April 25 (Reuters) - Major stock markets in the Gulf
were little changed in early trade on Tuesday, with the Saudi
index - which reopened after a five session break for the Muslim
festival of Eid Al Fitr - on course to gain for a fifth session.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index gained 0.3%, with
Retal Urban Development Co rising 0.7% and oil giant
Saudi Aramco putting on 1.2%.
Dubai's main share index eased 0.1%, hit by a 1.2%
slide in Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation .
In Abu Dhabi, the index added 0.1%, with Abu
Dhabi Ports Co advancing 2.5% after the group's
Maqta Gateway acquired TTEK Inc for $26.7 million.
Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets
- held steady as investors weighed strong holiday travel in
China that could boost fuel demand against the prospect of
rising interest rates elsewhere, slowing economic growth.
A weaker U.S. dollar can help global demand for oil by
making it cheaper for holders of foreign currencies in other
countries.
** Qatar was closed for a public holdiday
(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon
Cameron-Moore)
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