ABU DHABI, Jan 18, 2026, 00:18 (GST) — Market closed.
- On Friday, IHC shares closed at 399.60 dirhams, marking a 0.03% gain.
- Abu Dhabi stocks climbed Friday, buoyed by stronger oil prices.
- Traders eye looming U.S. sanctions deadlines concerning Lukoil’s foreign holdings.
International Holding Company PJSC (IHC) shares ended Friday at 399.60 UAE dirhams, edging up 0.03%. The stock hovered tightly between 399.50 and 399.60 throughout the week. Trading volume was light, with roughly 248,000 shares changing hands, according to MarketScreener data.
Abu Dhabi’s market is closed Saturday and Sunday. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange kicks off again Monday at 10:00 a.m. local time, following a brief pre-open phase beginning at 09:30, according to brokerage data.
The key question now: will IHC make headlines with deals instead of stock moves? Reuters reported Friday that the U.S. Treasury pushed back the deadline to Feb. 28 for sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil to sell most of its international assets—valued by Reuters at around $22 billion. IHC is named among the contenders, alongside Carlyle, a Chevron-Quantum group, Exxon Mobil, Hungary’s MOL, and Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy. Reuters also noted the Treasury has already nixed two bidders: Gunvor and U.S. bank Xtellus Partners.
For IHC, being tied to that process means Washington’s sanctions apparatus is more involved than Abu Dhabi’s usual operations. The stock hasn’t seen much movement recently, but deal headlines could quickly shake things up—especially since approvals are out of the company’s hands.
Abu Dhabi’s main index climbed 0.7% on Friday, Reuters reported, as the broader market held steady into the weekend. Brent crude pushed up roughly 1.2% to $64.54 a barrel, a boost that typically perks up Gulf equities.
This week, IHC highlighted plans for longer-term capital deployment. On Jan. 14, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a new framework with IHC to co-invest in sectors like critical minerals, energy, logistics, and healthcare. DFC CEO Ben Black described the move as “a crucial step,” while IHC CEO Syed Basar Shueb said the framework would serve as “a scalable mechanism” for investments across “critical industries.” DFC
But the Lukoil situation poses a steeper downside risk. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) clarified that its general license permits negotiations and contingent contracts—but stops short of approving any actual sales without separate OFAC consent. It can also pull the authorization if talks aren’t conducted in “good faith.” Investors are zeroing in on Feb. 28, when the current negotiation license expires. ofac.treasury.gov
