-- Stocks in the United Arab Emirates kicked off a new trading week in the green as investors shifted their focus to the US Federal Reserve's closely watched interest rate decision due later in the week.
At the close of Monday trading, the FTSE ADX General Index added 0.397%, while the DFM General Index gained 0.281%.
On the economic calendar this week is the release of the US Fed interest rate decision on Wednesday, with analysts expecting the federal funds rate to remain unchanged within the 3.50% to 3.75% range. Other major central banks in Japan, Canada, and England will also announce their interest rate policies this week.
"Faced with rising energy prices and higher inflation, and both consumption and employment holding up, the Fed will have to tread carefully to avoid making the mistakes of 2022. There is no way the Fed is in a position to signal the 'all-clear' on inflation, and with equity markets at their highs, the Fed may be inclined to warn of the need for rates to stay unchanged for longer," ING said.
On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump canceled the visit of his officials to Pakistan scheduled for the weekend, stating that Iran would need to call if they want to continue negotiations. Reuters reported, citing US news outlet Axios, that Iran offered a new proposal to the US to open the Strait of Hormuz and to postpone talks related to the former's nuclear program to a later stage.
Back home and on the corporate front, Emirates Driving Co. (ADX:DRIVE) reported a higher attributable profit and a 13% increase in revenue due to high student enrollments. The Abu Dhabi-listed driver training school operator's stocks closed the session 0.67% higher.
Dubai Residential REIT (DFM:DUBAIRESI) added 2.61% after its first-quarter revenue jumped 8.4% year-on-year, backed by strong leasing activity and growth in the real estate investment trust's core residential segments.