Gulf markets end mixed ahead of Fed rate decision
By Ateeq Shariff
Sept 16 (Reuters) -Stock markets in the Gulf ended mixed on Monday as investors await a likely cut to U.S. interest rates this week, with the Saudi index giving up early gains to conclude in negative territory.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is all but certain to cut rates on Wednesday, but the debate is over the size of the cut, with market bets inclining towards 50 basis points (bps), LSEG data showed.
Monetary policy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes the UAE, often aligns with the U.S. Federal Reserve's decisions as most of the regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.
Dubai's main share index .DFMGI gained 0.3%, with Dubai Taxi Company DTC.DU advanced 7.5%, extending gains from the previous session.
The taxi operator on Friday announced the company had been awarded 300 new plates, expanding its fleet, at the latest auction held by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority.
In Abu Dhabi, the index .FTFADGI closed 0.4% higher.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI dropped 0.3%, hit by a 1.7% fall in Alinma Bank 1150.SE and a 0.2% decrease in Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE.
However, oil behemoth Saudi Aramco 2222.SE was up 0.2%.
Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - edged higher as ongoing disruption to U.S. Gulf oil infrastructure balanced persistent demand concerns after a fresh round of Chinese data while investors await Fed rate decision.
The Qatari benchmark .QSI eased 0.1%, with Qatar Islamic Bank QISB.QA losing 0.3%.
The Qatari stock market saw limited movements, as investors in the region await this week's central banks meetings, particularly the Federal Reserve's, said Ahmed Negm Head of Market Research MENA at XS.com.
"The market is close to its high from earlier this year, benefiting from a rebound."
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 declined 0.8%, weighed down by a 1% fall in Commercial International Bank COMI.CA.
SAUDI ARABIA | .TASI fell 0.3% to 11,867 |
ABU DHABI | .FTFADGI rose 0.4% to 9,389 |
DUBAI | .DFMGI added 0.3% to 4,395 |
QATAR | .QSI eased 0.1% to 10,449 |
EGYPT | .EGX30 lost 0.8% to 30,260 |
BAHRAIN | .BAX dropped 0.4% to 1,945 |
OMAN | .MSX30 down 0.3% to 4,731 |
KUWAIT | .BKP added 0.1% to 7,758 |
Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore
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