DUBAI: Stock markets in the Gulf ended mixed on Thursday amid tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, while expectations of rate cuts in the United States boosted investor sentiment.

Haniyeh’s death came less than 24 hours after the most senior military commander of Lebanon-based Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. The killings fuelled concern that the 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas could turn into a wider Middle East conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 0.5%, hit by a 1.5% fall in aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group.