Page 38 - Qa News Today

Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Thursday amid rising oil prices, with oil behemoth Saudi Aramco nearing a $2 trillion valuation.

The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday elected the United States to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, more than three years after the Trump administration quit the 47-member body over what it called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

A pending visit to Tehran by the European Union coordinator for talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal cannot be deemed "business as usual" given escalating Iranian nuclear activities and the stalling of negotiations since June, European diplomats said.

Most stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Wednesday, weighed by falling oil prices, but the Saudi index gained after the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast.

Most major stock markets in the Gulf were little changed on Wednesday, amid inflation fears, while the Saudi index outperformed the region after the International Monetary Fund raised its economic growth forecast.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will host a special summit of the Group of 20 major economies on Tuesday to discuss Afghanistan, as worries grow about a looming humanitarian disaster following the Taliban's return to power.

Major stock markets in the Gulf opened higher on Tuesday as oil prices extended gains amid energy crunch, while Abu Dhabi bucked the trend to trade slightly lower.

Major stock markets in the Gulf rose on Tuesday with higher oil prices, with the Abu Dhabi index extending gains for a third consecutive session.

The United States and the Taliban had "productive discussions" on the issue of humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan during meetings in Qatar over the weekend, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday, describing the talks as "largely positive."

The United States said on Sunday that talks in the first face-to-face meeting between senior U.S. and Taliban officials since the hardline group retook power in Afghanistan in August were "candid and professional".