Energy Oil price fall dents Gulf stock markets By Reuters June 2, 2022 Crude, a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial market, fell as much as 3 percent. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Most Gulf markets ended lower on Thursday on growing concerns over inflation and recession and as oil prices slumped following speculation that Saudi Arabia would boost production. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index finished 1.3 percent lower, hurt by a 2.1 percent fall in oil giant Saudi Aramco and a 1.2 percent decline in country’s biggest Islamic lender Al Rajhi Bank. Crude, a key catalyst for the Gulf’s financial market, fell as much as 3 percent ahead of an OPEC+ producers’ meeting later in the day, and after the Financial Times reported the Saudis were prepared to raise production if Russia’s output falls substantially because of Western sanctions. The energy index in Saudi Arabia retreated more than 2 percent. In Abu Dhabi, equities slipped 0.5 percent with the United Arab Emirates’ largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank losing 1.3 percent. Separately, the United Arab Emirates has vaccinated all those who must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the oil-rich Gulf Arab state, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday. Dubai’s main share index lost 0.3 percent, weighed down by a 1.3 percent decrease in Sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank and a 1.6 percent drop in Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Investors moved to secure their gains after the main index recorded a strong rebound during the last few trading sessions, said Daniel Takieddine, CEO MENA BDSwiss. According to Takieddine, the market could find support in the real estate and banking sectors which could see positive developments. The Qatari index eased 0.3 percent, with Qatar Islamic Bank concluding 2.6 percent lower. Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index fell 0.8 percent, with Commercial International Bank Egypt slipping 2.4 percent. SAUDI ARABIA fell 1.3 percent to 12,605 ABU DHABI down 0.5 percent to 9,826 DUBAI lost 0.3 percent at 3,396 QATAR eased 0.3 percent to 12,800 EGYPT down 0.8 percent to 10,008 BAHRAIN dropped 0.1 percent to 1,907 OMAN up 0.1 percent at 4,132 KUWAIT lost 0.8 percent to 8,590
