Little activity at home lets international markets lift local stocks



A big rise in European stocks lifted the UAE's indexes higher, as a lack of local events led sentiment on international markets to dominate local bourses.

The UAE's markets made gains after Europe's stocks started the trading week sharply higher, calming fears of investors in local markets that the market rout seen earlier this month would continue.

Stocks on the Dubai Financial Market rose 0.85 per cent to 1,464.86, while Abu Dhabi's gauge was up 0.59 per cent to 2,570.95, snapping a week-long string of losses.

Rises in large cap stocks buoyed Abu Dhabi's index, including Etisalat, which rose 0.49 per cent to Dh10.20 a share, and Aldar, which increased 0.85 per cent to Dh1.18 a share. Dubai Islamic Bank, Emaar Properties and Tabreed were among the stocks rising on Dubai's market.

The gains came after European shares opened sharply higher, with the UK's FTSE 100 index up 2.12 per cent to 5,147.71 and the FTSE MIB Index of Italian stocks rising 2.88 per cent to 15,022.52.

Most indexes on the continent have had a harrowing month as the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis shows little sign of abating. Italy's measure has lost a fifth of its value since the start of August.

But optimism over global stock markets' performance is now the biggest factor moving markets in the region, said Rami Sidani, the head of Mena region portfolio management at Schroders, the international investment house.

"Today saw a bit of a rebound in Europe," he said. "What's happening globally is the main driver, dictating regional market performance."

But a big question mark remains over the US Federal Reserve to stimulate the world's largest economy. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke used his speech at Jackson Hole last year to announce a second round of quantitative easing, dubbed QE2.

"There's now a big expectation of a QE3 on the horizon," Mr Sidani said, a possibility which would bring extra liquidity for local markets.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain and Kuwait's markets gained, while Saudi Arabia and Oman fell. Qatar's markets ended the day flat.

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Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons.  Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia