Saudi Market Stability Drives Mixed Performance in Gulf Bourses as Qatar Rises and Dubai Faces Pressure Amid Regional Liquidity Fluctuations

Riyadh | EcoPulse24

Gulf equity markets ended Thursday trading with varied results as investor caution continued amidst ongoing regional geopolitical tensions and the rise in global energy prices. Some markets managed to stay positive, buoyed by banking and energy sectors.

In Saudi Arabia, the main index closed at 10,776.32 points, gaining 83.63 points (0.78%) compared to the previous close, supported by active liquidity and renewed selective demand for blue-chip stocks. Out of the listed companies, 194 advanced, 62 declined, and 12 remained unchanged, indicating improved risk appetite among local investors. Total traded volume reached about 252.6 million shares across over 434,000 transactions, with total traded value at SAR 5.23 billion, reflecting sustained trading activity.

Saudi Arabia's parallel market "Nomu" ended at 22,496.98 points, up 0.51%, with more than 2.36 million shares traded, valued at nearly SAR 17 million, pointing to continued relative activity in this segment.

Dubai Financial Market closed down at 6,114.71 points, a decrease of 82.48 points (1.33%), as selling pressure continued on leading real estate and banking stocks. 33 companies declined, 17 advanced, and 4 were unchanged. Trading volume stood at 402.2 million shares over more than 19,000 transactions, with total value at AED 1.34 billion. Major stocks like Emaar Properties and Emirates NBD Bank faced notable pressure.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange's FTSE General Index hovered near 10,044 points, reflecting a sideways movement and relative balance between buyers and sellers amid ongoing sector selectivity.

Qatar's QE20 index closed at 10,699.28 points, up 1.04% from the previous session, driven by notable gains in the banking and financial services sector. 32 companies advanced, 23 declined, and 1 was unchanged. Trading volume reached 246.3 million shares, with a value of QAR 643 million, supported by strong activity in major banks like QNB and Qatar Islamic Bank.

The varied movements across Gulf bourses highlight ongoing investor selectivity as global and regional factors, particularly oil prices and geopolitical developments, continue to shape market sentiment.

EcoPulse24 Analysis:
Gulf markets are navigating a transitional phase between caution and selective interest in blue-chip stocks. Markets linked to energy and banking showed relative stability, while liquidity-sensitive markets like Dubai faced clearer selling pressure. This divergence reflects differences in sector composition, foreign investment flows, and the sensitivity of certain markets to real estate and finance trends. In the near term, Gulf market trajectories will remain closely tied to oil price volatility, regional geopolitical events, global liquidity trends, and ongoing investor assessments of energy and inflation risks.