Most Gulf markets track oil prices lower; Egypt jumps

Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Tuesday on falling oil prices, while the approaching Jackson Hole Symposium also weighed on investor sentiment.

Oil prices - which fuels the Gulf economy - were little changed as investors remained downbeat on China’s economic malaise hobbling demand from the world’s top crude importer, limiting the impact of supply cuts.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 0.3%, extending losses from the previous session, with Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services losing 1%, while oil giant Saudi Aramco was down 0.2%.

In Abu Dhabi, the index eased 0.1%.

The Qatari benchmark gave up early gains to finish 0.1% lower, weighed down by a 1% fall in Commercial Bank and a 0.3% decrease in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar.

Most Gulf markets fall as China’s rate cut disappoints

Dubai’s main share index gained 0.4%, helped by a 1.4% gain in sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank.

The Dubai stock market remained stable with traders being cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s event this week. Traders could monitor speeches from the Fed’s governors for clues on monetary policy, said Ahmed Negm, Head of Market Research MENA at XS.com.

Oil and gas exporting countries in the Gulf tend to follow the Fed’s rate move, as most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar. Only the Kuwaiti dinar is pegged to a basket of currencies, which includes the dollar.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index advanced 1.7%, as most of the stocks on the index were in positive territory including tobacco monopoly Easter Company, which jumped 8.5% after receiving several offers from foreign investors to buy up to 15.3% of the shares.

Egypt promised the International Monetary Fund it would roll back the state’s involvement in the economy and allow private companies a much greater role as part of a $3 billion, 46-month financial support package signed in December.

Egypt’s petroleum ministry on Tuesday announced a new oil discovery in the Geisum and Tawila West Concession in the Gulf of Suez.

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 SAUDI ARABIA     fell 0.3% to 11,378
 ABU DHABI        lost 0.1% to 9,766
 DUBAI            rose 0.4% to 4,069
 QATAR            eased 0.1% to 10,455
 EGYPT            leapt 1.7% to 18,217
 BAHRAIN          was up 0.1% to 1,964
 OMAN             down 0.1% to 4,773
 KUWAIT           added 0.2% to 7,717
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