Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Wednesday.
The Fed has left the policy rate in the current range of 5.25% to 5.5% since July © Mena Today
Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Wednesday, in line with global shares, as investors struggled with the possibility that the U.S. Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates as soon as previously expected.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the U.S. is "within striking distance" of the central bank's 2% inflation goal, but it should not rush toward cuts in its benchmark interest rate until it is clear that lower inflation will sustain.
The Fed has left the policy rate in the current range of 5.25% to 5.5% since July.
Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar and any monetary policy change in the United States is usually mimicked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) fell 0.7%, retreating from record highs it hit in the previous session, with Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA) losing 1.8%.
Syria has signed a contract with American energy giant ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy to develop several gas fields and boost production at existing ones, state media reported Tuesday, the latest in a series of major energy agreements as Damascus seeks to rebuild its war-ravaged infrastructure.
Five years of relentless upheaval have left Israel's tourism sector in ruins. The Covid pandemic, the October 7, 2023 massacres, the 2025 offensive against Iran and the renewed conflict in 2026 have delivered blow after blow to an industry that once welcomed millions of visitors annually.
Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute has appointed Princess Maha Al Saud as its new chief executive, marking a significant leadership transition at one of the world's most high-profile investment summits.
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