Higher oil prices boost Gulf markets, Aramco hits record high

Middle East stock markets rose on Thursday boosted by energy and commodity linked assets as oil prices neared $120 a barrel and the cost of other resources soared.

The Ukraine war has triggered a dash for commodities that could be in short supply, while stock markets slipped as investors worried about higher inflation and slowing economic growth.

Brent crude oil is now up nearly 20% on the week, while everything from coal to natural gas and aluminium are surging as Western nations tighten sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls its actions a “special operation”.

“Sanctions are pushing oil importers to look elsewhere for supplies at a time when the market is already struggling with rising demand and the sluggish supply policy laid out by OPEC,” said Daniel Takieddine, CEO MENA at BDSwiss.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark share index (.TASI) ended 0.8% higher, with gains driven by Saudi Aramco which rose to a record high of 45 riyals and ended the session up nearly 3%.

Dubai’s main index (.DFMGI) rose for the fifth consecutive session with gains of 0.4%. Heavyweights Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD.DU) and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (DU.DU) boosted the index.

Abu Dhabi’s index (.FTFADGI) was up 0.7%, while the Qatari index (.QSI) rose 0.2%.

Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) was the top percentage gainer, and closed the session up 3%.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index (.EGX30) gained 1%.

SAUDI ARABIA	(.TASI) up 0.8% to 12,756
ABU DHABI	(.FTFADGI) rose 0.7% to 9,745
DUBAI	(.DFMGI) added 0.4% to 3,482
QATAR	(.QSI) rose 0.2% to 13,463
EGYPT	(.EGX30) gained 1% to 11,306
BAHRAIN	(.BAX) was up 0.3% to 1,976
OMAN	(.MSX30) rose 1.9% to 4,134
KUWAIT	(.BKP) gained 0.8% to 8,599

Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

This article was originally published by Reuters.