Most Gulf markets in the red on falling oil prices

A trader looks on near electronic boards showing stock market data at Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, Nov 8, 2020. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File photo

Stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Sunday in response to Friday’s fall in oil prices, although the Saudi index bucked the trend to trade higher.

Oil – a catalyst for the Gulf‘s financial markets – fell on Friday as the release of some hostages in Gaza reduced the geopolitical risk premium.

In Qatar, the index dropped 0.7 percent, weighed down by a 1.5-percent fall in Qatar Islamic Bank and a 1.5-percent decrease in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index declined 0.8 percent, with top lender Commercial International Bank losing 2 percent.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index edged 0.1 percent higher, ending two sessions of losses, helped by a 1.2-percent rise in Elm Company.

OPEC+ has moved closer to a compromise with African oil producers on 2024 output levels, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters, after disagreements over those targets forced the group of oil-producing nations to postpone a key meeting.

The market is also waiting to see if Saudi Arabia extends its additional 1 million barrel per day (bpd) voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December.