Most Gulf equities gain

Most Gulf stock markets ended higher on Tuesday, mostly led by financial shares, after President Donald Trump said the US-Israeli war on Iran could end soon even as mutual threats persisted, reports Reuters.

Dubai's main share index jumped 2 per cent, led by an 8.3 per cent surge in top lender Emirates NBD (ENBD) - its biggest intraday gain since December 2024.

Among other gainers, Dubai Financial Market, which operates the emirate's stock exchange, jumped 8.2 per cent.

However, the gains were limited by a 4.1 per cent slide in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 3.2 per cent decrease in budget airliner Air Arabia amid ongoing caution over the Middle East conflict.

In Abu Dhabi, the index gained 1.4 per cent, helped by a 5.8 per cent rise in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and an 8.7 per cent surge in Abu ?Dhabi Commercial Bank.

In steps aimed at stabilizing markets, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority said last week that Abu Dhabi's ADX and Dubai's DFM exchanges suspended trading on March 2 and 3, while the two exchanges said they would temporarily set a 5 per cent floor on securities declines.