Most Gulf markets ease on Mideast conflict; Saudi gains
By Ateeq Shariff
Oct 13 (Reuters) -Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Sunday on expectations of an Israeli retaliation to Iran's attack and an escalating conflict in Lebanon, although the Saudi index bucked the trend to close higher.
Tensions were rising with the prospect of a retaliation against Iran, continued violence in Gaza and Israel's relentless push against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Qatari benchmark index .QSI dropped 0.2%, hit by a 0.4% fall in Qatar Islamic Bank QISB.QA.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI gained 0.6%, led by a 0.8% rise in aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group 4143.SE.
On Friday, a reading on U.S. inflation and consumer confidence kept expectations for the path of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts intact.
Markets had been fully pricing in a cut of at least 25 basis points (bps) with a chance for another outsized 50 bps cut.
Monetary policy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) often aligns with the Fed's decisions as most of the regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 retreated 2.6%, as most of its constituents were in negative territory including El Sewedy Electric SWDY.CA.
The International Monetary Fund's fourth review of Egypt's $8 billion loan has been delayed until after the IMF's annual meetings, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Wednesday.
SAUDI ARABIA | .TASI rose 0.6% to 12,069 |
QATAR | .QSI lost 0.2% to 10,493 |
EGYPT | .EGX30 lost 2.6% to 29,954 |
BAHRAIN | .BAX eased 0.1% to 1,998 |
OMAN | .MSX30 rose 0.3% to 4,766 |
KUWAIT | .BKP down 0.1% to 7,573 |
Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Ros Russell
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