logo
Mideast Stocks: Saudi Arabia's stocks fall, most other Gulf markets flat

Mideast Stocks: Saudi Arabia's stocks fall, most other Gulf markets flat

Zawya16-05-2025

Dubai's main share index gained 0.42% and was poised to log gains for the sixth straight week, while Abu Dhabi's benchmark index rose 0.2% on Friday.
Earlier this week, investor sentiment was boosted by a surge in optimism, driven by a U.S.-China trade breakthrough and a series of high-profile investment deals during U.S. President Donald Trump's Gulf visit.
But by Thursday, the enthusiasm faded, with Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan trading flat and European shares bracing for a subdued opening on the day.
Oil prices, a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets, continued their decline. Brent crude futures lost 18 cents after falling 2% on Thursday, pressured by oversupply concerns.
As of Thursday's close, Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index closed the week higher.
In Dubai, on Friday, Shuaa Capital soared 8% after swinging to a net profit of 196 million ($53.4 million) in the first quarter from a 161 million-Dirham loss in the previous quarter. The investment banking platform was the top gainer on the index.
($1 = 3.6726 UAE dirham)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Republican Party's fiscal hawk era is officially over
The Republican Party's fiscal hawk era is officially over

Gulf Today

time8 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

The Republican Party's fiscal hawk era is officially over

There is no constituency for debt reduction, which is a fancy way of saying voters don't care that the federal balance sheet is roughly $37 trillion in the red — and growing. This simple fact of American politics goes a long way toward explaining why President Donald Trump, with the help of congressional Republicans, is pushing a sweeping reconciliation package of tax cuts and fresh domestic spending priorities that is projected to add approximately $3.8 trillion to the swelling federal debt. Politics is a service business and Trump and his Capitol Hill allies are aiming to please the customer. So they've loaded up the reconciliation package, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with a series of crowd-pleasers — expansions of existing tax breaks plus some brand-new ones. Yes, there are spending cuts. The version of the legislation that passed in the House of Representatives and is now up for consideration in the Senate includes reductions to Medicaid and other budget line items. But there's nothing in the bill that results in a net decrease in the debt. Even the proposed changes to Medicaid face an uncertain future, thanks to GOP opposition in the Senate. That's because the sort of substantial spending cuts and programme reforms required to break Washington's addiction to borrowing would be wildly unpopular. For instance, any meaningful attempt to balance the books probably requires both raising taxes and overhauling Medicare and Social Security. That's not a recipe for winning elections. As concerning as the US debt load is becoming for bond markets and some finance titans (and the few fiscal hawks left in Washington), most Americans have more urgent concerns, said David Winston, a Republican pollster who has been surveying voters for more than 25 years. 'There's another issue hitting voters that's a bigger deal, and that's inflation,' he told me. 'When you're looking at an economic situation where there's something that's pressing people at a personal level, it's not that the deficit isn't important, it is. But being able to pay bills and deal with things on a weekly basis and keep up with all your costs takes precedence.' Winston is right — and that's not to mention the fact that so many voters are convinced the looming debt bomb can be diffused by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. But this isn't a new phenomenon. Voters generally, particularly on the left, have always found some reason or another for opposing legislation that asks them to participate in the solution to Washington's fiscal challenges. It's why tax hikes on the so-called rich are so popular and such an easy political message to wield. What has changed is the Republican Party and the voters it represents. Without question, Republican presidents prior to Trump were complicit in running up the debt. But in the pre-Trump era defined by President Ronald Reagan, fiscal responsibility and small government had currency with grassroots conservatives who formed the heart of the GOP base. But today's Republican base voters are different than their forebearers, courtesy of a Trump populist makeover. The 45th and 47th president over the past decade attracted legions of working-class voters to the Republican Party. For the most part, these newer Republicans are former Democrats who joined the GOP for cultural reasons; for instance, they passionately oppose abortion rights and support gun rights. Notably, they brought with them their preference for government safety-net programs and general lack of concern about the debt (qualities that have long defined grassroots Democrats). Simultaneously, suburban voters inclined to value fiscal responsibility generally, and debt reduction specifically, have drifted away from the GOP. The result is a Republican governing coalition much more enamored of government spending than it used to be and far less concerned about the federal debt, even though it has grown to more than 120% of the entire US economy — problematic to say the least. Brad Todd, a veteran Republican strategist in Washington and coauthor of The Great Revolt; Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics, has closely monitored this electoral transformation. 'The voters who are additive to the coalition as a result of Donald Trump are voters who are not only comfortable with entitlements. They're wary of anybody that might cut them. One of the reasons these voters were not Republican for a long time is because they believed the Democrats' scare tactics on entitlements,' Todd told me. 'The realignment works both ways. Some of the voters Republicans have lost are upscale suburbanites who are fiscal conservatives.' 'Republicans tried to do privatised Social Security accounts; A to Z budgeting; baseline budgeting; line-item veto; balanced budget amendment,' he added. 'We've tried all those innovations, none of them resulted in winning elections. Culture does result in winning elections and so Donald Trump just came along and made the party about culture and not conservative economics.' David M. Drucker, Tribune News Service

