Liquidity in local equity markets exceeded 2 billion dirhams yesterday, distributed at 1.2 billion dirhams on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and 838.3 million dirhams on the Dubai Financial Market, after 566.6 million shares were traded through 42,500 transactions. Arab stock exchanges showed mixed performance, with most indices moving sideways.

Stock market capitalisation was recorded at approximately 3.94 trillion dirhams, distributed at 2.932 trillion dirhams for shares listed on the Abu Dhabi market and 1.008 trillion dirhams for shares on the Dubai Financial Market.

Emaar Properties and Emaar Development shares together captured more than half of Dubai market liquidity, at a value of 439.9 million dirhams, equivalent to 52.5% of the market's total liquidity.

The Dubai market index closed at 6,104.98 points, down 1.27%. Shares that rose included Al Salam Bank Sudan, up 2.66%; BHM Capital, up 1.73%; Parkin, up 1.01%; and du, up 0.87%. Shares that fell included Emaar Development, down 3.85%; Shuaa Capital, down 3.73%; National Cement, down 3.47%; and Deyaar Development, down 2.63%.

The Dubai market saw a large direct block trade in Etihad Energy Services Holding (formerly Gulf Navigation) with a total value of 58.7 million dirhams. The deal was executed on 19.5 million shares at an execution price of 3.01 dirhams per share.

UAE investors leaned towards buying, with a net investment of 86 million dirhams, recording purchases worth 534.94 million dirhams against sales of approximately 448.9 million dirhams.

The FTSE Abu Dhabi General Index (FADGI) fell 0.11% to 10,024.70 points.

Aldar Properties led activity on the Abu Dhabi market, capturing the largest share of total trading volume with liquidity of 201.9 million dirhams, followed by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank attracting 106.6 million dirhams, then Alpha Dhabi Holding with liquidity of 92.2 million dirhams.

On the Abu Dhabi market, shares that rose included Emirates Insurance, up 12.2%; Alef Education, up 3.6%; National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels, up 2.76%; and Abu Dhabi National Hotels, up 2.04%. Shares that fell included Gulf Medical Projects, down 4.9%; Dar Al Takaful, down 4.7%; United Arab Bank, down 3.6%; and Investment Bank, down 3.33%.

Arab markets

Most Arab stock market indices declined, with Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) falling 0.35%, Kuwait's index down 0.42%, Qatar's index down 0.36%, and Muscat down 1.16%. Bahrain's bourse rose 0.28%, while outside the Gulf region, Egypt's stock exchange index fell 1.55%.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi market index (TASI) fell 0.35% to close at 11,034 points, with trading turnover of 4 billion riyals.

CGS shares topped the list of declining stocks, falling 10% to 6.98 riyals, while Kingdom Holding shares fell 4%.

On the other side, Al Asmak shares topped the list of gaining stocks, rising 10%, while shares of Eastern Province Development, Al Tadhamon Food, Anam Holding, and Al Fakharia rose by between 4% and 6%.

Egyptian stock exchange indices fell across the board, with market capitalisation losing 36.408 billion Egyptian pounds to close at 3,717.559 trillion Egyptian pounds.

The main index of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX 30) fell 1.55% to close at 51,769 points, the EGX 30 Capped index lost 1.52% to close at 63,492 points, and the EGX 30 Total Return index fell 1.56% to close at 24,136 points.

The small and medium enterprises index (EGX 70 Equal Weight) fell 0.84% to close at 15,596 points, while the EGX 100 Equal Weight index fell 1.05% to close at 21,324 points.

The Jordanian stock exchange fell following selling in blue-chip shares amid healthy liquidity.

The general equity index closed down 1.19% at 3,900 points, while trading value reached 8.1 million dinars. The services sector index fell 1.35%, the financial sector index fell 1.13%, and the industrial sector index fell 0.74%.

Comparing closing prices of traded companies, 24 companies showed gains in their share prices while 40 companies showed declines.