Most Gulf stock markets closed lower on Wednesday as investors grew more cautious following a lack of progress in indirect talks between Iran and the United States.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell 0.3%, dragged down by a 0.5% drop in Al Rajhi Bank's share price. At the same time, Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector recorded stronger growth in June, driven by the fastest increase in new business in four months. However, a survey showed that companies continue to face rising costs and weakening export demand.
In Qatar, the index rose 0.3%, with Qatar National Bank shares gaining 0.2%. Iran's commercial attaché in Doha told state media that maritime trade between Iran and Qatar had resumed after a halt of around five months.
Kuwait's index fell 0.3%, Oman's index slipped 0.2%, and Bahrain's index lost 0.6%.
Outside the Gulf region, Egypt's blue-chip index rose 1.2%, boosted by a 1.9% advance in Commercial International Bank shares. Data from Egypt's central bank showed broad money supply (M2) grew 19.6% year-on-year in May, reaching 15.33 trillion Egyptian pounds ($312.35 billion).
Egypt: 1.2%
Qatar: 0.3%
Bahrain: 0.6%
Saudi Arabia: 0.3%
Kuwait: 0.3%
Oman: 0.2%