Full Analysis Summary
Gulf Market Performance October
Gulf markets advanced for a second straight month in October, with the MSCI GCC index up 1.2%.
Policy easing and resilient global risk appetite lifted regional sentiment.
Both Arab News and Arab News PK report Kamco Invest’s view that rate cuts by most GCC central banks—except Kuwait—helped drive broad-based gains and renewed investor confidence.
Arab News frames the move as part of improved regional sentiment amid policy easing.
Arab News PK adds the detail that increased trading activity accompanied the rally, underscoring liquidity support behind the climb.
Coverage Differences
missed information
Arab News PK (West Asian) adds that Kamco Invest highlighted “increased trading activity,” a nuance absent in Arab News (West Asian). Both sources attribute the rally to policy easing and investor confidence, but only Arab News PK explicitly notes the trading-activity pickup, potentially signaling stronger market breadth/liquidity.
Market Performance Overview
Performance diverged by market in October.
Oman led with an 8.3% gain, followed by Bahrain with a 5.9% increase and Dubai with a 3.8% rise.
Both sources agree that Qatar lagged behind the other markets.
Arab News PK specifies a 0.9% decline in Qatar linked to weak large caps.
Arab News notes only a slight drop in Qatar without mentioning a cause.
Year-to-date, both sources highlight Oman up 22.6% and Kuwait up 22.7%.
This points to sustained momentum beyond the monthly snapshot.
Coverage Differences
missed information
Arab News PK (West Asian) reports Qatar’s exact monthly decline (-0.9%) and attributes it to weak large-cap stocks, whereas Arab News (West Asian) only says Qatar “declined slightly” and does not provide a reason.
tone
Arab News PK (West Asian) uses more granular performance detail that conveys a data-heavy tone (exact percentage and driver for Qatar), while Arab News (West Asian) keeps a broader, summarizing tone without drilling into Qatar’s cause.
Market Sector Performance Overview
Both sources report that diversified financials, retailing, utilities, energy, and banking sectors outperformed, indicating broad market participation.
Arab News attributes this momentum to non-oil expansion, stable oil prices, and ongoing diversification efforts, suggesting strong macroeconomic foundations.
Arab News PK agrees on the sector strength and adds that resilience is supported by continued policy backing, diversification, and stable corporate performance.
Additionally, Arab News PK highlights external validation by referencing Fitch’s neutral but stable outlook for the GCC region.
Coverage Differences
missed information
Arab News (West Asian) emphasizes macro tailwinds—non-oil sector expansion, stable oil prices, and diversification efforts—while Arab News PK (West Asian) uniquely notes “stable corporate performance” and references Fitch Ratings’ neutral but stable GCC outlook, which Arab News does not mention.
GCC Economic Growth Outlook
Looking ahead, both sources cite projections of around 4.4% GCC economic growth in 2025.
Non-oil sectors are identified as a key driver of this growth.
The interest-rate environment remains supportive, with most GCC central banks cutting rates.
Kuwait stands as the notable exception by not cutting rates.
Arab News highlights the role of stable oil prices and ongoing economic diversification.
Arab News PK reinforces the outlook with Fitch’s neutral-but-stable regional view.
It also asserts that policy support and corporate steadiness continue to strengthen resilience.
Coverage Differences
narrative
Arab News (West Asian) narrates the outlook through internal macro drivers—non-oil expansion, stable oil prices, and diversification—whereas Arab News PK (West Asian) bolsters the outlook with an external rating-agency lens (Fitch’s neutral but stable) and explicitly credits policy support and corporate performance for resilience.