By Md Manzer Hussain
       June 5 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf were mixed
on Wednesday amid steady oil prices, while soft U.S. labor
market data reaffirmed expectations of an interest rate cut by
the Federal Reserve in September.
    Oil prices, a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets,
edged up 0.7% after hitting near four-month lows in the previous
session, with Brent trading at $78.07 a barrel at 1300
GMT.
        The Qatari benchmark stock index rose 0.3%,
gaining for a fifth straight session, supported by a 1.9%
increase in Industries Qatar and a 0.7% rise in Qatar
Gas Transport.
    Meanwhile, energy giant QatarEnergy signed a deal to supply
Taiwan's state-owned oil firm CPC with liquefied natural gas
(LNG) for 27 years.
    The Abu Dhabi benchmark index was up 0.3%, with
Aldar Properties rising 2% and conglomerate
International Holding Co (IHC) up 1.5% to 414.50 dirham
per share, its highest level since listing in October 2005. IHC
is part of a business empire including climate fund Alterra,
overseen by its chair Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
    Alterra will mobilize an additional $200 billion in
investments over the next six years, COP28 President Sultan Al
Jaber said on Tuesday.
    Saudi Arabia's benchmark index slipped 0.5%, with
most of its constituents posting losses. ACWA Power
dropped 2.7% and Middle East Pharmaceutical slid 2.1%.
    However, shares of Dr Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital
 jumped 10.1% to 63.30 riyals from its IPO price of
57.5 riyals per share in its market debut.
    Dubai's benchmark index eased 0.1%, dragged down by
losses in industry, utilities and communications stocks. Tolls
operator Salik Company slipped 3.3% and Gulf
Navigation Holding slid 1.6%.
    Data showed U.S. job openings fell to their lowest level in
more than three years in April, signaling an easing in labor
market tightness that supports a Fed rate cut this year.
    Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar, and any U.S.
monetary policy change is usually followed by Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates and Qatar. 
    Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index retreated
1.3%, with all sectors in the red. Abu Qir Fertilizers
slid 4.9% and Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals declined 4.8%.
    Several Egyptian fertilizer factories, including Abu Qir and
Sidi Kerir, shut down temporarily over pressures on the national
gas grid.
 
 SAUDI ARABIA            fell 0.5% to 11,553
 KUWAIT                 rose 0.2% to 7,668
 QATAR                  added 0.3% to 9,491
 EGYPT                    dropped 1.3% to 26,634
 BAHRAIN                lost 0.2% to 2,038
 OMAN                     was down 0.1% to 4,779
 ABU DHABI                  gained 0.3% to 8,949
 DUBAI                    lost 0.1% to 3,980
 
 (Reporting by Md Manzer Hussain
Editing by Mark Potter)