MIDEAST STOCKS-UAE markets fall amid growing US-Iran tensions
By Mohd Edrees
Feb 20 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the United Arab Emirates declined on Friday as investors weighed growing geopolitical tensions after the U.S. said Iran will suffer if it does not agree a deal on its nuclear activity in a matter of days.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that "really bad things" would happen if Tehran does not come to an agreement to curtail its nuclear programme. Trump set a deadline of 10 to 15 days.
Abu Dhabi's benchmark index .FTFADGI slipped 0.3%, pressured by a 2.6% decline in real estate heavyweight Aldar Properties ALDAR.AD and a 1.4% decrease in Agility Global AGILITY.AD.
Aldar Properties said it had issued $1 billion in subordinated hybrid notes to Apollo Global Management APO.N through a private placement.
However, agro-food investor Invictus INVICTUS.AD jumped 1.6% after the firm recorded a 34% increase in its full-year profit to 225.9 million dirhams ($61.51 million).
Dubai's main market .DFMGI closed 0.3% lower; Dubai Islamic Bank DISB.DU fell 2.2% and top lender Emirates NBD Bank ENBD.DU dropped 0.7%.
Oil prices — a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial market — eased 0.4% to $71.38 a barrel after two sessions of gains.O/R
ABU DHABI | .FTFADGI fell 0.3% to 10,581points |
DUBAI | .DFMGI down 0.3% to 6,590 points |
($1 = 3.6726 UAE dirham)
Related Articles
Will Bank of England Still Cut Rates in 2026? Falling Inflation Favors Loose Monetary Policy, Pound Exchange Rate May Struggle to Sustain Strength.
TradingKey - The outlook for the British Pound in 2026 is undoubtedly one of the most significant focal points for investors in the FX market. Following a structural shift in 2025 characterized by a "low start and high finish," GBP/USD successfully broke out of its two-year trading range and stabilized near 1.35 at year-end, laying the foundation for its performance in 2026.
Why the Yen Falls Further the More It Is Rescued: The Answer Lies in Japan’s Own Structural Contradictions
TradingKey - Entering early 2026, the attention of global investors is once again locked on the Japanese Yen (JPY). Despite the Bank of Japan (BoJ) gradually raising policy rates to a range of 0.5% - 0.75%, marking a definitive end to the era of negative interest rates, the yen continues to trend lower against the U.S. dollar.
What Is the Best Nuclear Energy Investment in 2026? Which Should You Buy in, OKLO or Nuclear Energy ETFs?
TradingKey - Demand for electricity is surging, and data centers designed for artificial intelligence are a big reason. Governments are also demanding cleaner, dependable power. This coupling has brought about a revival in nuclear power, with capacity expected to increase in the coming decades. To i
Stock Market Crash 2026: What Fed Signals and Economic Data Mean for Investors
TradingKey - The possibility of a stock market crash occurring in 2026 is becoming increasingly likely as investor sentiment continues to decline.
New Fed Chair Warsh Takes Office: Major Shift in Monetary Policy? US Dollar Short-Term Rebound, 2026 Investment Strategy Analysis
TradingKey - At the start of 2026, global financial markets witnessed a major leadership change as U.S. President Trump officially nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair. Pending Senate confirmation, he will succeed Jerome Powell this May to lead the world’s most influential central bank.