Rising influx of super-rich spurs Dubai luxury property market surge
Rising influx of super-rich spurs Dubai luxury property market surge

Khaleej Times

time11 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Rising influx of super-rich spurs Dubai luxury property market surge

Dubai's luxury real estate sector is enjoying a spectacular boom, turbocharged by a rising influx of global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) relocating to the city. Among the most prominent beneficiaries of this surge are Sobha Realty, Emaar, Nakheel, Damac and Condor Developers. This trend underscores Dubai's transformation into a top destination for wealth migration and investment. A combination of tax-friendly policies, political stability, a world-class lifestyle, and high asset yields is attracting record numbers of international investors — particularly from Europe. In May, Dubai's real estate market continued to witness unprecedented growth, smashing records with Dh66.8 billion in sales, a 49.9 per cent surge from the previous year, according to fäm Properties. Despite concerns of a potential price correction, the market's fundamentals remain rock-solid, with an undersupply of office space and a steady influx of high-net-worth individuals driving sustained growth 'European investors are entering the market in large numbers, seeking stability, growth, and a low-tax environment. This has significantly bolstered sales and investment in projects like Golf Links 18,' said Vidhyadharan Sivaprasad, chairman and CEO of Condor Developers, whose flagship project, Golf Links 18 at Dubai Sports City, has already sold nearly 70 per cent of its premium golf-facing residences — even before completion. Set to be completed before Q1 2026, Golf Links 18 is a Dh300 million luxury residential development offering over 250 upscale units across a 47,000 square-foot plot. It boasts an impressive range of 18 premium lifestyle amenities including two infinity pools, a rooftop yoga deck, Sky Retreat, jacuzzi, open-air cinema, and fitness facilities such as a gymnasium, sauna, and steam rooms. The rapid uptake in sales reflects a broader pattern: Dubai's residential property market is seeing unprecedented demand from global elites. According to the Knight Frank Wealth Report, the UAE welcomed 7,200 new millionaires in 2024 alone, building on 4,700 in 2023 and 5,200 in 2022. As of December 2024, the country was home to approximately 130,500 dollar millionaires, ranking it as the 14th-largest wealth hub globally. Most of the inbound HNWIs came from India (31 per cent), followed by the Middle East (20 per cent), Russia and the CIS (14 per cent), and the UK and Europe (12 per cent). The typical non-GCC high-net-worth investor spends Dh134 million ($36.5 million) on Dubai property, either for residence or investment. Henley & Partners' 2024 Wealth Migration Report also names the UAE as the world's top destination for millionaire migration, with 6,700 new millionaires moving to Dubai last year alone. This influx is set to rise, with New World Wealth projecting a 39 per cent increase in the number of HNWIs in the UAE by 2026. Real estate remains the cornerstone of investment strategies for both wealthy individuals and families. 'Real estate continues to be a key asset class for UHNWIs. It provides long-term value, income generation, and capital preservation, especially in markets like Dubai,' notes the Knight Frank report. According to Sivaprasad, these trends have directly contributed to the significant increase in both asset values and rental yields across the emirate. 'We've seen property asset values rise by 20 to 30 per cent in the last year, depending on location. Rental yields are strong, averaging around 10 per cent,' he said. European buyers now form the majority of purchasers at Golf Links 18, led by investors from the UK, Russia, France, Slovakia, and the UAE. Many are relocating from countries with high taxes and cumbersome fiscal regimes, drawn by the UAE's business-friendly ecosystem and simple, low-tax regulations. 'The demographic of our buyers is rapidly diversifying,' Sivaprasad added. 'Dubai's global appeal, combined with strategic government initiatives, has reshaped the real estate landscape. It's no longer just a regional market — it's a global destination for wealth.' Condor Developers is poised to expand aggressively. With a project pipeline worth Dh2.5 billion across Dubai Islands, Al Majan, and Jumeirah Village, the company is gearing up to meet the continued demand from the rising tide of international investors, he said.

Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target
Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target

The National

time12 hours ago

  • The National

Climate change sceptics and clean fuel shortage risk airline industry's decarbonisation target

