Page 105 - AAE GENERAL REPORT - March 2024

4/3/24, 8:59 AM Gulf bourses drop ahead of US inflation data; Egypt extends losses
Gulf bourses drop ahead of US

inflation data; Egypt extends losses

Mar 28, 2024 at 2:08 pm GMT

By Md Manzer Hussain

March 28 (Reuters) -Stock markets in the Gulf declined on Thursday, as investors awaited key
inflation data due on Friday to assess the likely path of interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI fell 0.3% with most sectors in the red and logged a 2.1% loss
for the week.

Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE, the world's largest Islamic lender, slipped 1.4% and Saudi Research and
Media Group4210.SE slumped 10%, the steepest drop in more than six years after the media firm
posted a 15.9% decrease in annual net profit.

However, Saudi National Bank 1180.SE climbed 4.9%, the sharpest rise since early January, after
the kingdom's largest lender has appointed a new chief executive in place of the acting CEO.

The Qatari benchmark index .QSI was down 0.1%, weighed down by losses in energy, finance, real
estate and industry sectors with Qatar Navigation QNNC.QA sliding 2.3% and Qatar International
Islamic Bank QIIB.QA dropping 1.4%.

In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index .FTFADGI slid for a fourth straight session and ended 0.1%
lower, with Aldar Properties ALDAR.AD sliding 1.1% and First Abu Dhabi BankFAB.AD, the UAE's
largest lender, falling 0.6%.

Dubai's benchmark index .DFMGI was little changed as Commercial Bank of Dubai CBD.DU gained
4.4% and Dubai Financial Market DFM.DU added 3.5%.

However, Al Ansari Financial Services ALANSARI.DU slid 1.9%, the sharpest intraday fall in more
than two months, while National Central Cooling TABR.DU slipped 3.9% as both firms traded ex-
dividend.

The crucial February reading of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the
Fed's preferred inflation gauge, is due on Friday. A hot reading for the PCE index could dent market
optimism around early rate cuts.

Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar and any U.S. monetary policy change is usually
mimicked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 dropped 2.4%, extending its losses to a third
consecutive session, with almost all stocks in the red.

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