Gulf bank stocks hit hard, as most bourses in red after rate hike

Creative Commons

• US central bank approved its biggest interest rate hike since 1994
• Dubai index slid 1.7%, as Dubai Islamic Bank fell 3.6%
• UAE biggest bank First Abu Dhabi Bank dropped 0.9%
• Market could find some support if oil prices stabilise, says analyst

Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve delivered an aggressive rate hike and cut its growth projections.

The US central bank on Wednesday approved its biggest interest rate hike since 1994, lifting the target federal funds rate by 75 basis points to a range of between 1.5 percent and 1.75 percent.

Fed officials also see further steady rises this year, targeting a federal funds rate of 3.4 percent by year-end.

Dubai’s main share index slid 1.7 percent, underperforming the region, with sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank falling 3.6 percent and blue-chip developer Emaar Properties retreated 1.3 percent.

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday it increased its base rate by three-quarters of a percentage point to 3 percent, moving in parallel with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hike as its currency is pegged to the dollar.

In Abu Dhabi, the index fell 0.8 percent, hit by a 0.9 percent decline in the country’s biggest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 1.3 percent, falling for a fifth consecutive session, dragged down by a 3.7 percent fall in the Al Rajhi Bank.

The Saudi stock market continued its decline while the Fed’s decision added more pressure on the market, said Farah Mourad, Senior Market Analyst of XTB MENA.

“The market could find some support if oil prices stabilize.”

Oil prices, a key catalyst for the Gulf’s financial markets, erased early gains to fall to two-week lows on the back of inflation concerns, though tight oil supply limited losses.

The Saudi Central Bank said on Wednesday it increased its key interest rates by 50 basis points after the Fed move.

The Qatari index lost 0.5 percent, with petrochemical maker Industries Qatar retreating 2.3 percent.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index finished 1 percent lower, as most of the stocks on the index were in negative territory including top lender Commercial International Bank, which was down 1.8 percent.

SAUDI ARABIA fell 1.3 percent to 11,824

ABU DHABI down 0.8 percent to 9,505

DUBAI lost 1.7 percent to 3,280

QATAR dropped 0.5 percent to 12,562

EGYPT declined 1 percent to 9,867

BAHRAIN was up 0.1 percent to 1,852

OMAN rose 0.2 percent to 4,123

KUWAIT added 0.3 percent to 8,218