Mideast Stocks: Saudi bourse extends gains as OPEC+ mulls output cuts

Mideast Stocks: Saudi bourse extends gains as OPEC+ mulls output cuts

Saudi Arabia stocks advanced on Wednesday for a seventh straight session, buoyed by prospects of OPEC+ producers delivering a big cut in crude oil output.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, together called OPEC+, will meet in Vienna to discuss output cuts of up to 2 million barrels per day (bpd), Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing an OPEC source. Saudi Arabia is a part of OPEC.

JP Morgan said OPEC+ oil-producing countries would cut production with or without an agreement at their meeting later in the day, with prices likely to retest $100 a barrel in the fourth quarter due to a supply deficit.

Oil prices, a key factor for the Gulf's financial markets, were little changed ahead of the meeting of OPEC+ producers after gaining more than 3% in the previous session.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index advanced 0.8%, boosted by a 1% rise in Al Rajhi Bank.

Dubai's main share index added 0.1%, helped by a 0.8% increase in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties.

The United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector maintained brisk activity growth in September, albeit at a slightly slower pace than August, as new business drove gains in output and employment, a survey showed.

In Abu