UAE margin trading decision boosts Dubai bourse

MARKETS UPDATE: The Arab world's only publicly listed exchange rose higher in early trading as the UAE's regulator said it would extend margin trading to all publicly listed companies

Dubai Financial Market Company was the top gainer as markets opened as the Arab world's only listed exchange benefited from the UAE regulator's decision to extend margin trading services to all publicly listed companies.

The UAE regulator, the Securities and Commodities Authority has said it lifted the restrictions for companies on the country's two main bourses to trade on margin.

Margin trading allows a trader to borrow money from a broker to buy a stock, using other stocks as collateral. It is considered a risky form of investing that can result in sharp swings.

Shares in DFM Company rose 1.3 per cent to Dh1.51.

But property stocks struggled to pick up in early trading as Deyaar Development lost 1 per cent to 30 fils and Union Properties slumped 1.3 per cent to 37 fils.

Arabtec, the building contractor, was flat at Dh2.00.

The real estate sector did not fare much better in Abu Dhabi, after Sorouh Real Estate lost 0.6 per cent Dh1.63 and Rak Properties retreated 2.2 per cent to 45 fils.

Aldar Properties bucked the trend and moved 0.4 per cent higher to Dh2.31.

The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index crept up 0.09 per cent to 1,633.86 points but the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange dropped 0.6 per cent to 2,701.25 points.

Asian stocks rose on higher prices for commodities and as military tensions eased on the Korean peninsula. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 1 per cent to 134.76 points.

Oil rose to $89.77 a barrel in New York, touching a two-week high, on speculation US economic growth will accelerate next year, bolstering demand in the world's biggest crude consuming country.