Most stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Monday amid expectations of a US rate cut in September, although heightened geopolitical tensions in the region limited gains.

The US central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee meets on July 30-31 and is expected to keep rates unchanged.

However, recent softer data and comments from Fed officials have prompted the rate futures market to fully price in a 25 basis-point cut in September.

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 US dollar.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index gained 0.1%, helped by a 1.3% rise in ACWA Power Company and a 2.3% increase in Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services.

Dubai’s main share index advanced 0.7%, with blue-chip developer Emaar Properties gaining 1.7% and top lender Emirates NBD was up 1.6%.

Saudi bourse gains on US inflation data; Egypt falls

The Abu Dhabi index added 0.4%.

In Qatar, the index eased 0.1%, hit by a 0.5% fall in Industries Qatar.

Investors also tracked the escalation in Middle East tensions.

Israel’s security cabinet authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to decide on the “manner and timing” of a response to a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children, which Israel and the United States blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.