07:47 AM EDT, 08/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- United Arab Emirates' two benchmark indices diverged on Thursday as investors digested minutes of the US Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, weighing signals on future rate cuts. At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index was up 0.694%, while the DFM General Index was little changed at 0.04% in the red. "The minutes to the July Federal Reserve FOMC policy meeting lean a touch hawkishly, but that was to be expected given three officials had dissented. Beth Hammack, Lorie Logan and Neel Kashkari had all voted for an immediate 25bp interest rate increase, while nine other committee members voted to hold the fed funds range at 3.5-3.75%," ING said. "The minutes showed 'several participants' favoured a rate hike and 'many' assessed that rate hikes would likely be needed if inflation didn't decline. In the end though 'most' supported holding rates steady." Over to geopolitics, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he would intensify economic pressure on Iran and also vowed "tremendous" economic consequences against countries supporting or trading with the Middle Eastern country. The latest comments from Trump also put upward pressure on oil prices, which extended gains for a fifth consecutive day. As of 03:43 pm UAE time, Brent crude oil futures were trading at nearly $94.262 per barrel, up 2.88% from the previous day. Back home and on the corporate side, Abu Dhabi Ports (ADX:ADPORTS), d/b/a AD Ports Group, shares closed the session flat. The port and industrial zones developer announced that Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co., d/b/a ADQ, appointed International Securities LLC as the co-manager of its voluntary conditional cash offer for the company. Dubai Islamic Bank (DFM:DIB) launched a new off-plan home finance proposition, offering customers Sharia-compliant financing of up to 50% of the property value being purchased from developers in the country. Shares of the Emirati lender were up 0.95% at closing.

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