Oct 15, 2008 12:07
ECO16Economy/InternationalGulf markets crash after two days of resurgenceBy Aroonim BhuyanDubai, Oct 15 IANS Gulf markets again fell Wednesday after rallying for two days over renewed fears of the global financial crisis.Except in Saudi Arabia, where the Tadawul index ended marginally up, most markets in the region started the day in the red. While some managed to recover part of the negative ground, others fell further.The key Dubai Financial Market DFM, which saw two of its biggest one-day gains in the last couple of days, posted the biggest loss, diving 7.44 percent from Tuesdays close to end at 3,427.87 points.Among the biggest losers were real estate major Emaar properties, which lost 9.88 percent of its share value and Arabtec, which fell 9.93 percent.Low-cost carrier Air Arabia also fell 9.79 percent.The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange ADX also slumped 2.13 percent, with its key index closing at 3,525.82.Only the Tadawul All-Share Index, the largest in the region, closed marginally higher at 6,863.15, up 0.5 percent.Banks and financial stocks gained in the days trading.The Kuwait Stock Exchange KSE, which had failed to replicate the last two days upward trend in the other Gulf markers, also stayed in the red, closing at 11,719.70, down 0.64 percent from Tuesdays close.Another major loser was Qatars Doha Securities Market, which fell 3.32 percent to close at 8,098.96.The Bahrain Stock Exchange also fell 1.05 percent while Omans Muscat Securities Market fell 0.35 percent.As in other markets, the Gulf bourses also rallied for two days after a week of mayhem opening Oct 5, after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, triggered by the global credit crunch.Monetary authorities in the region announced a series of steps to restore investor confidence and shore up the banking sector.The central banks of the United Arab Emirates UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia announced interest rates and assurances of liquidity.The UAE pumped in $19 billion in the last month into the countrys banking sector along with a guarantee that bank deposits would last three months.These measures seemed to have had some effect as the markets rallied Monday and Tuesday.But all hopes were dashed in Wednesdays trading.--Indo-Asian New Serviceab/sj/vm411 Words*15102019