Major stock markets in the Gulf were mixed in early trade on Tuesday ahead of a raft of U.S. economic data that could determine how deeply the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this month.
The U.S. ISM manufacturing survey, due later in the day, and particularly jobs data on Friday will be crucial to gauge whether the Fed reduces rates by 25 basis points or 50 at its Sept. 18 meeting.
Economists forecast the ISM survey improving but remaining in contractionary territory at 47.5 in August. On Friday, analysts will look out for a rise of 160,000 in non-farm payrolls (NFP) and a dip in the unemployment rate to 4.2%.
Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, 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 gained 0.1%, helped by a 0.7% rise in Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), opens new tab and a 4.9% increase in Savola Group (2050.SE), opens new tab.
The pace of growth in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector recovered slightly in August from the previous month's more than two-year low, a survey showed on Tuesday, supported by a pickup in new orders and jobs.
Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI), opens new tab rose 0.2%, with blue-chip developer Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU), opens new tab gaining 1.4%.
In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI), opens new tab eased 0.1%.
The Qatari benchmark (.QSI), opens new tab dropped 0.1%, with Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), opens new tab, the Gulf's biggest lender, losing 0.6%.
Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - fell as sluggish economic growth in China, the world's biggest crude importer, increased worries about demand that overshadowed the impact of the halt of production and exports from Libya.
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