UAE Indices Blink Red; Hotter-than-Expected US Inflation Data Sparks Fed Rate Hike Bets

07:39 AM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Emirati Equities closed Thursday's trading session in the red as investors digested the latest US inflation data, while keeping an eye on regional developments in the Middle East. At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index shed 0.295%, while the DFM General Index fell 1.054%. "Core CPI surprised on the upside again in September with a +0.33% MoM reading, the strongest result since April. The YoY pace accelerated to +2.6%. Headline CPI also accelerated to +3.6% YoY, driven by another strong monthly gasoline price rise," Macquarie said. "The release led to a shift in market expectations for the upcoming Fed meeting on 28-October, with markets now suggesting an ~40% chance of a hike, nearly double where they rested prior to the data release. Our baseline view remains for a hold this month with the next 25 bps hike likely to occur in December. Following this, we anticipate another 25 bps hike in March." On the geopolitical front, Yemen-based Houthis vowed more attacks on Saudi Arabia after striking a Saudi Arabian Oil Co., d/b/a Saudi Aramco, administrative building at its headquarters in Dhahran on Tuesday, with the war between the US and Iran remaining locked in a prolonged stalemate. Back home and on the corporate front, Aldar Properties (ADX:ALDAR) agreed to buy nine residential buildings comprising 1,100 units from Arada for 1.1 billion Emirati dirhams. The Abu Dhabi-listed property company closed the session flat. GFH Bank (DFM:GFH, ADX:GFH) will invest $60 million in British mid-market investor Bridgepoint Group and alternative investment manager AIP Capital's joint venture to establish a commercial aircraft engine leasing platform valued at over $1 billion. GFH Bank lost 1.14% on the Abu Dhabi bourse at closing and ended flat on the Dubai Financial Market.