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DUBAI: Most Gulf markets ended lower on Wednesday as investors weighed US trade policy developments and signs that tariffs may be fueling inflation, while awaiting cues on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy. 

US consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in five months in June, raising concerns that tariffs were beginning to pressure inflation. 

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said letters notifying smaller countries of their tariff rates would be sent soon. 

������Ƶ’s benchmark index dropped 0.5 percent, hit by a 0.4 percent fall in Al Rajhi Bank. Oil giant Saudi Aramco fell 0.7 percent. About 217.4 million shares changed hands, compared with an average of 314.3 million shares over the previous 10 sessions. 

Oil prices — a catalyst for the Gulf’s financial markets — fell by about 1 percent, as signs of stronger Chinese crude consumption were outweighed by investor caution about the wider economic impact from US tariffs. 

Dubai’s benchmark index jumped 1 percent to 5,974 dirhams, having crossed the mark for the first time in nearly 17.5 years. Financial stocks led gains with a 3.7 percent jump in Emirates NBD after concluding 3.9 billion dirhams in syndicated loans for Dubai Metro’s Blue Line Project. 

Abu Dhabi index added 0.3 percent, helped by a 2.6 percent increase in top lender First Abu Dhabi Bank. Strong bank earnings lifted sentiment across both Abu Dhabi and Dubai financials. 

Qatar’s stock index inched 0.1 percent lower. In the US, data on Tuesday showed consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in June, in line with forecasts, but the largest gain since January. 

Trump, however, reiterated his call for lower interest rates from the Fed, saying that consumer prices remain low. Monetary policy in the Gulf tends to mirror the Fed’s moves, given the region’s currency pegs to the US dollar. 

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index, which is trading at a near all-time high, dropped 1 percent, weighed by a 5.3 percent slide in tobacco monopoly Eastern Company. 

Egypt’s progress on structural reforms under an $8 billion International Monetary Fund loan agreement has been mixed, the fund said, citing the public sector’s continued dominance of the economy as a problem.

RIYADH: ������Ƶ’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Wednesday, losing 56.67 points, or 0.51 percent, to close at 11,038.74.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.01 billion ($1.06 billion), as 51 of the listed stocks advanced, while 195 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index decreased by 5.89 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 1,415.42.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 43.62 points, or 0.16percent, to close at 27,345.08. This comes as 39 of the listed stocks advanced, while 43 retreated.

The best-performing stock was SHL Finance Co., with its share price rising by 4.77 percent to SR23.70.

Other top performers included Arabian Centers Co., whose share price rose by 4.19 percent to SR22.15, and Mutakamela Insurance Co., which saw a 3.71 percent increase to SR16.21.

The worst performer of the day was Emaar The Economic City, whose share price declined by 3.63 percent to SR13.02.

Arriyadh Development Co. and Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 3.33 percent and 3.31 percent to SR31.32 and SR8.75, respectively.

On the announcements front, Asas Makin Real Estate Development and Investment Co. has signed a contract with First Avenue for Real Estate Development Co. to execute the Jadah Al-Huda residential project in Riyadh. 

According to a statement on Tadawul, the 23,199 sq. meters project will feature modern townhouse units designed to meet high-quality standards and urban integration, aligning with the growing demand in ������Ƶ’s real estate market.

Valued at 14.5 percent of the actual construction cost, the 15-month contract is part of Asas Makin’s expansion strategy to enhance its portfolio and diversify revenue streams. 

The company expects the project to positively impact its financial results while contributing to the development of the Kingdom’s real estate sector.

The firm’s shares traded 0.8 percent higher in Wednesday’s trading session on the main market to close at SR108.

First Avenue for Real Estate Development Co.’s shares traded 3.33 percent higher in the main market to close at SR8.99.

Al Yamamah Steel Industries Co. has announced the completion of construction and the start of trial operations at its new Al Yamamah Wind Power Systems Factory in Yanbu Industrial City. 

The company confirmed in a statement that commercial operations will officially begin on Aug. 1, subject to regulatory approvals. The factory’s financial impact is expected to be reflected in Al Yamamah’s consolidated financial statements starting from the third quarter of 2025.

The company’s shares traded 3.61 percent higher on the main market to close at SR34.42.