DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s stock market ended slightly lower on Sunday after a fall in oil prices at the end of last week, while banking shares helped lift Qatar’s benchmark index.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index fell 0.2% in a choppy trade, hit by a 4.6% fall in ACWA Power Company and a 3.3% decline in Saudi Arabian Mining Co.
Oil prices – a catalyst for the Gulf’s financial markets – settled more than 2% lower on Friday as traders grew less fearful of prolonged supply disruptions from a hurricane in the US Gulf of Mexico, while China’s latest economic stimulus packages failed to impress some oil traders.
The Qatari index – which resumed trading following a two day break – gained 0.5%, with Qatar Islamic Bank advancing 1.1% and the Gulf’s biggest lender Qatar National Bank was up 0.4%.
Source: Brecorder
