reducing the risk exposures of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) and thus improving their overall creditworthiness, Moody's Investors Service says in a new Special Comment.
However, the Islamic finance industry needs to develop its own innovation phase and not imitate conventional derivative instruments in order for IFIs to maintain their special status and Shari'ah-compliant approach, Moody's report explains.
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi Investment House posts $5m profit in 2009
April 6, 2010--Abu Dhabi Investment House has posted Dhs17m ($5m) in net profit for 2009. Total income for 2009 was at Dhs207m ($56m) achieving net profit of Dhs17m ($5m).
Total assets rose by 4% compared to year 2008 to reach Dhs1599m ($435m), Adih said.
Source: AME Info
ETFs to expand UAE investors' base
April 5, 2010--The recent launch of the first exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the UAE will open up a broad investment horizon to retail as well as institutional investors from the region and abroad, said a top official of BlackRock, a global asset management and investment management firm.
Deborah Fuhr, Managing Director and global Head of ETF research and implementation strategy, BlackRock, London, said: "ETFs are a very useful tool to implement exposure to a diversified asset class like equity, fixed income and commodities very quickly and anytime during the day.
"In the UAE, for instance, the ETF will give investors an easy way to get exposure to securities that are listed on both the Abu Dhabi Securities ExchangeAbu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial MarketDubai Financial Market in a single product."
Asked what value will ETF bring to the UAE's capital market, especially in the current volatile conditions, she said the ETF would bring the benefit of getting a diversified exposure.
Source: Zawya
Index Data Monthly Report: MENA Edition
April 4, 2010--Index Data Monthly Report: MENA Edition from Dow Jones Indexes.
Source: Dow Jones Indexes
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