Gulf stock markets mostly rise, quieter as Ramadan nears

Most Gulf stock markets surged on Tuesday but trading volumes were small as some investors stayed away because of the approach of the holy month of Ramadan and summer holidays, when activity tends to decrease in some bourses.

Dubai’s index spent most of the day little changed but closed 1.0 percent higher after a surge in the final half-hour.

Investment bank Shuaa Capital jumped 3.7 percent in unusually heavy trade after sources told Reuters that it cut about 15 percent of its workforce at the end of last week, ahead of a possible sale of a stake in the company by Dubai Group.

Dubai Group mandated Emirates NBD in April to arrange a sales process for its 48 percent stake in Shuaa. There is speculation in the market that a major financial firm in Dubai or the Middle East could buy the stake; Shuaa did not respond to requests for comment.

GFH Financial, the most heavily traded stock, added 2.1 percent after it invited its shareholders and investors to attend a briefing by senior management in Dubai on Wednesday afternoon on its future prospects.

Saudi Arabia’s index rose 0.8 percent in its thinnest volume since early January, with the petrochemical sector index climbing 1.1 percent.

But Al Yamamah Steel, which had jumped 15 percent in its first two days of trade since listing on Sunday, fell back 2.4 percent.

Abu Dhabi’s index rose 0.6 percent. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank climbed 1.5 percent but seven of the 10 most heavily traded stocks were flat or lower.

Qatar fell 0.2 percent as real estate firm Ezdan lost 0.9 percent but drilling rig provider Gulf International Services, again the most heavily traded stock, surged 2.6 percent.

TUESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

* The index rose 0.8 percent to 6,475 points.

DUBAI

* The index gained 1.0 percent to 3,248 points.

ABU DHABI

* The index rose 0.6 percent to 4,222 points.

QATAR

* The index fell 0.2 percent to 9,665 points.

KUWAIT

* The index gained 0.2 percent to 5,323 points.

OMAN

* The index fell 0.2 percent to 5,937 points.

BAHRAIN

* The index edged up 0.1 percent to 1,101 points.

Source: Reuters