UAE to Hold Second Auction of Dirham T-Bonds Worth $408Mln

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
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UAE to Hold Second Auction of Dirham T-Bonds Worth $408Mln

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)
The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions. (WAM)

The UAE Finance Ministry said Saturday that a second auction of federal treasury bonds (T-Bonds) would be held on June 20.

The auction size will be AED1.5 billion ($408 million) distributed over two tranches: a two-year tranche valued at AED 750 million and a three-year tranche valued at AED750 million ($204 million).

It explained that the re-opening of bonds will be exercised in this auction to increase the volume of individual bonds issued with the aim of improving liquidity in the secondary market.

The first auction of the AED denominated T-Bonds program witnessed a wide turnout from local and international investors, with a total issuance of AED1.5 billion ($408.3 million) divided into two tranches - of two and three years – and a uniform coupon rate fixed at 3.01% and 3.24%, respectively.

The UAE will continue to implement its plan to issue local bonds for 2022 through more subsequent periodic auctions.

The conventional T-bonds will be denominated in UAE dirhams to develop the local bonds debt market.

It aims to develop the mid-term yield curve, with tranches of two and three years, and in principle of five years as well, while 10-year tranches will be issued at a later time.

The auction, represented by the Ministry of Finance as the issuer, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) as the issuing and payment agent, is part of the AED9 billion ($2.4 billion) T-Bonds issuance program for 2022, the ministry announced in May.

The first auction of the dirham denominated UAE T-Bonds, with a benchmark auction size of AED1.5 billion ($400 million), drew bids worth AED9.4 billion ($2.5 billion), an oversubscription of 6.3 times.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said then that the success of the first auction is part of strengthening the UAE’s economic competitiveness and supporting the sustainability of economic growth.



Gold Poised for Biggest Weekly Fall in over Five Months on Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
TT

Gold Poised for Biggest Weekly Fall in over Five Months on Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices dropped on Friday, poised for their steepest weekly decline in over five months, pressured by a stronger dollar and as markets absorbed the implications of Donald Trump's victory and its potential impact on US interest rate expectations.

Spot gold fell 0.6% to $2,690.62 per ounce as of 9:50 a.m. ET (1450 GMT), and was down 1.6% for the week.

US gold futures shed 0.3% to $2,697.90.

The dollar index gained 0.3%, on track for a weekly gain, Reuters reported

"In the last month, the story has been the uncertainty risk of the election and if there was going to be normalisation of transition, but this election appeared to be very decisive on the White House," said Alex Ebkarian, chief operating officer at Allegiance Gold.

"A lot of risk-on assets started benefiting in terms of the potential future implication of policies, so we had money go out of metals into these alternatives."

The Federal Reserve on Thursday cut interest rates by 25 basis points, but indicated a cautious approach to further cuts.

Trump's victory has fuelled questions about whether the Fed may proceed to cut rates at a slower and smaller pace, given the former president's tariff policy.

However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the election results would have no "near-term" impact on monetary policy.

The prospect of rate cuts, starting with the half basis point reduction in September, has underpinned gold's record rally this year.

Although bullion is reputed as a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates reduce non-yielding gold's appeal.

"Should markets restore the odds for a pre-Christmas Fed rate cut...that should help keep spot gold above the psychological $2700 level," Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan said.

On the physical front, gold demand in India faltered, while Japan and Singapore saw some buying.

Spot silver fell 1.3% to $31.58 per ounce, platinum fell 1.8% to $979.15, palladium shed 2.3% to $1,001.25. All three metals were heading for weekly declines.