Bahrain

Israel claims it wants to prevent a nuclear catastrophe in the region, which is home to millions of people as well as producing much of the oil in the world. Israel's military announced that it had hit a Bushehr site on the Gulf Coast, home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant. But later said the announcement was an error. Here are some details about the damage that Israel has caused and what experts have to say about the dangers of contamination and other disasters. What has Israel done so far? Israel has declared attacks on nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan...

The Omani Foreign Minister announced on Thursday that the sixth round of U.S. - Iran nuclear talks would be held in Muscat on Sunday, following Donald Trump's reiteration on Wednesday that Tehran will not be permitted to possess a nuclear device. Trump announced on Wednesday that U.S. personnel was being relocated from the Middle East, because it "could be a dangerous area". U.S. sources and Iraqi ones said that earlier, the U.S. prepared to evacuate its Iraqi Embassy and allow military dependents leave Middle East locations due to increased security risks. The four U.S. sources and two Iraqi ones did...

Gulf stock markets mixed on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's Tadawul main index fell 0.78%, as investor sentiment was fragile due to the unpredictable nature of U.S. president Donald Trump's policies. Trump's announcement on Sunday that he would delay his threat to impose 50% tariffs on the European Union gave a boost on futures markets. The deadline of July 9 was set for Washington to reach a deal with the 27-nation EU. Nasdaq Futures rose by 1.67%, while S&P 500 Futures increased by 1.49%. Brent crude futures were up 11 cents or 0.2% by 0640 GMT as the markets awaited clarity from...

The Gulf stock markets were up early Monday morning, buoyed both by the rising oil price and progress in U.S. China trade negotiations. This was a positive sign as U.S. president Donald Trump prepared to visit this region. On Monday, the United States and China announced that they had reached an agreement to reduce reciprocal tariffs in order to end their trade war which has caused global economic disruption and shaken financial markets. A fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan also seemed to ease geopolitical tensions. In the meantime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared his willingness to meet Russian president...

The finance ministry reported on Tuesday that the economy of Bahrain grew by 3.4% compared to the same period a year ago. Data from the Information and eGovernment Authority of the Gulf nation showed that growth was primarily driven by a 4,6% increase in non oil activities. Oil activities fell by 3,5% during the same time period. According to the statement, Bahrain's total real gross domestic product will grow by 2.6% in 2024. According to the Ministry's projections, Bahrain's GDP real is expected to increase by 2.7% between 2025 and 2026, mainly due to an expansion of 3.4% in non-oil...

The Gulf stock markets fell on Thursday morning, amid concerns that the U.S.'s reciprocal tariffs could worsen trade tensions globally and tip the world towards recession. On Wednesday, U.S. president Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff as a baseline on all imports and increased duties on dozens countries, including its largest trading partners. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index fell by 0.4% after the return to trading following a four-session Eid holiday. Saudi National Bank, the country's largest lender, fell 1.5%. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant in Saudi Arabia was down by 0.8%. Oil prices, which are a major factor in...

The Gulf's stock markets fell on Tuesday morning as U.S. trade tariffs threatened an increase in global trade tensions. Saudi Aramco also disappointed investors with its disappointing earnings. The new tariffs of 25% on imports to the United States from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% increase on Chinese goods, went into effect on Tuesday. This sparked new trade disputes with three of the U.S.'s top trading partners. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index fell 1.1%. Saudi Aramco fell 2.2% after a decline in profit. The oil giant reported Tuesday a net loss of $106.2 billion for 2024. This...

Saudi Arabian chemical giant SABIC announced worse-than-expected fourth quarter results on Wednesday, against a backdrop of margin pressures in the sector. Chemicals industry is struggling with low demand and high input cost, which has led to lower prices and squeezed profit margins. SABIC reported a net loss for the three-month period ending December 31 of 1,89 billion riyals (US$504 million), compared to a loss in the same period last year of 1,73 billion riyals. LSEG data indicates that analysts had predicted a profit of a bit more than 1 billion riyals. Salah Al-Hareky is the executive vice president of corporate...

