Gulf markets hold steady despite US entry into Israel-Iran war
Saudi Arabia's Tadawul gave up early gains and its main index ended traded 0.34 per cent lower. Qatar's main index closed up 0.19 per cent, while the main market in Kuwait ended the session 1.81 per cent higher on Sunday.
Bahrain's bourse closed up 0.27 per cent, while the main index on the Muscat bourse reversed early losses to end 0.42 per cent higher.
"Markets are focused on whether the war spreads to other countries and there is no evidence of that as yet," Hasnain Malik, head of emerging and frontier market investment strategy at Tellimer, told The National. "The benign interpretation is that the US intervention will accelerate the end of the war. That, of course, remains to be seen."
Investor attention is now centred on the risk of Iranian retaliation, particularly towards US assets, regional energy infrastructure, and maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, Iridium Advisor said in a note on Sunday morning.
" GCC investor sentiment will be shaped by rising geopolitical risk following US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites," it said.
"While broad financial disruption appears unlikely, markets will monitor liquidity conditions. For now, the market impact will hinge more on the nature and timing of Tehran's response than the strikes themselves."
Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv stock market also gained on Sunday, with the TA-125 index up 0.98 per cent and TA-35 up 0.75.
The US military bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump said on Saturday night, calling the attacks a "spectacular military success".
"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," he said.
He also warned of the possibility of further attacks, saying there were "many targets left".
"Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier."
Iran retaliated on Sunday morning with about 25 missiles, authorities said.
The war, which began on June 13 following air strikes by Israel on Tehran, has rattled investors.
The UAE markets ended higher last week, with the Dubai Financial Market up 1.5 per cent at the close of session and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange gaining 0.95 per cent at market close.
Global stocks ended last week on a mixed note, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite ending the session on Friday lower, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed slightly higher.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 closed 0.2 per cent lower, while Paris' CAC 40 gained 0.5 per cent. Frankfurt's DAX was up 1.3 per cent.
In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index edged 1.3 per cent higher and Shanghai's composite was down 0.07 per cent, with Japan's Nikkei down 0.2 per cent.
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The National
4 hours ago
- The National
What foreigners need to know about buying property in Saudi Arabia
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The new law is expected to permit a broader scope for foreign ownership, with individual units and buildings across designated areas, Mr Green says. 'Opening the market up to international buyers and investors is something that has been long anticipated,' Mr Durrani says. This will facilitate greater international investment, while ensuring that Saudi nationals aspiring to own a home are not necessarily competing directly with global buyers Faisal Durrani, head of research Mena, Knight Frank 'This is an exceptionally positive move and will facilitate greater international investment in the real estate market, while ensuring that Saudi nationals aspiring to own a home are not necessarily competing directly with global buyers.' What hurdles are investors likely to face? The biggest hurdle would be the residency issue, but the kingdom is expected to ease the golden visa programme and other ways to attract talent and people, says Mr Ansari from Kamco Invest. 'Even the UAE opened its market very gradually. We believe the UAE's experience would also play a key role in drafting future residency rules,' he reckons. The executive regulations defining ownership procedures, eligibility and restrictions are still pending in the kingdom. 'It is highly likely that the Real Estate General Authority regulations will include updated terms and fees related to acquiring the new property title, and that some of the historical taxations may be amended to encourage foreign investors to enter the market,' CBRE's Mr Green says. 'However, preparations have already begun, with REGA now working to finalise the finer details of the law, including clarification on the designated areas, related restrictions, refinement of the registration process, and related fees.' However, the Saudi real estate market is still maturing, and processes may not be as streamlined as in neighbouring countries, according to Knight Frank. Will foreign ownership make house prices more unaffordable? The decision to allow international buyers access to real estate markets in the kingdom in specific investment zones is likely to be confined to the major giga projects, which will have the impact of creating a two-tiered market – one for international buyers and one for domestic buyers, says Harmen de Jong, regional partner – head of consulting at Knight Frank. As a result, prices within giga projects are likely to accelerate faster than the rest of the more mainstream market, he estimates. The acceleration of house prices in Saudi Arabia over the past five years has been 'exceptional', with prices for apartments in Riyadh, for instance, up by nearly 82 per cent since 2019. However, salaries have not risen by a commensurate level and affordability challenges have begun to emerge, according to Knight Frank. Mr Ansari from Kamco Invest also expects property supply to 'increase gradually' as regional and international real estate companies boost their presence in the kingdom, similar to the gradual growth recorded in the UAE and other GCC countries that opened their real estate sector. Is property tax levied in Saudi Arabia? Historically, Saudi Arabia has not imposed property taxes in the same way as some other countries, but this may change with the new regulations, according to Mr Hussain from Knight Frank. Detailed provisions regarding legal protections, rights of inheritance and dispute resolution mechanisms are not yet available. More clarity will come with the release of executive regulations, he adds. Saudi Arabia levies a 5 per cent real estate transaction tax, which is applied to the ownership transfer of an asset based on the property's sale value. This is normally paid by the seller in advance, CBRE's Mr Green says. However, there are multiple exceptions, such as for inheritance, when the transfer is to a first degree relative. Similarly for other government and special interest cases, the tax is sometimes exempted. 'There is also 15 per cent VAT, which is sometimes applied to the sale and lease of commercial properties (including office, retail and industrial properties), but residential properties are exempted,' he says. 'Other fees are also applied, including title deed registration, service connection fees, permitting fees, etc. 'Finally, there is a capital gains tax that can be applied on the sale of a business asset (real estate, shares, etc.) if it is traded for a profit over and above the original purchase value. The application of this tax can vary, with a 2.5 per cent zakat or 20 per cent tax on ordinary income. However, the CGT is not currently being applied to an individual buying or selling property.'
Arabian Business
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The National
12 hours ago
- The National
UN two-state solution conference rescheduled for end of July
A UN conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to advance a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians has been rescheduled for July 28-29, diplomats said on Friday. The meeting was postponed last month after Israel launched a military attack on Iran, beginning a nearly two-week conflict that ended after the US carried out its own attacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and President Donald Trump declared a general ceasefire. The conference follows a UN General Assembly resolution passed in September that endorsed an International Court of Justice advisory opinion declaring Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. The meeting aims to translate international consensus into concrete steps towards a lasting resolution to the decades-old conflict. French officials said previously that President Emmanuel Macron would attend and that he was leaning towards formally recognising a Palestinian state. It is unclear if he will be in attendance at the rescheduled conference, or if Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be there. The rescheduled conference comes as a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war appears to be within reach. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was visiting Washington this week, said in an interview that he hoped to reach a hostage release deal within a few days, and Hamas has acknowledged that talks were progressing. Mr Trump has said talks were going "very well". Israel has repeatedly denounced the conference, saying it rewards Hamas for the October 7 attack that started the Gaza war, and has pressed France not to recognise a Palestinian state.
