Arab Financial Markets Await Developments After Regional Escalation

Arab financial markets have been experiencing significant ups and downs due to geopolitical tensions and economic factors.  (Reuters)
Arab financial markets have been experiencing significant ups and downs due to geopolitical tensions and economic factors. (Reuters)
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Arab Financial Markets Await Developments After Regional Escalation

Arab financial markets have been experiencing significant ups and downs due to geopolitical tensions and economic factors.  (Reuters)
Arab financial markets have been experiencing significant ups and downs due to geopolitical tensions and economic factors. (Reuters)

Arab financial markets have been experiencing significant ups and downs due to geopolitical tensions and economic factors.

Investors are closely watching developments following the Israeli-Iranian escalation to gauge its impact on investments.

Mohammed Al-Farraj from “Arbah Capital” believes these fluctuations will continue for a while as investors assess how military tensions between Iran and Israel affect the global economy.

“These fluctuations are expected to persist in the coming days. Investors are carefully evaluating the impact of geopolitical factors, such as ongoing military tensions between Iran and Israel, on the global economy,” Al-Farraj told Asharq Al-Awsat.

However, he thinks the instability is temporary and markets will stabilize in the long run.

“With continued rise in interest rates and inflation, the likelihood of temporary market corrections increases, possibly leading to declines in stock prices,” said Al-Farraj.

Moreover, he sees opportunities for investors to buy stocks at lower prices during these fluctuations and benefit from long-term growth.

“These corrections present excellent investment opportunities for investors with long-term vision, allowing them to buy stocks at discounted prices and benefit from their long-term growth,” explained Al-Farraj.

Despite worries, certain sectors like energy, healthcare, technology, education, mining, insurance, and banking offer promising investment prospects.

After the Eid holiday, Arab markets reopened with fluctuations. Most closed lower, except for Muscat and Amman.

In Saudi Arabia, the main stock index, TASI, concluded its first session after the Eid holiday down by 38.52 points, or 0.30%, at 12666.90 points, with a liquidity of 6 billion riyals ($1.6 billion), influenced by declines in the banking and basic materials sectors.

Kuwait and Qatar also saw declines, while Jordan’s market closed higher. Muscat’s market ended slightly up.

Overall, market movements reflected the uncertainties surrounding the regional tensions.



Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
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Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports soared to a two-year high in May, reaching SAR 28.89 billion (USD 7.70 billion), marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase compared to May 2023.

On a monthly basis, non-oil exports surged by 26.93% from April.

This growth contributed to Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus, which recorded a year-on-year increase of 12.8%, reaching SAR 34.5 billion (USD 9.1 billion) in May, following 18 months of decline.

The enhancement of the non-oil private sector remains a key focus for Saudi Arabia as it continues its efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues.

In 2023, non-oil activities in Saudi Arabia contributed 50% to the country’s real GDP, the highest level ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s analysis of data from the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan emphasized at the “Future Investment Initiative” in October that the Kingdom is now prioritizing the development of the non-oil sector over GDP figures, in line with its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

A report by Moody’s highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive efforts to transform its economic structure, reduce dependency on oil, and boost non-oil sectors such as industry, tourism, and real estate.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics’ monthly report on international trade noted a 5.8% growth in merchandise exports in May compared to the same period last year, driven by a 4.9% increase in oil exports, which totaled SAR 75.9 billion in May 2024.

The change reflects movements in global oil prices, while production levels remained steady at under 9 million barrels per day since the OPEC+ alliance began a voluntary reduction in crude supply to maintain prices. Production is set to gradually increase starting in early October.

On a monthly basis, merchandise exports rose by 3.3% from April to May, supported by a 26.9% increase in non-oil exports. This rise was bolstered by a surge in re-exports, which reached SAR 10.2 billion, the highest level for this category since 2017.

The share of oil exports in total exports declined to 72.4% in May from 73% in the same month last year.

Moreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 33.9% during the same period.