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Gulf markets slip on Fed rate worries; Saudi climbs

1 min

Most stock markets in the Gulf slipped on Wednesday as investors turned cautious after strong readings on the U.S. economy tempered bets on interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar © Mena Today 

Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar © Mena Today 

Most stock markets in the Gulf slipped on Wednesday as investors turned cautious after strong readings on the U.S. economy tempered bets on interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

Investors' focus is now on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech and March private payrolls and services sector data later in the day to get more clues on the rate outlook.

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

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index was little changed.

By Md Manzer Hussain

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