AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, finance and economy briefs [AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates]

Aug. 19--BAHRAIN BOURSE ENDS SLIGHTLY LOWER: The BSE benchmar index weakened on Thursday, as profit taking dragged the market 0.31 percent lower to 1,409.12 points. Islamic bank Ithmaar lost 6.9 percent (at $0.135), after its shares hit a seven-week high on Tuesday. Arab Insurance Group plummeted 9.80 percent to $0.46.

KUWAIT FINANCE HOUSE SURGES TO 4-MONTH HIGH: Kuwait's KSE Market or Price Index ended 0.43 percent higher on Thursday, adding 11 points over the week. Kuwait Finance House (KFH), one of the largest Islamic financial institutions, finished 1.85 percent higher atKD1.1. Gulf Cement Company posted the laregst decline as its shares finished at KD0.110, down 8.33 percent.

ABU DHABI BOURSE ADDS 0.42 PERCENT: The ADX General Index closed at 2,506.29 points, recovering from heavy losses at the beginning of the week as the benchmark closed 10 points higher compared to the finish of last week. National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the emirate's largest lender, added 1.79 percent and finished at Dhs11.45. Its rival First Gulf Bank closed 0.36 percent lower at Dhs13.95.

DUBAI MARKET FINISHES THE WEEK POSITIVELY: The DFM General Index ended 0.72 percent higher at 1,492.16 points, lifted by rebounds in the real estate sector. The industry's bellwether Emaar Properties gained 1.88 percent, closing at Dhs3.25. Banks performed bullish as well, as Shuaa Capital surged 2.70 percent (at Dhs0.95). Dubai Ports (DP) World jumped 5.66 percent to $0.523. 18 shares advanced while five securities declined and five ended flat. Traded value doubled to Dhs111.4m, while 68.59m (73 percent higher).

MAKASEB REQUESTS TEMPORARY HALT OF OPERATIONS: Abu Dhabi-based brokerage firm Makaseb Islamic Financial Services has submitted a request to the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority to temporarily halt its operations and asked its customers to visit the company's offices to settle their balances and/or transfer their shares, Emirates Business has reported. The firm is to resume its brokerage business once the market conditions return to normal and volume is restored.

KUWAIT EXPECTING $19.6BN BUDGET SURPLUS: According to a forecast by the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the Gulf state could record a budget surplus of up to KD5.7bn ($19.6bn) this fiscal year despite boosting spending by 33 percent, AFP has reported. The budget, which was passed by parliament in June, projects a deficit of $22.7bn at the assumption of an oil price of $43 a barrel but actual price has so far been between $70 and $80 a barrel. Revenues are estimated at $33.5bn while spending is estimated at $56.2bn, NBK said.

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