Business | Markets
UAE equities bounce back
Move to back Dubai World, Nakheel's debt inspires investor confidence
- By Ahmed A. Namatalla, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 26, 2010
- Image Credit: AFP
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock markets yesterday rallied to their highest levels since November and January, respectively, after the Dubai Government announced its decision to back the debt of Dubai World and its property-development subsidiary Nakheel.
Abu Dhabi: Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock markets on Thursday rallied to their highest levels since November and January, respectively, after the Dubai Government announced its decision to back the debt of Dubai World and its property-development subsidiary Nakheel.
Benchmark indices for the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) advanced by 4.3 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively, led by the real estate and financial services sectors.
"Dubai is fully aware of the importance of all its counterparties and the vital role they will play in the future development of the emirate," said Rami Sidani, head of Middle East investments at Schroders Investment Management.
"All these players are extremely important to the government."
In Dubai, investors flocked to Emaar and Arabtec shares, pushing the Emaar up by 8.8 per cent and Arabtec up by 6.9 per cent. Shares of the listed DFM security climbed by 7.8 per cent.
In Abu Dhabi, Aldar gained 5.8 per cent and Sorouh added 6.7 per cent. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, RAKbank and Union National Bank all gained more than 5 per cent.
Liquidity support
The debt restructuring proposal, still awaiting the approval of the creditors committee, will see Dubai pump $8 billion (Dh29.4 billion) into Nakheel and $1.5 billion into Dubai World using $5.7 billion remaining from the Abu Dhabi fiscal support package in addition to "internal Dubai Government resources," according to a statement released yesterday.
More significantly, Dubai will convert the $8.9 billion it is owed by Dubai World and the $1.2 billion owed by Nakheel into equity. Since the government is already a full owner of both, this means the debt will be written-off.
"The Dubai Government recognises Nakheel is a pillar of its economy," Sidani said.
"Accordingly, we've seen full support for Nakheel which was not fully expected in my opinion. With the capital injection, it gives the company ammunition to proceed with vital projects."
Wael Ganeim, an institutional trader at HC Securities in Dubai, said UAE markets have been underperforming, when compared to their counterparts in the Gulf, by about 30 per cent, partly due to concerns over Dubai World.
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