Most major Gulf stock markets were subdued on Thursday as sentiment across markets remained frail ahead of upcoming inflation data from the United States, although Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) boosted Saudi shares.
Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is usually guided by Fed policy decisions because most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar, exposing them to direct impacts from any Fed monetary tightening.
Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - traded mostly flat on Thursday, With Brent crude was flat at $82.67 per barrel as of 0725 GMT.
The benchmark Qatari index (.QSI) slipped 0.5%, extending losses to straight third session as Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), the Gulf's biggest bank by assets, dropped 2.8% despite reporting on Wednesday a 9% rise in its annual net profit.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai indexes were flat.
Among other active stocks, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) (7010.SE) jumped 1.2% after it agreed with Arabian Internet and Communication Services (SOLUTIONS) (7202.SE) to sell its entire 49% stake in Contact Center Company (CCC.
Separately, Saudi Arabia plans to use domestically-sourced uranium to build up its nuclear power industry, energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Wednesday.
