Early Thursday, Gulf markets opened broadly lower after renewed Houthi attacks
on Saudi Arabia and reports the IRGC navy struck four vessels in the north
Persian Gulf, raising regional risk. The US State Department ordered
non-emergency US government employees and their families to depart Saudi Arabia.
Saudi benchmark index fell 1.2% and is expected to post an eighth consecutive
weekly decline; Saudi National Bank dropped 1.9% and ARAMCO fell 0.5%. Dubai
index was down 0.8%; Emirates NBD -2.4% and Dubai Electricity and Water
Authority -1.5%. Abu Dhabi slipped 0.5%. Qatar index fell 0.8%; Qatar National
Bank down 1.1%.
