Al-Shaal Report: Interest Rates and US-Iran Negotiations Shape Market Performance in July

“Al-Shal” reported that financial markets posted positive performance in June for the majority of markets, with nine out of 14 markets recording gains compared to the end of May, while five markets posted losses (four of which were in the Gulf region). Positive performance has remained dominant since the beginning of the year, albeit slightly, with eight markets posting gains and six recording losses, five of which were Gulf markets.

In detail, the Japanese market was the top gainer in June, with its index rising by approximately 5.7%, resulting in gains of about 39.2%. It was followed by the Dubai market, up by approximately 3.4%, and then the Bahrain Bourse, which posted gains of 3.2%, making it the smallest loser since the beginning of the year with a decline of approximately -1.2%. The French market ranked fourth with monthly gains of about 2.7%, followed by the U.S. Dow Jones index, which rose by approximately 2.5%.

As for the Indian market, its index gained 2.3% during June, but it remains the largest loser since the beginning of the year, with a decline of -10.3%.

The Muscat Stock Exchange was the biggest loser in June, with its index falling by approximately -3.2%, reducing its overall gains to about 27.9%, while retaining its position as the second-largest gainer.

The Qatar Stock Exchange lost approximately -3.0% in June, deepening its year-to-date losses to about -4.8%, making it the second-largest loser.

It was followed by the Saudi market, which posted losses of approximately -2.5%, and then the Kuwait Bourse, down by about -1.2%, raising its year-to-date losses to approximately -2.3%.

The German market was the smallest loser during June, with its index falling by approximately -0.4%, thereby ending the first half of the current year with the lowest gains at 2.1%.