DUBAI: Most Gulf stock markets ended higher on Monday as regional geopolitical tensions eased, while Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index finished flat amid soft oil prices and profit-taking. Iran’s lethal crackdown appears to have largely subdued the protests for now, residents said on Friday, as state media reported further arrests.
US President Donald Trump also appeared to soften his earlier intervention threats, posting on social media that Iran had halted alleged plans for mass executions of protesters, though Iranian authorities had made no such announcement.
Dubai’s main share index advanced 0.4 percent, with blue-chip developer Emaar Properties rising 1 percent and Sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank advancing 1.4 percent.
In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index finished 0.5 percent higher.
In the UAE, equities extended last week’s gains, underpinned by optimism around the earnings season. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi posted broad-based advances, supported by solid fundamentals and expectations of strong results, though oil-price swings remain a key risk for sentiment, said Milad Azar Market analyst at XTB MENA.
The Qatari index gained 0.7 percent, led by a 1.5 percent gain in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar.
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