DUBAI: Most Gulf stock markets closed lower on Tuesday after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi energy, airport and military targets on Monday, while Egypt’s index bucked the trend after parliament delayed a vote on authorising military support for Riyadh.
The group said it hit an Aramco site in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, and the Riyadh and Abha airports.
Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claims and Reuters could not independently verify them.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index dropped 1.7 percent, dragged down by a 4.7 percent slide in Saudi Arabian Mining Company and a 1.2 percent decrease in oil giant Saudi Aramco.
In Qatar, the index dipped 0.4 percent to 8,598, its lowest level in over six years, with Qatar National Bank — the Gulf’s biggest lender — retreating 0.7 percent.
Meanwhile, Brent crude futures rose to USD111.75 a barrel, the highest since May, and as of 1120 GMT were trading at USD111.20, up USD1.65 or 1.5 percent.
Dubai’s main share index eased 0.3 percent, with Sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank losing 0.7 percent.
The Abu Dhabi index, however, bucked the trend to close 0.5 percent higher.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index advanced 1.9 percent, as most of its constituents were in positive territory including Talaat Moustafa Group Holding, which was up 4.2 percent.
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