The recent increase in stock markets in the Gulf region, particularly led by the Qatar index, can be attributed to the slowing U.S. jobs growth in April. The latest employment report from the Labor Department indicated that the U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected, causing the unemployment rate to rise and wage growth to slow unexpectedly. This data has raised hopes among investors of early interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve, with expectations of the first rate reduction to be implemented in September.
In line with the usual trend, most Gulf currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar, leading to a ripple effect of any U.S. monetary policy changes on countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The Qatari benchmark index saw a rebound after experiencing losses over the past three trading sessions, ending 0.8% higher with all sectors showing positive growth. Companies like Qatar National Bank and Industries Qatar contributed to this increase. Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index recorded a 0.2% rise, driven by gains in finance, industry, consumer discretionary, and energy sectors.
Within the banking sector, notable increases were seen in Al Rajhi Bank, the world’s largest Islamic lender, and Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender, with both climbing by 1.5%. This reflects a positive sentiment among investors towards the banking sector in light of the expected rate cuts by the Fed. Additionally, Thob Al Aseel, a garments supplier, reported a significant 44% rise in quarterly net profit, leading to a 3.5% increase in its stock value.
Despite some challenges, such as a slowdown in new order growth, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil business activity continued to grow at a steady rate in April. The report highlighted that domestic demand was a key driver of output in the country, indicating resilience in the face of economic fluctuations. This demonstrates the diverse nature of the Saudi economy and its ability to maintain stability even in uncertain times.
The recent trends in the Gulf stock markets reflect a cautious optimism among investors, driven by external factors such as U.S. economic indicators. While the outlook appears positive, it is important for investors to remain vigilant and monitor market conditions closely to make informed decisions.
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