By Ateeq Shariff
(Reuters) – Major stock markets in the Gulf were mixed in early trade on Tuesday as investors remain wary of the geopolitical situation in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index eased 0.3%, with aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group losing 1.7% and the country’s top lender Saudi National Bank was down 1.5%.
In Abu Dhabi, the index lost 0.1%.
Oil prices – a catalyst for the Gulf’s financial markets – were little changed after falling in the previous session as a U.S. plan to buy oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve provided some support, though wider concerns about weaker future demand growth exerted pressure.
Dubai’s main share index gained 0.7%, led by a 0.9% rise in toll operator Salik and a 2.9% jump in budget airliner Air Arabia.
Among other gainers, telecom firm Emirates Integrated Telecommunications advanced 2.4%, after reporting a steep rise in third-quarter profit.
The Qatari index edged 0.1% higher, helped by a 0.7% increase in Qatar Islamic Bank.
(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams)
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