Abu Dhabi, Dubai Stocks Diverge Amid US GDP Focus

06:38 AM EST, 12/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Emirati equities closed Wednesday's trading session mixed as investors assessed the third-quarter GDP figures for the world's largest economy. At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index shed 0.194%, while the DFM General Index was somewhat muted at 0.036% in the green. "The delayed US third-quarter GDP report has come in at an eye-popping 4.3% annualised rate, a full percentage point above the consensus expectation. This was primarily due to a strong performance from net trade with exports rising 8.8% and imports falling 4.7%. This means that net trade contributed 1.6pp of the 4.3% headline growth rate. Other than that, consumer spending grew a robust 3.5% versus the 2.7% rate expected. Non-residential fixed investment was a little softer at 2.8%, while residential investment fell 5.1% for a second consecutive quarter. Rounding it out, government spending grew 2.2% while inventories subtracted 0.22pp," ING said. "So a fantastic outcome, but fourth-quarter GDP is likely to record growth that is considerably slower, thanks in part to the effects of the month-long government shutdown." Looking at the calendar ahead, there will not be many data releases this week, and trading volumes will remain thin due to Christmas and other holidays in major economies. Zooming in at home, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co., d/b/a ADQ, closed a $5 billion syndicated term financing deal in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Amid a quiet day on the corporate front, Waha Capital (ADX:WAHA) secured Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange's approval for the execution of a program comprising the repurchase of up to 10% of its issued share capital. Shares of the investment management company closed the session 1.14% in the green. Elsewhere, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DFM:DEWA), or DEWA, closed 1.06% lower. The electricity and water services company awarded a contract worth more than 100.8 million Emirati dirhams to boost and protect Dubai's utility infrastructure.