UAE markets lacklustre, NBAD rises

STOCK WATCH: Abu Dhabi's index ADI retreated 0.08 percent to 2,545 points.(Getty Images)

Markets in the UAE remained largely unchanged amid lacklustre trading, as second-quarter earnings failed to inspire investors.

Dubai's index DFM ended 0.03 lower at 1,512 points, while Abu Dhabi's bourse finished 0.06 lower at 2,546 points.

Tabreed closed 1.6 percent lower after the company said it will ask its board of directors to approve a reduction in the firm's share capital.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi rose 1.3 percent after Citigroup raised its rating to buy from hold.

Oman International Bank (OIB) plunged after reporting a 36-percent drop in quarterly profit, but the country's other banks helped lift the Muscat exchange.

OIB ended 4.2 percent lower. The bank made a second-quarter net profit of 3.5 million rials.

"Lower total income, higher operating expenses and a significant rise in provisioning on sequential basis in the second-quarter, led to the plunge in OIB earnings, which is putting selling pressure on the stock," said Gunjan Gupta, head of research at Oman Arab Bank.

Bank Dhofar and National Bank of Oman gained 5.2 percent and 2.7 percent respectively.

The main index rose 0.5 percent to 6,295 points.

"Based on our technical analysis, we expect the market will go down to 6,267 level," said Gupta.

Qatar's index QSI gained 0.2 percent to 7,030 points.

Qatar Commercial Bank gained 1.2 percent, its third consecutive rise. On Tuesday, the bank beat analysts' forecasts with a 23-percent rise in quarterly profit.

"We view the quarterly loan growth positively after it had been stagnant for the previous four quarters," said Beltone in a note to clients.

"...The bank needs to work on improving its non-interest income to be able to boost its bottom line further," it added.

"We expect fee income to increase as the bank's loan book continues to grow, however we don't foresee significant improvement in the bank's investment income in the short term, given the fact that the bank had sold a large portion of its equity investments to the government of Qatar."

Kuwait's index KWSE fell 0.2 percent to 6,655 points. (Reuters)

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