The airline industry's central sustainability goal of net zero emissions by 2050 is at risk from the policies of climate change sceptics, such as US President Donald Trump. The rise of world leaders who support fossil fuels over renewable energy development and the scaling back of environmental regulations are 'obviously a setback', Marie Owens Thomsen, Iata's senior vice president of sustainability and chief economist, said. 'It does imperil success on the 2050 horizon,' she said. 'But I don't think it's going to reverse or halt progress, it will just slow progress. Now that's bad enough ... the 2050 deadline is coming furiously fast.' During its annual meeting in New Delhi last week the International Air Transport Association (Iata) nevertheless remained committed to the 2050 target date, despite airing escalating concerns about the cost, availability and insufficient government incentives for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This is not where we should be in 2025 ... there is no time for delay and no tolerance for government greenwashing and unnecessary cost increases Willie Walsh, director general, Iata Iata member airlines agreed in 2021 to target net zero emissions in 2050 based mainly on a gradual switch to SAF, which is made from waste oil and biomass. The aviation industry accounts for 2.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. But it has come under increasing pressure from environmentalists to curb its carbon footprint amid booming air travel demand. While the amount of SAF produced will double to two million tonnes in 2025, that represents only 0.7 per cent of airlines' jet fuel demand, according to Iata's latest data. The average cost of SAF in 2024 was 3.1 times that of jet fuel, for a total additional cost of $1.6 billion, according to Iata estimates. In 2025, the global average cost for SAF is expected to be 4.2 times that of jet fuel. 'Another problem, which is related, is that oil is so cheap,' Ms Thomsen said. 'I think that also diminishes the sense of urgency that people have.' Oil prices will need to trade above $80 a barrel, or even above $100 a barrel, before there is pressure to create new energy markets, she said. Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's crude, was trading around $66 a barrel on Sunday. Lower oil prices come amid Mr Trump's tariffs scheme, his calls to " drill baby drill" and a decision by Opec to hike crude output quotas. Iata estimates the cost of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to be an enormous $4.7 trillion, or $174 billion a year. However, ramping up the production of SAF is 'entirely achievable' as there is sufficient feedstock and the technology is available to get started, Ms Thomsen said. The required SAF investments are comparable to the money governments had poured into developing previous new energy markets such as wind and solar, she said, adding that the funding can also be found by scrapping subsidies to the world's major oil producing companies. 'The world is subsidising large oil companies to the height of $1 trillion per year. With that money, if it were redirected in its totality, we could solve our energy transition in less than five years,' she said. 'The thing that is really missing is the courage and willingness to take on vested interests.' Sounding the alarm SAF production needs an 'exponential expansion' to meet the demands of the airline industry's commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, said Iata, which represents some 350 airlines, comprising more than 80 per cent of global air traffic. Airlines cannot achieve the target by themselves and require more urgent action from governments, manufacturers, airport operators and fuel suppliers, Willie Walsh, Iata's director general, said. 'These actions must be accompanied by ringing the alarm bells on SAF production,' he said at the Iata meeting in India. Iata's decarbonisation roadmap estimates that SAF will provide 65 per cent of the carbon mitigation needed in 2050. 'This is not where we should be in 2025. We have a quarter-century to get to net zero. There is no time for delay and no tolerance for government greenwashing and unnecessary cost increases,' Mr Walsh said. Top priorities In April Mr Walsh had warned that industry efforts to achieve net zero by 2050 were 'off track', but he said last week that any alteration of the target was no discussed at the airlines' meeting in New Delhi. 'The industry is still obviously targeting net zero in 2050 ... we are concerned about the pace of progress,' he said. The value chain that needs to support airlines' transition to net zero is not making sufficient progress, and 'that's the reason we're calling it out', he added. Poorly co-ordinated government actions are leading to SAF mandates in different countries that have done little to stimulate production but have instead led to additional costs to the airlines without environmental benefits, he said. The Iata boss said there was a narrow window for the industry to meet its goals. 'It is a wake up-call. We still have time to get there, but we do need to see more action on the part of all the partners in the value chain to make sure the industry can get there,' he said. As of 2025, some 81 airlines had signed 170 SAF offtake agreements, signalling to producers that there is strong demand for the green fuel, according to Iata. Many airlines are unable to procure SAF without having to ship it over long distances, which defeats the purpose of reducing emissions, Mr Walsh said. 'Waning enthusiasm' Four years after global carriers committed to net zero by 2050, the Iata meeting marked escalating worry among airline chiefs about tackling climate concerns. 'There's a level of scepticism and perhaps even you could say waning enthusiasm for the overall energy transition,' Patrick Healy, group chair at Cathay Pacific, said during a panel on financing net zero target. 'Everyone's realising it's a lot more complicated than we thought a few years ago ... but it's not a problem we can turn our backs on.' Iata forecasts higher profits for airlines in 2025, with a drop in revenue offset by falling prices for traditional jet fuel. Rob McLeod, head of energy risk solutions at Hartree Partners, called on airlines to use the savings from fuel costs to invest more in SAF to help fund the energy transition. 'Lower fossil fuel prices effectively make renewables seem more expensive, but to flip it on its head: all the airlines in the room are saving so much money on their fossil jet [fuel], you've maybe got a bit more in your budget to invest more in SAF,' he told a panel about the energy transition. Iata also criticised plane manufacturers that have failed to deliver new fuel-efficient jets on time, forcing airlines to keep older planes flying for longer. 'Aircraft and engine manufacturers must make good on their promises to bring greater efficiency and carbon-reducing technologies to market fast,' Mr Walsh said. 'By the time we meet next year, we must be able to show more progress.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store