Selling pressure dominated Arab market performance during yesterday's session, amid ongoing uncertainty over geopolitical developments in the Middle East, prompting investors to exercise caution and reduce their risk appetite. This was reflected in lower liquidity levels compared with sessions in previous weeks.

Liquidity in local equity markets touched 1.6 billion dirhams (AED), distributed between 1.04 billion dirhams on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and 518 million dirhams on the Dubai Financial Market, after 388.8 million shares were traded across more than 39,800 transactions.

The market capitalisation of local equities stood at approximately 3.853 trillion dirhams, comprising 2.882 trillion dirhams for shares listed on the Abu Dhabi Financial Market and 971.4 billion dirhams for shares on the Dubai Financial Market.

Emaar Properties captured the largest share of Dubai market liquidity at 188.5 million dirhams, followed by Emirates NBD at 60.8 million dirhams and Emaar Development at 40.8 million dirhams.

The Dubai market index closed at 9,852.27 points, down 1.28%. Dubai National Insurance rose 8.33%, Aramex gained 1.2%, Bank Al Salam – Bahrain added 0.98%, and Al Etihad Cooperative rose 0.91%, while BHM Capital fell 4.6%, Taleem Holding dropped 3.1%, Watania International declined 2.88%, and Al Etihad Real Estate fell 2.7%.

Emirati investors were net buyers, with a net investment of 49.5 million dirhams, after recording purchases worth 272.4 million dirhams against sales of approximately 222.9 million dirhams.

The FTSE Abu Dhabi General Index (FADGI) also closed at 9,852.27 points, down 0.52%.

Aldar Properties led activity on the Abu Dhabi market, capturing the largest share of total trading with liquidity of 142.9 million dirhams, followed by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank attracting 103.9 million dirhams, then Alpha Dhabi Holding with 88.3 million dirhams.

Among the gainers on the Abu Dhabi market were Ras Al Khaimah Cement, up 3.13%, United Arab Bank, up 3.1%, Fertiglobe, up 2.3%, and National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels, up 2.04%.

On the other hand, Phoenix Group fell 3.85%, Investment Bank declined 3.33%, Abu Dhabi Ports dropped 3%, and Burjeel Holdings fell 2.8%.

Most Arab stock exchange indices declined, with the Saudi Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) falling 0.80%, Kuwait's index down 0.13%, Muscat down 0.21%, and Bahrain down 0.98%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's stock exchange index fell 0.59%.

In detail, the Saudi market's TASI index fell 0.80% to close at 10,716 points, with trading volumes of 4.4 billion riyals.

Al Rajhi Bank and Saudi National Bank shares declined 2% to 64.45 riyals and 37.32 riyals respectively, while shares of SABIC, Elm, Masar, BSF, Savola, and SASCO fell by between 1% and 4%.

In contrast, Saudi Aramco's share rose approximately 1% to 26.86 riyals, Al Akaria's share climbed 8% to 17.07 riyals, and Red Sea International and Intaj shares hit their upper limits at 27.28 riyals and 28.96 riyals respectively.

Egyptian stock exchange indices broadly declined at the close of yesterday's session, while market capitalisation gained 2.750 billion Egyptian pounds to close at 3,837.024 trillion Egyptian pounds.

Egypt's benchmark EGX 30 index fell 0.59% to close at 52,299 points, the EGX 30 Capped index declined 0.38% to close at 64,129 points, and the EGX 30 Total Return index lost 0.6% to close at 24,398 points.

The small and mid-cap EGX 70 Equal Weight index slipped 0.05% to close at 16,555 points, while the EGX 100 Equal Weight index fell 0.03% to close at 22,340 points.

The Amman Stock Exchange rose, supported by buying in blue-chip shares amid healthy liquidity. The general share index closed up 1.02% at 3,912 points, while the value of trading reached 14.6 million dinars.

A comparison of closing prices among traded companies showed 48 companies recording gains in their share prices, while 13 companies recorded declines.