Major stock exchange in the Gulf were mixed in early trade on Tuesday on weakening oil even as stress intensified in the area and as financiers braced for thirdquarter incomes. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index dropped 0.1%, struck by a 0.9% fall in ACWA Power and a 0.6% fall in the nation's most significant loan provider, Saudi National Bank. Somewhere else, oil giant Saudi Aramco relieved 0.4%. Oil costs - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - slid as much as $3 to a near two-week low throughout Asian trade on the back of a weaker demand outlook and after...

Gulf states are lobbying Washington to stop Israel from attacking Iran's oil sites since they are concerned their own oil facilities could come under fire from Tehran's proxies if the conflict intensifies, 3 Gulf sources informed Reuters. As part of their efforts to prevent being caught in the crossfire, Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are likewise declining to let Israel fly over their airspace for any attack on Iran and have actually conveyed this to Washington, the 3 sources close to government circles stated. Israel has guaranteed Iran will pay for its missile attack...

Bahrain's economy expanded 1.3% in the 2nd quarter from a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance reported, pointing out initial data from the Info &&. eGovernment Authority. The Gulf state's non-oil gdp (GDP) grew. 2.8% in the period, contributing over 85% to general GDP, though. it was weighed by a decline of 6.7% in oil sector GDP from the. previous year period. This was mostly credited to lower production in Bahrain's. Abu Sa'afa field. Bahrain's GDP grew 3.3% year-on-year in Q1. The government projects GDP development of 3% in 2024, driven. primarily by non-oil sectors, as it accelerates efforts to....

Gulf states are pushing to stop a fullblown local war after Iran's. unmatched retaliatory strikes on Israel, sources in the. area said, fearing brand-new escalation could put them on front. lines of a blaze and ruin plans to improve the area. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in specific may. be well put to triangulate in between Iran, Israel and the. United States after diplomatic advances over the last few years that. benefited all those nations. Allies of Washington, Gulf monarchies have actually looked for to. stabilise ties with Iran and Israel to fix longstanding. security issues and permit...

The major stock markets in the Gulf recovered some of the losses they suffered in previous sessions, when the conflict between Israel and Iran escalated. Saudi Arabia's benchmark Index gained 1.2%. This was mainly due to a 1.9% increase at Al Rajhi Bank, and a 3.2% rise at Saudi Arabian Mining Company. Sunday, the index fell 1%. After a 7% increase on Friday, oil prices were volatile. Israel and Iran renewed their strikes over the weekend, raising fears that the conflict could spread across the Middle East and disrupt oil exports. The Qatari Index rose 1.7%, a day after it...

The Gulf stock markets were mixed on Wednesday morning, as U.S. President Donald Trump imposed duties on steel, aluminium, and other metals. This is the latest chapter of a trade conflict that has shaken global markets. Investors continue to focus on the pace of the trade negotiations. A possible phone call between President Trump, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week is in the spotlight. Trump had accused China of violating a bilateral agreement to reduce tariffs and trade barriers on Friday. Brent crude futures fell 0.3%, to $65.46 per barrel at 0644 GMT. The prices were weighed down due...

The major Gulf stock markets rose early on Tuesday as a result of a rise in oil prices. Investors were also awaiting the Federal Reserve's meeting to discuss monetary policy. Oil, a key financial market catalyst in the Gulf, gained over $1 per barrel on technical factors, and after bargain hunters reacted to OPEC+'s decision to increase output, which had sent prices lower the previous session. However, concerns remained about the outlook for a surplus of oil on the market. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index rose 0.3%. This was boosted by the 0.7% increase in Saudi Arabian Mining Company, and...

The major stock markets in the Gulf region rose in early trading on Tuesday. This was largely due to positive corporate earnings and the easing of trade tensions with the U.S. Officials said that the U.S. will take steps to reduce the impact on domestically produced cars of foreign parts, and prevent tariffs on imported cars from piling up. Businesses that were notified say China has exempted certain U.S. imports of its 125% tariffs, and asked firms to identify the critical goods for which they require levy-free treatment. This is the clearest indication yet that Beijing is worried about the...

