UAE Shares Diverge as Oil Prices Rise Amid Uncertainty Over US-Iran Conflict
Emirati shares struggled to find direction on Tuesday as continued uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz drove oil prices up.At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index was little changed at 0.080% in the green, while the DFM General Index was down 0.218%.According to reports from various media outlets, US President Donald Trump is not satisfied with Iran's new proposal, which consisted of reopening the Hormuz waterway and postponing negotiations over its nuclear program to a later stage."We doubt that the US will go for this, since the US's economic blockade of the Iran remains its key 'pressure tactic' in making Iran concede to the US's fundamental demands pertaining to Iran's power. Yet that it is Iran that is making the proposal suggests that the pressure from the US's economic blockade is being felt, and that the US may not need to invoke its military power again," Macquarie said in a note. " To the US administration, the economic blockade of Iran is intended to have that very effect, i.e., of causing revenue losses that lead to monetary inflation and, ultimately, instability within the regime, and leading to concessions from Iran on the fundamental issues that the US has raised."As of 3:51 pm UAE time, the Brent crude oil futures stood at nearly $112.374 per barrel, up 3.81% from the previous day.Back home, the local economic calendar will see the release of the interest rate decision from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates later in the week, following the US Federal Reserve's verdict on its federal funds rate on Wednesday.In corporate news, Aldar Properties (ADX:ALDAR) released its first-quarter earnings report. The real estate developer reported a 12% annual growth in its revenue but closed the trading session 0.37% in the red.Elsewhere, shares of Dubai Investments (DFM:DIC) lost 0.97%. The Dubai-listed investment company declared plans to sell a 24% stake in its unit, Dubai Investments Park, through an initial public offering and distribute improved dividends in 2026, subject to completion of the offering.