DUBAI: Dubai's index slumped to a six-month low and Qatar's benchmark saw its largest drop in nine months on Tuesday as regional turmoil spurred further selling and rendered technical support levels obsolete.
Foreign investors are dumping Middle East stocks and many local investors are trying to beat them to the punch, exacerbating declines, traders said.
"As the populace throughout the region attempts to take on ever more tyrannical regimes, we will be faced with increasingly violent protest and consequently greater uncertainty," said Julian Bruce, EFG-Hermes director of institutional equity sales.
"This will manifest itself in higher oil prices and, paradoxically, weaker MENA equity markets.
"There is little to no chance of the region regaining the status quo (of) the beginning of the year, so for now, risk continues to outweigh opportunity."
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces have cracked down on demonstrators, with fighting now spreading to Tripoli after erupting in Libya's oil-producing east last week.
Meanwhile, a Bahraini opposition figure was set to return to the Gulf Arab state on Tuesday after a week of unprecedented protests by majority Shias against the Sunni monarchy.
Dubai's index fell 2.4 percent to its lowest close since Aug. 16.
Logistics provider Aramex dropped 7.4 percent. At Tuesday's close, 35 percent of its shares were held by foreigners, the second-highest total among primary listings on Dubai's bourse.
"Foreign investors have sold huge amounts and support and resistance levels don't matter right now," said Hani Girgis, assistant chief dealer at Dlala brokerage in Doha.
Qatar fell 3.6 percent, its biggest drop since May 25 and lowest close in 12 weeks, wiping out all gains from its World Cup bid rally. Qatari stocks had soared since it was chosen to host the 2022 soccer event in December.
Commercial Bank of Qatar fell 9.9 percent as it went ex-dividend. CBQ was a favoured Doha pick for foreign funds because it has a global depository receipt listing in London.
"With oil prices holding up and positive catalysts like Qatar 2022 and Kuwait and Saudi's expansionary budgets, 2011 was looking like a good year to be invested in the region, but political unrest has thrown a wrench into everyone's forecasts," said Akram Annous, MENA strategist at Al Mal Capital.
"There (were) riots on the streets in almost half a dozen countries, not exactly what you look for when you want to sleep on an investment decision."
Credit default swaps (CDS) for Egypt climbed 19 basis points to 375 bps on Tuesday and those for Dubai rose 12 bps to 450 bps, while on Monday, Bahrain's hit an 18-month high and Qatar a 12-month peak.
Saudi Arabia's index dropped 0.4 percent, declining for an eighth session, although it eased away from a 24-week intraday low, which may indicate selling pressure is waning. Samba Financial Group fell by 2.7 percent dairy producer Almarai by 2.3 percent.
"Our markets are not on emerging market benchmarks and so international investors sell at the first signs of a negative situation," said Rami Sidani, Schroders Middle East head of investment. "The political situation continues to dictate market performance."
Kuwait's Zain rose 3.1 percent after a local newspaper report said new potential bidders have emerged for the telecoms operator's stake in its Saudi unit.
TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA: The benchmark: slipped 0.4 percent to 6,277 points. The measure fell 2.4 percent to 1,479 points.
ABU DHABI: The benchmark dropped 1.6 percent to 2,579 points.
QATAR: The index fell 3.6 percent to 8,185 points.
KUWAIT: The index dipped 0.1 percent to 6,418 points.
OMAN: The index fell 1.5 percent to 6,730 points.
BAHRAIN: The measure rose 0.2 percent to 1,468 points.
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