NAC Weekly No. 06: Dubai Stocks Jump 6.9% on the Ceasefire

A two-week US-Iran ceasefire sent Brent crude down 13.3% in a day and Dubai stocks up 6.9%, led by property names. At home, FTSE Russell confirmed Vietnam's stock market upgrade from September, and Hanoi new-condo prices are up more than 25% on a year. US inflation rose to 3.3% on petrol.

Market pulse, week of 6–12/4/2026

Signals this week

🇦🇪 UAE · Two-week ceasefire lifts Dubai stocks 6.9%

▲+6.91%

Dubai's DFM index on 8 April, closing at 5,777.47; Emaar shares rose 13%Salaam Gateway, 8 AprPhoto: Christian Raggini, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran that includes a commitment to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On 8 April Brent fell as low as USD 91.72 a barrel before trading around USD 94.77, down 13.3%, News On AIR reported. The same day Dubai's DFM index rose 6.91% to 5,777.47 and Emaar gained 13%, with property, banks and airlines leading, per Salaam Gateway.

For Vietnamese investors: the jump in Dubai property shares shows money waiting for peace to return, but the truce runs for just two weeks. Buyers of Dubai homes should favour projects that are finished or close to handover, and keep enough cash to wait if fighting resumes. Per NAC's listing data, Mercedes-Benz Places in Downtown Dubai is due in Q4 2026 on a 20/50/30 payment plan.

🇻🇳 Vietnam · FTSE Russell confirms the stock market upgrade from September

▲32 stocks

Vietnamese shares on the preliminary list for the FTSE Global All Cap Index; the first tranche starts on 21 September 2026FTSE Russell, via Tuổi Trẻ News 8 AprPhoto: Terrazzo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

In the early hours of 8 April, Vietnam time, FTSE Russell confirmed it will reclassify Vietnam's stock market from frontier to secondary emerging status, as set out in its October 2025 roadmap, Tuổi Trẻ News reported. Inclusion comes in four tranches from September 2026 to September 2027, weighted 10%, 20%, 35% and 35%. The preliminary list has 32 stocks, with the final list due on 21 August.

For Vietnamese investors: foreign money may flow into Vietnamese shares gradually from September, large caps first. For families allocating their wealth, it is a reason to keep a slice in local equities alongside property abroad rather than putting everything in one channel. As VnEconomy noted on 9 April, the process runs into 2027.

🇻🇳 Vietnam · Hanoi new-condo prices up more than 25% in a year

▲+25%

Hanoi primary apartment prices in Q1 2026 year on year, averaging about VND 94.4 million per m²JLL, via Tạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính 8 AprPhoto: NKSTTSSHNVN, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

JLL Vietnam's Q1 figures, reported by Tạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính on 8 April, put Hanoi's average primary apartment price at about VND 94.4 million per square metre, up more than 25% on a year. About 5,300 units launched across more than 30 projects and about 5,186 sold. Many banks charge 9–11% a year on mortgages for the first 6–12 months.

For Vietnamese investors: after a rise of more than 25% in a year, and with teaser rates lasting only 6–12 months, buyers using loans should model the rate after the promotion ends. Money aimed at rental income may find higher yields elsewhere. Per NAC's listing data, The One Saigon in District 1 starts at USD 280,000 with an estimated 5.5% gross yield.

🇺🇸 United States · Consumer prices up 0.9% in March, inflation at 3.3%

▲3.3%

US inflation in March 2026, year on year, from 2.4% in February; petrol alone rose 21.2% in the monthBLS, 10 AprPhoto: AppalachianCentrist, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

On 10 April the Bureau of Labor Statistics said consumer prices rose 0.9% in March and 3.3% on a year. Energy rose 10.9% in the month and petrol 21.2%, while core inflation was 2.6%. Two days earlier the minutes of the Fed's 17–18 March meeting showed many officials worried that inflation could stay high for longer and call for rate rises, though most still expected cuts once inflation eases.

For Vietnamese investors: core inflation at 2.6% shows the shock is mostly energy, so the ceasefire may soften April's numbers. Even so, a Fed cut at the 28–29 April meeting looks unlikely. Families borrowing in dollars, particularly in Dubai and Panama, should plan for rates to stay where they are until at least mid-year.

🇪🇺 EU · The Entry/Exit System goes fully live in 29 countries

●29

European countries now taking fingerprints and a face image from non-EU visitors at the border, from 10 April; Cyprus and Ireland are not in itTravel Extra, 10 AprPhoto: Ondřej Žváček, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

From 10 April the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational in 29 European countries, replacing passport stamps with digital records, Travel Extra reported. Non-EU visitors entering for the first time give four fingerprints and a facial image, and the system counts days automatically, flagging anyone over 90 days in 180. Queues at Paris and Amsterdam airports reached two hours at peak.

For Vietnamese investors: families without a European residence card should allow extra time on their first entry and track their own days, since every day is now counted automatically. Cyprus sits outside the system. The residence routes there are in NAC's Cyprus residence programme guide.

Next week

NAC strategic insight

The ceasefire pulled oil down and brought money back to Dubai within a day, but its two-week limit is a reminder that the risk has not gone away. We favour assets that are finished or close to handover, bought with equity, and a portfolio spread across several markets rather than staked on one. If you'd like to know how your family's portfolio should adjust after this week, book a consultation with NAC.

Related on NAC

Mercedes-Benz Places · DAMAC Towers by Paramount · The One Saigon · Limassol Del Mar · The NAC Residence Index

Sources

• News On AIR — Global oil prices crash up to 20% amid US-Iran ceasefire agreement (8 Apr 2026)
• Salaam Gateway — Dubai stock market rises on Iran conflict pause (8 Apr 2026)
• Tuổi Trẻ News — FTSE Russell confirms Vietnam stock market upgrade (8 Apr 2026)
• VnEconomy — Vietnam's stock market will be upgraded to an emerging market in September (9 Apr 2026)
• Tạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính — High price floor will keep short-term investors away (8 Apr 2026, Vietnamese)
• Tạp chí Kinh tế - Tài chính — Fuel prices fall sharply from 15:30 on 9 April (9 Apr 2026, Vietnamese)
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index, March 2026 (10 Apr 2026)
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index, February 2026 (11 Mar 2026)
• Federal Reserve — Minutes of the FOMC, March 17–18, 2026 (released 8 Apr 2026)
• Travel Extra — E-Day: visits to Schengen countries all-digital from April 10 (10 Apr 2026)
• IMF — World Economic Outlook, April 2026 · Đại biểu Nhân dân — Decision 482/QĐ-TTg (27 Mar 2026, Vietnamese) · Luật sư Việt Nam — Resolution 19/2026/QH16 (Vietnamese)