ABU DHABI / EMIRATES BUSINESS The Emirates Securities Market Index has increased by 0.88% to close at 4718.79 points. Accordingly the Market Capitalization has gained AED 6.68 billion attaining AED 765.45 billion. A total of 0.95 Billion Shares were traded with a total value of AED 1.24 billion during the trading session of 21-04-2016 through 10671 transactions. The number of companies ...

  Frankfurt / AFP European Central Bank (ECB) held its key interest rates steady on Thursday, but analysts believe it could pave the way for new stimulus measures soon, despite growing resistance in Germany. The ECB’s governing council voted, as expected, to keep the benchmark “refi” refinancing rate at its current all-time low of zero percent, after cutting it to ...

  MILAN / Reuters Italy’s market regulator gave the green light on Thursday for struggling lender Banca Popolare di Vicenza to list on the Milan stock exchange with a 1.76 billion euros ($2 billion) initial share offer, to be underwritten by a new bank bailout fund. Popolare di Vicenza, Italy’s eighth-largest lender, needs to raise the money to plug a ...

  Ankara / AFP Turkey’s central bank cut a key interest rate at the debut meeting of its new governor in a move aimed at reassuring skittish investors but that disappointed the government. The bank said the overnight marginal funding rate was trimmed 50 basis points, as expected by analysts, to 10 percent from 10.50 percent. It left the one-week ...

  SYDNEY/ Reuters Australian banks on Thursday promised unprecedented reforms to protect consumers and boost transparency following revelations of misconduct and ahead of a federal election set to be fought partly over calls for tougher sector oversight. The package includes reviewing sales commissions, supporting whistle-blower employees and black-listing individuals for poor conduct, the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) said. The politically ...

  Bloomberg Indonesia’s central bank has paused its monetary policy easing ahead of adopting a new benchmark interest rate in August aimed at spurring lending and growth in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Governor Agus Martowardojo and his board kept the reference rate at 6.75 percent, Bank Indonesia said Thursday, in line with the forecasts of 23 of the 26 economists ...

  Reuters Oman has chosen five banks to arrange the sultanate’s first international bond issue in almost 20 years, sources aware of the matter said on Thursday. The upcoming US dollar-denominated issue comes as Oman, like other Gulf states, looks to tap international bond markets to shore up state finances pressured by low oil prices. Oman has chosen Citi, JP ...

  Bloomberg Purchases of previously owned U.S. homes rose more than projected in March, indicating resilience in demand heading into the spring selling season. Contract closings climbed 5.1 percent to a 5.33 million annualized rate from February’s 5.07 million, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed Wednesday in Washington. The median forecast of 75 economists in a Bloomberg survey ...

  Bloomberg A Chinese-led group agreed to buy Australia’s most iconic cattle company in a deal valued at more than A$370 million ($288 million) after partnering with local investors. The venture, headed by a company controlled by Shanghai Pengxin Group, will purchase 80 percent of S. Kidman & Co., according to a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Australian Rural ...

  Bloomberg Blackstone Group LP, the world’s largest manager of alternative assets, said first-quarter profit fell 77 percent as rocky markets curbed asset sales and new buyouts. Its real estate operation struck two massive deals: a $6.5 billion sale of Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. to China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co., which is expected to close later this year, and ...