Jan. 14--UAE STOCKS FALL, LED BY PROPERTY SECTOR: The Dubai Financial Market on Wednesday dipped 0.60 percent to close on 1,698. Arabtec fell 9.78 percent, while Emirates NBD gained 4.46 percent. In Abu Dhabi, the ADX lost 1.18 percent to end the day on 2,455. Property developers Aldar and Sorouh fell 7.73 percent and 6.63 percent, respectively.

GOVERNMENT STIMULUS COULD BACKFIRE, SAYS WEF: 'Massive' government spending to support ailing financial institutions hit by the credit crisis could sow the seeds of more problems in the future, according to a new report by the World Economic Fund. Although it has been widely advocated, such spending is set to fuel big deficits in several major economies including Australia, Britain, France and the US, the report said.

FOREIGN SHAREHOLDING DROPS ON ADX: The value of shares held by foreign investors in the firms listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange dropped from 9 percent in the beginning of 2008 to 5 percent at the end of the year, Tom Healy, CEO of ADX, told Khaleej Times. The drop in the values mirrors large-scale selling on global financial markets which went into tailspin after the recession hit Western markets.

IRANIANS WORRIED ABOUT ECONOMY -- POLL FINDS: A new BBC poll finds that Iranians are more concerned about their country's finances than tension with the West or political reform. The survey suggests residents think unemployment, poverty and high inflation are Iran's biggest issues. It also found there is strong support inside Iran for the country having its own nuclear industry.

ARAB LEADERS TO DISCUSS EMERGENCY FUND: Dr Ahmed Geweili, Secretary-General of the Arab Economic Unity Council, has confirmed that the Arab Economic Summit to be held next week in Kuwait will discuss the establishment of an emergency fund to support Arab financial institutions affected by the financial crisis. He also added that the fund will be used only in case of necessity.

BAHRAIN TOPS ME IN ECONOMIC FREEDOM: A new survey ranks Bahrain as the 16th most free economy in the world -- tops in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) -- and the only country in the region to be in the top 20. It marks the 15th straight year that Bahrain has been ranked number one in the GCC in the annual Index of Economic Freedom, which is published by the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal. Among the other countries in the GCC, Oman stands at 43, Qatar at 48, Kuwait at 50, the UAE at 54,a and Saudi Arabia at 59.