Gulf Shares Make Comeback After Coronavirus Fears

Business

March 2nd, 9:27am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Gulf stocks rallied on the heels of a rebound in Asia on hopes of support from central banks | AFP

Stock markets in the energy-rich Gulf states bounced back Monday, following losses in the previous session driven by fears over the impact of the coronavirus which has sent oil prices below $50 a barrel. Saudi Arabia's Tadawul market gained 2.3 percent at the start of trading with energy giant Saudi Aramco rising 1.0 percent from historic lows on Sunday. Kuwait Boursa, which suspended trading Sunday after shedding over 10 percent, led the rally with its premier shares index soaring some 7.0 percent and the All-Shares index surging around 5.0 percent. Dubai Financial Market Index climbed 2.2 percent and its sister UAE market in Abu Dhabi rose 1.4 percent. The tiny Muscat Securities Market in Oman inched up 0.2 percent while Bahrain bourse rose 2.2 percent. The recovery came as oil prices gained more than 3.0 percent to above $51 a barrel. On Sunday, the first trading day of the week in the region, all the Gulf bourses posted heavy losses. The United Arab Emirates bourses of Dubai and Abu Dhabi fell 4.5 percent and 3.6 percent respectively. Bahrain shares shed 3.4 percent and the Muscat bourse dropped 1.2 percent. Asian stock markets also made a partial recovery on Monday as the Bank of Japan pledged support following heavy losses last week on concerns over the mounting economic impact of coronavirus.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2158681/gulf-shares-make-comeback-after-coronavirus-fears