Monday 18 September 2023

Middle Eastern stocks mixed amid growth jitters | Reuters

Middle Eastern stocks mixed amid growth jitters | Reuters


Stock exchanges in Middle East were mixed on Monday, as growth concerns weighed on investor sentiment ahead of a week packed with numerous central bank meetings.

On Thursday, Bank of England is tipped to hike rates for the 15th time and take benchmark borrowing costs to 5.5%, while Sweden's Riksbank is seen hiking by 25 basis points to 4%.

China property woes, geopolitical tensions and ongoing strikes also stoked worries about global growth.

In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark stock index (.FTFADGI) slid 0.6%, snapping a seven-session win streak, weighed down by a 1.3% decline each in conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC.AD) and its subsidiary Multiply Group (MULTIPLY.AD).

Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index (.TASI) shed 0.6%, closing near its three-month low as a majority of the stocks were trading in red territory.

Losses in the index were due to financial and healthcare sector stocks with index heavyweight Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) and Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group (4013.SE) losing 1.4% and 2.6%, respectively.

Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports in July fell to 6.012 million barrels per day from 6.804 million bpd in June, official data showed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Qatari index (.QSI) gained 0.2%, led by a 3.5% jump in Qatar Navigation (QNNC.QA) and 4.8% increase in Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding (MPHC.QA).

Oil price, a key component of Gulf' economy, jumped 0.9% to $94.78 a barrel over tighter supply outlook for the rest of the year.

Gains in industrial stocks helped Dubai main index (.DFMGI) close 0.1% higher, with Air Arabia (AIRA.DU) increasing 3.3% and Gulf Navigation Holding (GNAV.DU) adding 3.7%.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) rose 0.4%, finishing at an all-time high, boosted by a 6.1% surge in Misr Fertilizers Production (MFPC.CA).

The index has gained in nine trading sessions out of 12 this month, according to LSEG data.

Egypt unveiled a plan to establish an integrated industrial compound to produce flat steel with investments worth $1 billion, the cabinet said in a statement on September 13.

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