Most Gulf markets fall with Iran ceasefire in focus

DUBAI: Most Gulf stock markets ended lower on Wednesday, as investors monitored a fragile Middle East ceasefire and the upcoming high-stakes meeting in China between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the two presidents will discuss the Iran war, and urged China to “join us in this international operation” to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

But while Beijing worked behind the scenes to convince Iran to hold peace talks with the US in Pakistan last month, analysts say it would not act solely at Washington’s behest.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index fell 0.2 percent, hit by a 2.1 percent slide in Saudi Arabian Mining Company.