GCC stock markets slide once again on global cues

GCC stock markets slide once again on global cues

Muscat: GCC equity markets declined for the second consecutive month in September-2023 taking cues from the decline in global equity markets, according to a new report. "The global decline was led by investor fears that rates would remain higher for longer as inflation and the economy remain too strong for the central banks to cut rates," the Kuwait-based Kamco Invest said in its GCC Markets Monthly Report September 2023."The MSCI GCC index witnessed a 2. 7 percent decline this month, that wiped off gains since the start of the year. The year-to-date (YTD) decline now stands at 3. 0 percent," the report further added. The decline in the GCC was broad-based with only Dubai and Qatari markets seeing gains last month while the rest of the markets declined. "Saudi Arabia's TASI was the biggest monthly decliner with a fall of 3. 8 percent followed by Oman and Kuwait with declines of 2. 5 percent and 1. 7 percent, respectively," the Kamco Invest report said. However, in terms of YTD-2023 performance, Dubai continues to boast healthy gains of 24. 8 percent followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with gains of 5. 5 percent and 2. 3 percent , respectively. The rest