Abu Dhabi, Dubai Stocks End Shortened Week in Green; US Inflation Remains High

07:41 AM EDT, 08/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Stock trading in the United Arab Emirates was back in the green on Thursday as market watchers digested the latest US inflation print, which remained above the US Federal Reserve's 2% target. At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index was marginally up at 0.086%, while the DFM General Index gained 0.27%. The bourse will be closed on Friday in observance of Al Mawlid Al Nabawi. The headline personal consumption expenditures price index, the US Fed's preferred inflation tracking tool, climbed 0.2% monthly and 3.7% year-over-year in July. Core PCE, on the other hand, remained in line with expectations at 0.2% month-over-month and 3.3% annually. "Unchanged PCE inflation rate in July gives the Federal Reserve (Fed) the leeway to leave the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50 - 3.75% at its next meeting on 16 September," Berenberg said. "Even though inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target, a sideways trend in the inflation rate does not force the Fed to take action. Furthermore, FOMC members must increasingly weigh up above target inflation against the backdrop of stagnating employment." Over to geopolitics, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will visit Iran on Thursday to revive mediation efforts and discuss the Strait of Hormuz. Closer to home and on the corporate front, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADX:ADIB), in partnership with Marriott Bonvoy and Visa, launched new travel and lifestyle-focused credit cards for customers. Shares of the Abu Dhabi-listed lender closed the session 0.77% higher. Sukoon Insurance (DFM:SUKOON) signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Chamber of Commerce to provide motor and health insurance, investment, and employee benefit services to the latter's employees. Sukoon Insurance shares were flat at the close of trading.