PHOTO
Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Tuesday as investors shifted focus to third-quarter earnings despite softening oil prices and simmering geopolitical tensions in the region.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index <.TASI> reversed early losses to close 0.5% higher, with aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group <4143.SE> and the country's biggest lender Saudi National Bank <1180.SE> both gaining 1.5%.
On the other hand, oil behemoth Saudi Aramco <2222.SE> was down 0.2%.
Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - tumbled more than 4% to a near two-week low due to a weaker demand outlook and after a media report said Israel is willing to not strike Iranian oil targets, easing fears of a supply disruption.
The kingdom's annual inflation rate edged up to 1.7% in September from 1.6% in August, government data showed on Tuesday, with increases in housing rents the main driver once again.
Dubai's main share index <.DFMGI> rose 0.3%, rising for a fourth consecutive session, with blue-chip developer Emaar Properties <EMAR.DU> advancing 1.8%.
In Abu Dhabi, the index <.FTFADGI> fell 0.2%, weighed down by a 1.3% slide in Emirates Telecommunication Group <EAND.AD>.
The telecoms group and Amazon Web Services have entered into over a $1 billion agreement as part of new strategic alliance.
The Qatari benchmark <.QSI> jumped 1.6%, as almost all its constituents were in positive territory, including the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank <QNBK.QA>, which was up 1.8%.
Qatar will hold a rare referendum for citizens to vote on a set of constitutional amendments, including a proposal that would abandon an effort to introduce elections, the Gulf Arab state's emir said on Tuesday.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index <.EGX30> finished 1% higher.
Egypt's central bank will keep its overnight interest rates on hold when its monetary policy committee meets on Thursday following two months of accelerating inflation, a poll of analysts predicted on Monday.
SAUDI ARABIA | <.TASI> rose 0.4% to 12,002 |
ABU DHABI | <.FTFADGI> fell 0.2% to 9,283 |
DUBAI | <.DFMGI> gained 0.3% to 4,470 |
QATAR | <.QSI> advanced 1.6% to 10,642 |
EGYPT | <.EGX30> was up 1% to 30,584 |
BAHRAIN | <.BAX> added 0.3% to 2,000 |
OMAN | <.MSX30> was flat at 4,802 |
KUWAIT | <.BKP> was up 0.7% to 7,621 |
(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)