Egypt's blue-chip stock index plunged 3.6 percent on Monday to its lowest level in 12 months, dragged down by weakness in emerging markets and margin calls among local investors, while banking shares boosted Saudi Arabia. Twenty-nine of 30 stocks in the Egyptian index .EGX30 fell. It has fallen 15 percent since the end of August, leaving it down 9.4 percent year-to-date. The broader EGX100 index .EGX100 fared better on Monday, losing only 1.9 percent. Egypt's market far underperformed the MSCI index of emerging market stocks .MSCIEF, which was down nearly 1 percent. Among big blue-chip losers were tobacco firm Eastern Co , down 4.9 percent. Exchange data showed Monday's selling was heavily concentrated among local investors, who were hit by margin calls. Non-Arab foreign investors were net buyers by a considerable margin, the data showed. "It is a mixture of both emerging market weakness and margin trading, and the closure of some margin trades," said Radwa El-Swaify, head of research at Pharos Holding said. Turmoil in emerging markets has fuelled concern about possible capital outflows from Egypt and depreciation of the pound currency. But many foreign fund managers say they remain long-term positive on the market because of an improving underlying economy. Khaled Abdel Majeed, managing partner at London-based asset manager MENA Capital, said Monday's drop was due to a combination of profit-taking and emerging market weakness, but he was confident the slide would not continue. Memphis Pharmaceuticals shed 9.5 percent after its first-quarter loss widened year on year. In Saudi Arabia, the index .TASI rose 0.6 percent with Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE up 1.6 percent and Samba Financial Group 1090.SE gaining 1.6 percent. Telecommunications firm Mobily 7020.SE fell 2.3 percent after saying the regulator had ordered it to suspend sales of some products to new customers because it had failed to hire enough Saudi citizens at the top of the company. United Electronics Co 4003.SE was up 2.0 percent after reporting a quarterly net profit of 30.9 million riyals ($8.2 million), up from 26.1 million riyals last year, while revenues also climbed. The Gulf's largest dairy company, Almarai Co 2280.SE, dropped 2.9 percent after reporting a fall in third-quarter profit on Sunday. Advanced Petrochemical 2330.SE extended losses, falling 2.1 percent after reporting a slight fall in quarterly net income, also on Sunday. Dubai's index .DFMGI closed 0.6 percent lower after bank stocks reversed early gains. Emirates NBD fell 1.6 percent. Al Ramz Corp plunged 6.1 percent after saying it had divested its 17.8 percent stake in insurer Takaful Emirates having achieved its targeted return.
