FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

UAE Shares in Red Ahead of Key US Economic Data

By

Stocks in the United Arab Emirates ended lower as markets await the release of key economic data from the world's biggest economy later in the day.

At the close of Thursday trading, the FTSE ADX General Index declined 1.174%, while the DFM General Index shed 1.431%.

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis will release the personal consumption expenditures price index reading for May on Thursday. The data, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, is expected to increase 0.5% in May and 4.1% on an annual basis, while core CPI is expected to rise 0.3% monthly and 3.4% year over year.

On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Iran informed the US that it is not receiving tolls, insurance costs, and other charges from vessels passing the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also vowed to end negotiations in case the information turns out to be false.

"Oil prices continue to ease amid reports of further improvement in conditions overseas. According to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, seven tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz or were in the strait yesterday, while separately, data analytics company Kpler reported 39 ships moved through the chokepoint on Monday," Stifel said in a note. "Both the U.S. and Iran have signaled broad-based progress toward ending the war. That being said, the situation remains delicate as negotiations continue."

Closer to home, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, or DFSA, recorded a 16% year-over-year growth in licensed and registered firms in 2025, bringing the total number to 1,050.

Over to corporates, shares of Burjeel Holdings (ADX:BURJEEL) ended 1.71% lower. The healthcare company priced its $500 million offering of Regulation S five-year senior unsecured sukuk for local and international investors.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co. (DFM:DU) d/b/a du, delivered the first deployment of 5G-advanced services over L-Band spectrum to boost spectrum efficiency and enhance network capacity and quality. Shares of the telecommunications company closed the session 0.87% in the red.

Related Articles

Asia Markets

Exchange-Traded Funds Rise as US Equities Advance After Midday

Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV were higher. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) edged up.US equity indexes rose in midday trading on Wednesday amid a sharp decline in crude oil prices and government bond yields.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each lost about 1.9%.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) fell 0.3%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) eased 0.1%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.2%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) declined 2.2%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) dipped 0.5%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) eased 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) declined 0.4%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), climbed up 0.4%.CommoditiesCrude oil fell 3.4%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) slipped 3.7%. Natural gas gained 1.6%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 1.3%.Gold on Comex eased 2.7%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) fell 2.5%. Silver was down 5.1%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) shed 4.9%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) added 1%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was up 1%.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) gained 2.1%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) rose 1.5%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) was up 2.8%.HealthcareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 0.8%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) added 1%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was up 1.2%. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 2.6%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) advanced 1.5%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were also higher.CryptocurrencyIn midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) lost 3.5%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) fell 4.4%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) was down 4.4%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 2.2% lower.

Dow Jones^EEM^EXI^FAS^FAZ^GLD^IBB^IGM^IGV^IPK^IVV^IWMNasdaq Composite^IYE^IYH^IYJ^IYK^IYW^PMR^QQQ^RTH^SOXXS&P 500^SPY^UNG^USO^VDC^VHT^VIS^XLE^XLF^XLI^XLK^XLP^XLV^XRT^XSD$BETH$BITO$EETH
Asia Markets

Swiss Market Index Extends Rally; OC Oerlikon Shares Gain

Swiss stocks extended their gains to a third day, with the Swiss Market Index up 1.49% on Wednesday's close, as investors assessed a fresh batch of corporate and economic updates.Data from UBS & CFA Society Switzerland showed that the country's economic sentiment index plunged to -25 points in June from -11.1 points in May.On the defense front, the Swiss Federal Council reduced the planned temporary increase in the standard rate for value-added tax to 0.5 percentage points from 0.8 percentage points. The revenue generated from the VAT increase will be earmarked for military defense spending for a period of 12 years instead of the previous 10.The council also said it will resume payments to the US for the Patriot missile systems to advance the project with minimal delay and prevent jeopardizing other procurements from the US, including the F-35A fighter jet. Meanwhile, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport will begin contract negotiations with manufacturers from France, Israel, and South Korea for a second long-range, ground-based air defense system.In corporate news, AlphaValue/Baader Europe confirmed its buy rating on OC Oerlikon (OERL.SW), with a price target of 4.86 francs, as it raised its second-quarter organic sales growth forecast to 5.3% from 2.1% amid price increases on the back of material surcharges. The Swiss surface technologies and advanced materials company's shares gained 3.95% at closing."For the full year, we have only raised our Adj. EBITDA margin forecast to 17.7% from 17.2%, as we expect the opposite effect in H2 for inventory revaluation. However, this impact should be more limited, as the group is now reducing its inventory levels. We believe the company will benefit from this situation. H1 results should act as a catalyst," the research firm said in a note.Eli Lilly (LLY.SW) completed its purchase of clinical-stage company Centessa Pharmaceuticals, which develops a new class of medicines to treat narcolepsy and other sleep-wake disorders.On the geopolitical front, the US Senate approved a war powers resolution in a 50-48 vote seeking to curb President Donald Trump's ability to launch military action against Iran without congressional approval.

^SSMI$LLY.SW$OERL.SW
Asia Markets

UK's FTSE Ends Higher; Segro Leads Gainers After Rejecting Prologis Bid

British equities gained on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 closing 0.31% in the green, as investors digested a series of corporate updates.Shares in Segro (SGRO.L) jumped 17.44%, leading blue-chip gainers, after the UK warehouse landlord rejected a 12.6 billion-pound-sterling takeover approach from US-based industrial real estate investment trust Prologis (0KOD.L).Segro said the proposal "falls a long way short of" its own views on value, adding that the offer was "opportunistically timed and sought to take advantage of the clear dislocation" between its current share price and its underlying business.Housebuilder Berkeley Group (BKG.L) rose 8.36% even as profit after tax attributable to shareholders for the 12 months ended April 30 declined to 318.3 million pounds from 382 million pounds a year ago, while revenue dropped to 2.38 billion pounds from 2.49 billion pounds."Berkeley reported FY26 PBT (April year-end) in line with consensus and guidance, and reiterated their 4-year PBT guidance over FY27-30 for GBP1.40bn ([Visible Alpha] cons. GBP1.46bn)," RBC Capital Markets noted. "Management continued to strike a cautious tone, with the housing market post-Middle East conflict being 'characterised by caution and lacking in urgency.'"British wealth manager St. James's Place (STJ.L) climbed 3.71% after Deutsche Bank Research raised its price target to 20.5 pounds from 20 pounds and maintained its buy rating."SJP shares have been weak so far in 2026 (-16% TSR YTD vs. FTSE Allshare +7%)," analysts said. "This is a disappointing outcome for us given it was, and remains, our top pick. We think there are three primary drivers of the weakness: 1) Concerns on AI persists amongst some investors, 2) Q1 flows were at the softer end (importantly though still adequate to deliver the earnings growth expected) and 3) the share price was strong in 2025, in part driven by momentum focused investors, many of whom have at least paused for now given #1 and #2."In geopolitical news, the US Senate passed a war powers resolution by 50-48 in an effort to restrict President Donald Trump's authority to resume military operations against Iran without congressional approval. "Although its legal force is disputed, the vote signals growing bipartisan scepticism over the administration's Iran policy," Danske Bank said.

FTSE 100$0KOD.L$BKG.L$SGRO.L$STJ.L