DUBAI: Most stock markets closed modestly higher on Wednesday, led by one-off gains for individual stocks,while dimming hopes of a deal to end the Iran war weighed on broader market sentiment.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran and Washington had not held talks on extending the ceasefire, as Iran considered the agreement to have had no defined dates.
The United States and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate shipping attacks on Tuesday.
Oil prices gained amid renewed pessimism about a quick end to the conflict. Brent crude futures climbed 1.4 percent to settle at USD88.91 per barrel and US crude rose 1.3 percent to USD83.20.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index edged 0.1 percent higher, helped by a 1.5 percent rise in Saudi Arabian Mining Co which had closed 1.2 percent lower on Tuesday.