Dubai Financial Market index rises more than 130 points

Dubai: Dubai Financial Market index rose to more than 130 points, the highest daily rise in more than two years on the back of news that Dubai’s biggest bank is seeking to raise foreign ownership limit.

Emirates NBD was the top gainer as its shares rose to Dh13.5 — a 14.85% rise — and with traded shares valued at Dh324.32 million.

The Dubai shares index rose to 2889.81, with 20 gainers and 10 losers and 4 unchanged. Total shares traded were valued at Dh634.33 million and volume at 211.9 million shares.

Dubai Islamic Bank rose 3.12% to Dh5.28, valued at Dh139.14 million.

Other gainers were Emaar, whose shares rose 3.40 per cent to Dh5.17; GFH, which gained 1.30 per cent and EmaarDev, up 0.72 per cent to Dh4.18.

The buying frenzy On Monday, Emirates NBD PJSC, Dubai’s biggest bank, plans to open up to more foreign shareholders as the United Arab Emirates eases rules to attract international investors.

The banks said it will also implement an immediate increase in its foreign ownership cap to 20 per cent, in a filing with the market regulators.

The lender announced that it intends to seek approvals from shareholders and regulators to boost its foreign ownership limit to 40 per cent, according to a statement.

The bank will also implement an immediate increase in its foreign ownership cap to 20 per cent from 5 per cent after having obtained regulatory approvals.

On August 19, the combined traded value on Dubai Financial Market rose to more than Dh1.5 billion after a move by Shuaa to increase its capital base through issuing new shares.

Traded value jumped to Dh1.5 billion, 11 times more than the 30-day daily average of Dh126 million. Out of this, Shuaa’s traded value stood at Dh1.37 billion. It was also the first time this year the local bourse has seen a Dh1 billion or more traded value.