Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Thursday, after U.S. Federal Reserve minutes signalled interest-rate cuts were set to begin in a few weeks' time.
The Fed appears to be very much on track for an interest-rate cut in September after a "vast majority" of officials said such an action was likely, according to the minutes of the U.S. central bank's July 30-31 meeting.
U.S. PMI and initial jobless claims figures are due later in the day.
Interest rate futures markets have fully priced in a 25-basis-point cut from the Fed next month, with a 1/3 chance of a 50-bp cut. They project 222 bps of U.S. easing by the end of 2025, against 163 bps for Europe. FEDWATCH
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.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI), opens new tab edged 0.1% higher, helped by a 1.7% increase in Middle East Pharmaceutical Industries (4016.SE), opens new tab.
Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI), opens new tab finished 0.3% higher, with top lender Emirates NBD (ENBD.DU), opens new tab advancing 2.1%.
In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI), opens new tab was up 0.3%.
The Qatari benchmark (.QSI), opens new tab was flat.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30), opens new tab advanced 0.8%, with Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA), opens new tab rising 2.1%.
Egypt plans to return oil and gas production to normal levels by 2025, in cooperation with foreign partners, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a press conference on Thursday.
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