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DUBAI - Gulf stock markets were mostly firm in early trade on Monday with Qatar outperforming for a second day as investors bought to secure dividends.
The Qatari stock index
Qatari companies, which traditionally pay high dividend yields, are due to announce fourth-quarter or annual dividends in the next few weeks, and yields may be boosted this year by the fact that stock prices have been pushed lower by the economic embargo imposed by four Arab states on Qatar.
In Saudi Arabia, the index edged up 0.2 percent as consumer electronics retailer United Electronics Co gained 3.0 percent after saying estimated fourth-quarter net profit climbed to 57.6 million riyals ($15.4 million) from 26.3 million riyals a year ago, as sales rose to 1.61 billion riyals from 1.39 billion riyals.
Car hire company Budget Saudi
The Dubai index
GFH Financial fell 0.6 percent after saying major shareholder Integrated Capital had reduced its shareholding to 6.72 percent from 8.01 percent. It did not give a reason. Integrated Capital is owned by Shuaa Capital, an affiliate of Abu Dhabi Financial Group.
However, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the shares had been bought by the Goldilocks fund, which is managed by a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Financial Group, so the group was essentially changing the way it held the shares rather than bailing out of GFH.
(Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) ((andrew.torchia@thomsonreuters.com)(+9715 6681 7277)(Reuters Messaging: andrew.torchia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
The Qatari stock index
Qatari companies, which traditionally pay high dividend yields, are due to announce fourth-quarter or annual dividends in the next few weeks, and yields may be boosted this year by the fact that stock prices have been pushed lower by the economic embargo imposed by four Arab states on Qatar.
In Saudi Arabia, the index edged up 0.2 percent as consumer electronics retailer United Electronics Co gained 3.0 percent after saying estimated fourth-quarter net profit climbed to 57.6 million riyals ($15.4 million) from 26.3 million riyals a year ago, as sales rose to 1.61 billion riyals from 1.39 billion riyals.
Car hire company Budget Saudi
The Dubai index
GFH Financial fell 0.6 percent after saying major shareholder Integrated Capital had reduced its shareholding to 6.72 percent from 8.01 percent. It did not give a reason. Integrated Capital is owned by Shuaa Capital, an affiliate of Abu Dhabi Financial Group.
However, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the shares had been bought by the Goldilocks fund, which is managed by a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Financial Group, so the group was essentially changing the way it held the shares rather than bailing out of GFH.
(Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) ((andrew.torchia@thomsonreuters.com)(+9715 6681 7277)(Reuters Messaging: andrew.torchia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
