Gulf bourses track global shares, oil prices lower

10 Oct, 2022

Stock markets in the Gulf fell on Monday, tracking global shares and oil prices lower, with the Saudi index extending losses for a third session.

Global shares dropped after Russian missiles pounded cities across Ukraine and as renewed concern about the economic outlook sent investors into safe-haven assets such as the dollar and bonds.

Dubai’s main share index closed 1% lower, hit by a 2.7% fall in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 2.6% decline in diversified investment group Dubai Investments.

The negative performance came after a volatile week during which investors continued to contemplate global economic conditions, said Wael Makarem, senior market strategist at Exness.

“As a result, the market could see additional price corrections for the remainder of the week.”

In Abu Dhabi the index dropped 0.8%, with the country’s biggest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank losing 1.2%.

However, shares of hospital operator Burjeel Holdings rose 15.5% on their market debut to 2.31 dirhams per share, up from an initial public offering price of 2 dirhams.

The listing is the latest in a string of IPOs in the Gulf that have defied wider market trends.

Most Gulf bourses drop on growth worries, gains in oil limit losses

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index fell 0.3%, with Retal Urban Development Co falling 2.7%.

According to Makarem, price corrections were seen as traders booked gains in recent days, with volatility lingering.

“The market remains exposed to the conditions in oil markets.”

Crude prices, a key factor for the Gulf’s financial markets, ended five gains of gains as slowing economic activity in China, the world’s biggest crude importer, revived concerns about a global recession and falling global fuel demand.

The Qatari index closed 0.5% lower, weighed down by a 2.8% fall in Qatar National Bank (QNB).

After trading hours, QNB, the Gulf’s biggest lender said that third-quarter net profit rose nearly 14% as net interest income jumped nearly a third.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index added 0.1%.

========================================= SAUDI ARABIA     lost 0.3% to 11,530 ABU DHABI        fell 0.8% to 9,831 DUBAI            dropped 1% to 3,339 QATAR            slipped 0.5% to 12,914 EGYPT            rose 0.1% to 9,949 BAHRAIN          eased 0.2% to 1,880 OMAN             down 0.6% to 4,531 KUWAIT           declined 2.6% to 7,831=========================================
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