Most major stock exchange in the Gulf increased in early trade on Tuesday as financiers sought assistance on the Federal Reserve's future rates of interest decisions, expecting the release of minutes from its most current conference and upcoming payrolls data. The week is filled with information releases particularly from the United States, which will be headlined by the December non-farm payrolls report on Friday. Minutes of the Fed's newest conference due on Wednesday will offer colour on their dot-plot predictions, while there will be plenty of live comment with numerous leading policymakers. Fed decisions have a substantial impact on the...

Russia's Nornickel, the world's biggest manufacturer of palladium and a significant manufacturer of refined nickel, has actually raised its 2024 production guidance for all metals. The business stated on Monday that its full-year nickel production forecast was now at 196,000-204,000 metric heaps, up from 184,000-194,000 tons formerly. The brand-new target was still listed below the 209,000 heaps produced in 2023. The business stated it had produced 146,210 lots of nickel in the very first nine months of the year as the heater at its flagship Nadezhda smelter returned into operation after significant repair work in August. As an outcome, the...

Significant stock markets in the Gulf were combined in early trade on Thursday in the background of simmering geopolitical tensions in the region and ahead of a U.S. inflation report. Israel's armed force stated it had gotten rid of a Hezbollah member in Syria who passed on intelligence versus Israel in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while Syrian media reported on Thursday that Israeli airstrikes struck targets in Syria. Israel has actually intensified its retaliation for the Hamas attack, sending soldiers into Lebanon and airstrikes into Iran, Yemen and Syria in the hunt for Iran-backed militants, raising fears of a. broader...

Major stock exchange in the Gulf increased in early trade on Monday amid expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut this week, with the Saudi index on course to acquire for a. 3rd session. The Fed's two-day financial policy meeting beginning on. Tuesday will take centre stage for the week. Expectations are. for the reserve bank to kick-start a relieving cycle, providing. space for local central banks to think about cutting rates. Markets are pricing in a 59% opportunity of a 50 basis points. ( bps) cut, with a 41% possibility of a 25 bps cut, CME FedWatch. tool revealed....

Significant stock exchange in the Gulf increased in early trade on Thursday after U.S. inflation data paved the method for a Federal Reserve rate cut next week, while traders waited for more financial data from the United States. The U.S. consumer price index increased 0.2% in August, but underlying inflation showed some stickiness, which might result in the Fed providing a smaller 25-basis-point cut at its upcoming conference. Fed policymakers will likely start long-awaited rate cuts next week as they look for to reduce the chance of an economic crisis even as stubborn underlying cost pressures put them off more...

Significant stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Thursday due to increasing geopolitical stress in the region, while financiers await U.S. weekly unemployed claims information to evaluate the health of the labour market. In the Middle East, combating continued in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas militants, without any indications yet of a. concrete development in ceasefire talks in Cairo. More than 40,500 Palestinians have been eliminated in the war,. according to Gaza's health ministry. The congested enclave has. been laid to squander. The majority of its 2.3 million individuals have actually been. displaced numerous times...

Significant stock exchange in the Gulf tumbled on Monday, tracking Asian shares lower on worries that the United States could be heading for recession, while concerns about a widening dispute in the region contributed to the worries. The U.S. joblessness rate jumped to near a three-year high of 4.3% in July amid a substantial downturn in hiring, heightening fears the labor market was deteriorating and potentially making the economy susceptible to a recession. The worryingly weak July payrolls report saw markets price in a 78% chance the Federal Reserve will not just cut rates in September, however ease by a...

Major stock exchange in the Gulf were combined in early trade on Thursday amidst tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, while expectations of rate cuts in the United States raised financier belief. Haniyeh's death came less than 24 hr after the most senior military leader of Lebanon-based Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. The killings fuelled concern that the 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas was turning into a wider Middle East dispute. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index eased 0.1%, with aluminium products producer Al Taiseer Group...