Stock markets in the Gulf ended mixed on Thursday amid tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, while expectations of rate cuts in the United States boosted investor sentiment.
Haniyeh’s death came less than 24 hours after the most senior military commander of Lebanon-based Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. The killings fuelled concern that the 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas could turn into a wider Middle East conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 0.5%, hit by a 1.5% fall in aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group.
The country’s real gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 0.4% year-on-year in the second quarter, preliminary data by the government’s statistical authority showed on Wednesday, driven by a 8.5% decline in oil activities which has limited overall growth for several quarters.
Petrochemical maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp finished 0.8% higher, after the company reported an 85% surge in second-quarter profit.
Dubai’s main share index gained 0.3%, led by a 1.1% rise in banking group Emirates NBD.
Most Gulf markets in red after killing of Hamas leader
In Abu Dhabi, the index added 0.3%.
The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady overnight but opened the door to a cut in September.
Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is usually guided by the Fed’s decisions as most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.
The Qatari benchmark closed 0.2% lower.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index eased 0.1%, with Talaat Mostafa Holding losing 1.3%.
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