Bahrain








Energy Markets

Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

UAE stock markets slide after reopening following a two-day suspension due to the Iran attacks

Dubai and Abu Dhabi stocks plunged on Wednesday after they reopened following a two-day suspension in response to Iran's unprecedented wave of missiles and drones?attacks against the Gulf nation. The closing of the market froze the trading of billions of dollars worth of listed assets, as investors awaited clarification on the'scale of damage caused by the weekend strikes which 'hit airports and ports in both emirates, along with residential areas. Dubai's main share index fell 4.7% on a broad basis, led by Emaar Properties, a blue-chip developer, who dropped 4.9%. Budget airliner Air Arabia also declined 5%. In Abu Dhabi...

Oil & Gas

Brazil's Petrobras increases fertilizer production in order to reduce Middle East dependency

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has increased its nitrogen fertilizer sales in Brazil to help reduce the supply risks as tensions in Middle East threaten the delivery of a key source for the country's imports. Petrobras said that its Bahia and Sergipe units, which resumed operations recently, had reached 90% capacity. The factories are able to supply 12% of Brazil’s urea needs. Urea is one of the most common fertilizers used around the globe to grow crops such as corn, wheat and rice. It's also commonly used for sugarcane,?coffee, sugarcane, and sugarcane. Brazil is increasing its urea production, but it is...

Oil & Gas

UAE markets fall on renewed geopolitical worries

The stock markets of the United Arab Emirates ended lower on Friday. Dubai was impacted by weakness in financial and utility shares, after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threats against Iran. Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he hoped not to have to use the "armada", warning Tehran to stop killing protesters and restarting its nuclear program. Dubai's main stock market fell 0.2% in the session after reaching a near 20-year high. Dubai Islamic Bank, a lender affiliated with the?Islamic bank Dubai Islamic Authority, slid 0.2%. Tecom Group, a business park operator, gained 0.6% when it acquired 125 million...

Oil & Gas

The Gulf markets are gaining on US rate cuts

The Gulf's major stock exchanges rose early on Tuesday. This was aided in part by the rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December and signs that the U.S. shutdown may be nearing its end. The U.S. economy lost jobs last week. Retail and government sectors were the main culprits. A survey released on Friday showed that the U.S. consumer's sentiment had fallen to its lowest level in 3-1/2 years at the beginning of November, due to concerns about the effects the shutdown would have on the economy. The shutdown has delayed important economic metrics including the non-farm...

Oil & Gas

SandboxAQ, Bahrain's sovereign funds, signs deal with AI to speed up drug development

SandboxAQ - a U.S. artificial intelligence and quantum tech firm - signed an agreement on Monday with Bahrain's sovereign fund to speed up the development and creation of biotech assets valued at $1 billion. Mumtalakat, Bahrain, will license SandboxAQ’s large, quantitative models that are trained in physics, chemistry, and biology, to speed up drug discovery and scientific investigation. The deal was announced at the Future Investment Initiative, Saudi Arabia's premier investment conference. The statement said that the collaboration would help to position Bahrain as a regional hub for biotech, with a joint committee leading a program of three years aimed...

Oil & Gas

Investors mix up the major Gulf markets as they look for earnings; FAB boosts Abu Dhabi

The major Gulf stock markets were mixed early on Wednesday as investors awaited the release of earnings reports. However, Abu Dhabi's index rose on the back of First Abu Dhabi Bank's results. First Abu Dhabi Bank, the largest lender in the United Arab Emirates, saw its index rise by 4.6%. FAB, on track for its best day in late July, reported a 21 percent increase in the third-quarter's net profit at 5.39 billion dirhams (1.47 billion dollars), which was above analysts’ average estimates of 4.54 billion. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, whose trading had been suspended before its earnings announcement, was...

Oil & Gas

Sources say that India will reduce Middle East imports and buy more US LPG by 2026.

Sources with knowledge of the issue said that India intends to reduce imports of liquefied gas from the Middle East, as its state refiners seek to increase purchases from the U.S. This will help New Delhi in its efforts to secure a wider trade agreement with Washington. Sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the state refiners had already informed their traditional LPG suppliers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about the expected reduction in LPG sales. It is not clear how much LPG India will reduce from the Middle East, but a report in July...

Oil & Gas

US deploys 200 troops to Gaza Task Force without any operations on the ground

Two senior U.S. government officials announced on Thursday that the United States would deploy 200 troops to Gaza as part of a task force for stability. There will be no Americans present on the ground. According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity with reporters, the 200 people would form the core of a taskforce that would also include representatives of the Egyptian military, Qatar and Turkey, as well as the United Arab Emirates. Officials said that the exact location of U.S. forces had not yet been determined. They would create a joint command center and integrate the...

Oil & Gas

Gulf markets fall as investors consider regional rate cuts and Fed outlook

Gulf stocks fell in the early trading on Tuesday, as investors digested the regional interest rate reductions following U.S. Federal Reserve’s moves. However, lingering uncertainties about its policy outlook kept sentiment cautious. The Fed cut its benchmark rate on Wednesday by a quarter of a percentage point in response to an improving labour market. However, it signaled a cautious approach to future monetary policy ease, leaving investors uncertain about the pace at which further moves will be made. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar have all cut their rates by 25 basis point each. Dubai's main stock index fell...

Oil & Gas

Trade talks and US data have helped most Gulf markets to gain an advantage over the US.

