Sunday 4 December 2011

MENA stock markets close - December 4, 2011

ExchangeStatus IndexChange
TASI (Saudi Stock Market)
6169.23-0.01%
DFM (Dubai Financial Market)
1404.341.84%
ADX (Abudhabi Securities Exchange)
2472.951.15%
KSE (Kuwait Stock Exchange)
5829.3-0.10%
BSE (Bahrain Stock Exchange)
1157.51-0.48%
MSM (Muscat Securities Market)
5508.850.60%
QE (Qatar Exchange)
8758.711.11%
LSE (Beirut Stock Exchange)
1195.921.49%
EGX 30 (Egypt Exchange)
4073.21-0.36%
ASE (Amman Stock Exchange)
1976.35-0.06%
TUNINDEX (Tunisia Stock Exchange)
4684.02-0.03%
CB (Casablanca Stock Exchange)
109330.42%
PSE (Palestine Securities Exchange)
465.24-1.21%

UAE might see a fresh round of job cuts - Middle East North Africa Financial Network



Middle East North Africa Financial Network
(MENAFN) Economist Intelligence Unit lately warned of new round of job cuts in the UAE next year, as companies seek to suppress costs amid fears a slowdown in Europe and the US could affect the Gulf state's economy, Arabian Business reported. ...





gulfnews : UAE Cabinet approves draft law on companies

The Cabinet on Sunday approved the new draft law on companies, which aims to enhance the flexibility and strength of the national economy, and keeping abreast with global economic changes by preserving a continuous and balanced growth in all economic sectors in the UAE.

The law was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was present.

ADS Securities To Expand Its UK Presence - Abu Dhabi City Guide

Abu Dhabi based ADS Securities (ADSS), the largest independent forex and commodities trading platform in the Middle East, announced today that it isopening a London office and applying for the relevant Financial Services Authority (FSA) licence to allow it to expand its UK operation.

The ADSS trading platform has already helped accessMiddle East liquidity at a vital time for trading,and established itself as a fast growing challenger in a very competitive market. With a high level of capitalisation, access to deep liquidity and positioned between the Far-East and western markets, ADSS has ambitious plans for the industry.

Christian Bock, ADSS Head of Sales, Europe and North America, said: “London is the primary hub for global FX trading and will remain so the foreseeable future, but the market is changing. We already offer some of the best prices and spreads across all the major pairs, but clients are now looking at more than just pips. They want to work with FX platforms that can show they are financially secure, well backed and can access liquidity when they need it. Clients need to know the brokerages and trading platforms executing their tradesaren’t encumbered by their own leveraged positions or toxic flows and are focused 100% on enabling client success. ADSS can provide the reassurance clients need with the trading edge they want, so we are delighted to be opening a dedicated London office.”



Dubai Shares Advance Most in a Month on Bank Action, Wage Rise - Businessweek

Dubai’s shares rose to the highest in more than a month as global markets gained after European central banks moved to ease the region’s debt crisis and the United Arab Emirates increased wages for government employees.
Emaar Properties PJSC gained to the highest since September after two bankers said Dec. 1 the developer of the world’s tallest tower agreed on an $800 million Islamic loan that costs less than its sukuk. Arabtec Holding PJSC rose 2.7 percent, while Drake & Scull International climbed 4.4 percent. The DFM General Index added 2.2 percent to 1,409.88, the highest level since Oct. 31, at 11:55 a.m. in Dubai. Abu Dhabi’s gauge rose 1.2 percent. Markets in the U.A.E. were shut Dec. 1 for a public holiday.
European stocks posted their biggest weekly rally in three years as central banks cut the interest rate on dollar funding and China raised cash supply for its banks to speed up growth in the world’s second-largest economy. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped 8.7 percent last week, the largest such advance since November 2008. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index surged 7.4 percent, helped by American Thanksgiving retail sales.


Agility bidding for Kuwait Health Assurance Co stake | Reuters

Kuwait's Agility has bid about 25.6 million dinars ($92.44 mln) to acquire a strategic stake in Kuwait Health Assurance Co. (KHAC), a company currently under establishment in the Gulf Arab state, Agility said on Sunday.

