Thursday, 14 March 2024

Gulf markets rise on higher oil prices; US data in focus | Reuters

Gulf markets rise on higher oil prices; US data in focus | Reuters


Most stock markets in the Gulf rose on Thursday in line with global peers and firmer oil prices, while investors awaited a raft of economic data, ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting next week.

Oil price - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets- gained, supported by strong U.S. demand outlook, and heightened geopolitical risk, with Brent rising 0.9% to $84.76 a barrel by 1418 GMT.

Dubai's benchmark index (.DFMGI), opens new tab advanced 0.7%, supported by gains in almost all sectors with Emirates NBD (ENBD.DU), opens new tab, the Emirate's largest lender, and tolls operator Salik Company (SALIK.DU), opens new tab both rising 2%.

Dubai's Parkin, which oversees public parking operations in the Emirates, has raised 1.57 billion dirhams ($427.5 million) after pricing its IPO at the top of its range at 2.1 dirhams per share. Parkin is expected to start trading on March 21.

The Qatari benchmark index (.QSI), opens new tab was up 0.6%, lifted by gains in almost all sectors with Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), opens new tab, the region's largest lender, rising 0.7% and Qatar Gas Transport (QGTS.QA), opens new tab adding 3%.

In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index (.FTFADGI), opens new tab rose 0.1%, helped by a 1.4% increase in Aldar Properties (ALDAR.AD), opens new tab and a 4.6% surge in ADNOC Drilling (ADNOCDRILL.AD), opens new tab.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI), opens new tab was up marginally with ACWA Power (2082.SE), opens new tab rising 5.9% and Saudi Arabian Mining (1211.SE), opens new tab gaining 2.5%.

However, oil major Saudi Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab and the kingdom's largest lender Saudi National Bank (1180.SE), opens new tab slipped 2.5% and 2.0% respectively.

Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar, and any monetary policy change in the United States is usually mimicked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30), opens new tab rose 1%, ending its two sessions of losses with almost all sectors in the green.

Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA), opens new tab gained 2.7% and El Sewedy Electric (SWDY.CA), opens new tab advanced 2.7%.

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