Saudi Arabian and Qatari stock markets rose in early trading on Tuesday, as investors looked ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision, while markets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) declined on tax concerns.
Fed officials appear on track to cut interest rates this month after data showed the U.S. labor market remained strong but continued to cool in November.
The U.S. Fed started its interest rate easing cycle with an unusually large 50 basis point cut in September, followed by a 25 bps cut in November. Traders are pricing an 86% chance of another quarter-percentage-point rate cut from the central bank at its Dec. 17-18 meeting. The Fed's decisions impact monetary policy in the Gulf region where most currencies, including Saudi Arabia's, are pegged to the U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI), opens new tab gained 0.5%, with the country's biggest lender Saudi National Bank (1180.SE), opens new tab advancing 2.3% and Riyad Bank (1010.SE), opens new tab increasing 0.9%. Elsewhere, oil behemoth Saudi Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab added 0.5%. In Qatar, the index (.QSI), opens new tab was up 0.3%, helped by a 0.4% rise in the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), opens new tab.
Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI), opens new tab retreated 1.2%, weighed down by a 2.2% fall in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU), opens new tab and a 1.2% decline in toll operator Salik Co (SALIK.DU), opens new tab. The UAE will impose a minimum top-up tax (DMTT) of 15% on large multinational companies operating in the country starting in January, the finance ministry said on Monday as the government seeks to boost non-oil revenue. Wall Street's main indexes finished lower on Monday, fueled by a decline in AI leader Nvidia.
The UAE, including Dubai, is a hub for multinationals in the Middle East and the tax amendments come a year after the UAE began rolling out a 9% business tax, with exemptions for the many free zones which power its economy.