KHAC is a project envisioned in Kuwait's five-year development plan and aims to privatise expatriate health insurance and associated medical care. The project also includes plans to build and operate three new hospitals and 15 health clinics in the Gulf state.

The company is being set up with a capital of 318 million dinars ($1.15 billion) and the required equity to establish the firm is 30 percent, the logistics firm said in a statement to Kuwait bourse.


gulfnews : Global sentiment likely to boost regional bourses

A better than expected employment report in the US and anticipation Germany, France and rest of the Eurozone would act swiftly and decisively to end their lingering sovereign debt crisis in their own best interests is likely to boost sentiment on the region's stock markets this week, although the upside is going to be limited, say analysts.

The regional markets will also draw comfort from surging global oil prices, which have returned to the $100 per barrel mark, boosting the coffers of the exporting countries.

On Friday, crude oil for January delivery rose 76 cents to $100.96 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement since November 16. Prices advanced 4.3 per cent last week and are up 10 per cent this year. Brent oil for January settlement rose 95 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $109.94 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Regional investors hail changes but call for Emirates bourse merger - The National

Local investors have welcomed the implementation of new trading processes such as short selling and new indexes for the region.

But many feel the long-awaited merger of the Emirates' three stock exchanges would complete the UAE market reforms.

Nasdaq Dubai and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) consolidated some operations in July last year, but a tie-up between the emirate's exchanges and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has proved elusive.

Lawsuits filed over Abu Dhabi property - The National

Abu Dhabi is starting to experience many of the same issues that plagued Dubai's property market, with more buyers complaining about construction delays and treatment by developers.

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed over stalled projects. And many buyers have been upset at unexpected fees and the quality of construction in newly completed developments, agents say.

"You would have thought Abu Dhabi would have learnt from the mistakes Dubai made," said Paul Preston, the managing director of Elysian Real Estate. "But that doesn't seem to be the case."

Blue-chip Arab index to aid local markets - The National

Standard & Poor's is set to launch an index of leading blue-chip stocks in the Arab world, a move that may help to tempt back foreign investors fleeing instability in parts of the region.

The index will aim to attract exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which track such indexes around the world and account for about US$1.5 trillion (Dh5.5 tn) in global equity investment.

"We are building a benchmark now for funds to invest in the region when the economy improves and oil prices pick up," said Fadi Khalaf, the secretary general of the Arab Federation of Exchanges, which counts 16 stock markets as its members including all GCC states, and which is helping to establish the index.

Saudi Stock Market close - December 3, 2011

General Index
Intraday 3 month
Daily Statistics
Date03/12/2011
General Index6169.61
Change (%)1.07%
Change65.05
T. Volume192929104
T. Companies 150
Advanced114
Declined21
Unchanged10
UnTraded5

Hopes high for UAE market upgrade - The National

Investor optimism is rising ahead of a decision this month by MSCI about a promotion of the UAE to "emerging" market status.

Such a move would give the country's flagging bourses a much-needed tonic.

Any upgrade would open the country to a global market of US$3 trillion (Dh11.01tn) in funds benchmarked against MSCI's indexes globally.



Admission in lawsuit over Dubai property deal | Herald Sun

THE key witness for a company suing over a failed Dubai property deal that has seen two Victorian men detained since 2009 has admitted giving false statements.

David Brown, a senior executive for Queensland's Sunland Corporation, was giving evidence on Thursday in the company's lawsuit against Prudentia Investments Pty Ltd and its principal, Angus Reed, as well as former Dubai Waterfront Corporation executive Matthew Joyce.

Mr Joyce and another man have been on trial in Dubai for the past 18 months on charges of bribery relating to the sale of land in Dubai.


Gulf Daily News » Bahrain Bourse amends rules for listing of firms

Bahrain Bourse has amended regulations and requirements for listing of closed companies at the bourse. A resolution in this respect was issued by board of directors chairman Yusuf Abdulla Humood.

The first article of the resolution stipulates cancelling two clauses.

The clause stipulating that the price of shares on the market should not be less than the paid-up percentage of the nominal value of each share was cancelled.