Most Gulf stocks firm as markets brace for pivotal week

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By Amna MariyamMost Gulf equities ended higher on Sunday as investors anticipated a critical week ahead, focusing on key corporate earnings and the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting, while President Donald Trump's August 1 trade deadline loomed.Gains were tempered by oil prices slipping to a three-week low, pressuring sentiment in a region where oil remains a key economic driver.Saudi Arabia's benchmark index TADAWUL:TASI added 0.1%, helped by a 4% jump in healthcare provider Dr Sulaiman Al Habib TADAWUL:4013 and a 2.2% increase in SABIC Agri-Nutrients Co TADAWUL:2020 after the duo reported a rise in second-quarter profit.Elsewhere, Yanbu National Petrochemical Co TADAWUL:2290 gained 2.9% after the firm reported a more than two-fold sequential increase in second-quarter profit.Qatar's stock index QSE:GNRI rose 0.3%, extending its winning streak into the new week after notching gains in all sessions last week, as it climbed to a fresh peak last seen over two and a half years ago.Shares of index heavyweight Qatar International Islamic Bank QSE:QIIK jumped nearly 3%, as investors positioned ahead of Monday's dividend eligibility cutoff to secure an upcoming payout.Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index EGX:EGX30 - which traded after a session's break - advanced 1.3%, hitting a fresh record high, with Commercial International Bank EGX:COMI advancing 3.3%.Investors across the region are also eyeing the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, where rates are widely expected to remain unchanged at 4.25%–4.50%, despite renewed political pressure from Trump for cuts. A rise in U.S. inflation to 2.7% in June has clouded expectations for a potential rate reduction in September, with market odds narrowing to nearly 50-50.Fed policy remains closely watched in the Gulf, where most currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar, making it a key anchor for regional monetary stability.SAUDI ARABIATADAWUL:TASI added 0.1% to 10,956QATARQSE:GNRI gained 0.3% to 11,249EGYPTEGX:EGX30 added 1.3% to 34,554BAHRAINBAHRAIN:BHBX eased 0.3% to 1,948OMAN(.MSX30) advanced 0.5% to 4,740KUWAIT(.BKP) slipped 0.4% to 9,239

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