The major Gulf stock markets rose early on Tuesday, ahead of U.S. data on inflation due later that day. This indicates investors' positive outlook for talks between Washington and major trading partner countries. After threatening to impose 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union from August 1, U.S. president Donald Trump indicated he would be open to discussion on tariffs. The Yomiuri reported that the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Shiba is planning to meet with U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent this Friday. Investors will also be watching for U.S. consumer prices for June due Tuesday. They are...

Oil & Gas

What is the risk of nuclear contamination from Israel's attack on Iran?

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...

Oil & Gas

Oman confirms the next round of US and Iran nuclear talks amid fears about regional risks

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...

Fossil Fuels

Crude Oil

Prices of oil rise as the Iran conflict intensifies

Oil prices rose Thursday as a result of a growing concern about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Iran war is choking off vital Middle East oil &?gas supplies, while production facilities are limiting output. Brent crude was trading at $83.07 a barrel, up $1.67 or 2.05% by 0141 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude rose by $1.94 or 2.60% to $76.60. The U.S. - Iran war expanded on Wednesday, after a U.S. attack hit an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. U.S. Senate Republicans also backed Donald Trump's campaign against Iran. They voted against the?bipartisan Resolution aimed...

Fossil Fuels

Middle East tensions and LNG stoppage in Qatar lead to a decline across the Gulf

Qatar led the way in early trading on Tuesday, following its halting of liquefied gas production. Middle East tensions were rising and regional energy shutdowns were weighing on risk sentiment. Inflation fears also increased. Israel has intensified its campaign by launching new attacks on Iran and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel, several Gulf States and a British air base in Cyprus. This raises concerns about a possible prolonged conflict. Qatar's benchmark stock index fell 1.2%. This was due to a 2.2% decline in the Qatar National Bank. The largest lender in the Gulf by assets. In...

Fossil Fuels

Gulf markets mixed as Saudi Arabia is down on fiscal concerns

On Tuesday, Gulf stock markets showed mixed results, with Saudi Arabia losing ground due to fiscal concerns while Dubai extending gains from the previous session. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell 0.6% following a'slight' recovery in the previous session, as the kingdom’s budget deficit increased quarter-on-quarter because of higher expenditures. Saudi Telecom Company fell 1.7%, while Saudi Aramco lost 0.6%. According to trade sources, it was reported that Aramco had sold several shipments ultra-light crude oil from its $100 billion Jafurah plant to U.S. refiners and majors in India before its first export this month. Dubai's main stock index rose by...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Critical Metals CEO expects Greenland deals to be closed in Q1 of 2026.

Critical Metals' top boss said that the company expects to complete the remaining 25% of "offtake agreements" for its Tanbreez project in Greenland by early 2026. It will also be open to investment from Washington. Tony Sage, CEO of Rare Earths, said that the Middle East's interest, which includes potential partners in Saudi Arabia and other energy-rich countries such as Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, is a reflection of the efforts made by states with high energy costs to develop a processing capacity for rare earths, supported by lower electricity costs and quicker permits than the U.S. And Europe....

Mineral Resources

The Gulf countries are recovering from the conflict between Iran and Israel.

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...

Mineral Resources

Gulf stocks mix as new tariffs come into effect and oil prices fall

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...

Mineral Resources

Slow trading in major Gulf markets due to US tariff concerns

The Gulf stock markets were characterized by low volume on Tuesday, with prices falling as investors awaited clarification of the U.S. threat to impose reciprocal tariffs early next month. On Monday, Donald Trump announced that automobile tariffs will be implemented soon. He also said, however, that some of the levies he had threatened would not be imposed until April 2, indicating a degree of flexibility in this matter. Trump's tariff policy is expected to have a negative impact on global economic growth. It could also trigger more trade tensions and increase inflation. Saudi Arabian Mining Company lost 1.7%. Al Rajhi...

Mineral Resources

Most Gulf markets increase ahead of US financial data

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...

Mineral Resources

Russia's Nornickel raises 2024 production assistance

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...

Mineral Resources

Gulf markets get on Fed rate cut outlook

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....

Mineral Resources

Major Gulf markets fall on local tensions

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...

Mineral Resources

Gulf markets slide on US economic crisis worries, regional tensions

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...

Mineral Resources

Nornickel in speak with develop China nickel plant for battery sector, sources say

Russia's Nornickel remains in talks with numerous Chinese battery business to develop a. plant collectively producing nickel product from Russian. semifinished products, three sources with understanding of the. matter said. CNGR Advanced Product and Brunp Recycling, a. subsidiary of Chinese battery giant CATL, are amongst. the companies approached by Nornickel. The metals giant remains in the midst of trying to move. significant quantities of production away from Russia to significant. consumer China, bidding to circumvent Western sanctions against. Moscow over its war with Ukraine. If the task advances, it would be the 3rd such significant. effort by Nornickel this year....

Mineral Resources

Russia's Nornickel plans to build a PGMs refinery in Bahrain, source states

Russian metals huge Nornickel plans a joint task for building and construction of a platinum group metals (PGMs). refinery in Bahrain, a source knowledgeable about the matter told. on Thursday. Nornickel is the world's biggest manufacturer of palladium. and a significant manufacturer of platinum, representing 41% and 12% of. international mine output, respectively. Both metals are primarily used. in vehicle exhausts to neutralise hazardous engine emissions, and. platinum is likewise utilized in jewellery. The source did not supply the job's amount of time or. the refinery's production capability. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain held talks with. Russian...