Abu Dhabi index creeps higher on first trading day since start of Ramadan



The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange crept higher this morning, led by banks and telecommunications, as investors bought up shares on the first trading day since the start of Ramadan.

First Gulf Bank, the lender controlled by Abu Dhabi's ruling family, advanced 1.4 per cent to Dh8.65. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the country's second biggest Shariah-compliant bank, rose 0.6 per cent to Dh3.11.

Telecommunications operator Etisalat, which holds the largest weighting on the emirate's index, gained 0.4 per cent to Dh9.11. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange General Index gained 0.1 per cent to 2470.33 points.

Investors typically position their portfolios ahead of second quarter results and a so-called "Ramadan rally", which traditionally occurs towards the end of the holy month every year.

On the Dubai Financial Market exchange, Emaar Properties gained 0.6 per cent to Dh3.28. Arabtec Holding, the emirate's largest contractor, added 0.3 per cent to Dh3.00.

The Dubai Financial Market General Index slipped 0.1 per cent to 1532.96 points.

Elsewhere in the region, Kuwait's measure lost 0.4 per cent to 5813.62 points. Bahrain's index added 0.1 per cent to 5439.01 points. Qatar's QE Index was little changed, down 0,05 per cent, to 8277.39 points.

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The biog

Age: 23

Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering

Favourite hobby: playing the piano

Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"

Family: Married and with a daughter

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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

On sale: now

Neymar's bio

Total club appearances 411

Total goals scored 241

Appearances for Barca 186

Goals scored for Barca 105

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances