Aug 28 Reuters Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Monday as a slightly hawkish outlook from U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell weighed on investor sentiment.

Powell on Friday reiterated the central bank would make all efforts to tackle inflation.

Monetary policy in the sixmember Gulf Cooperation Council GCC is usually guided by Fed policy because most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.

In Abu Dhabi, the index fell for a second consecutive session, ending 0.2 lower, weighed down by a 1.3 drop in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and a 0.7 decline in the UAE39;s largest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank.

The Qatari index fell 0.5, snapping its winning streak from the two previous sessions, with most sectors in the red.

Qatar National Bank, the region39;s largest lender, dropped 0.9 and Commercial Bank lost 1.3.

Saudi Arabia39;s benchmark index was down 0.1, also after rising in the previous two sessions. The index was dragged down by a 2.2 decline in Dr Sulaiman AlHabib Medical Services and a 0.7 fall in oil giant Saudi Aramco.

The world39;s largest Islamic bank by assets, Al Rajhi Bank, and Banque Saudi Fransi slipped 0.3 and 0.9 respectively.

Dubai39;s benchmark index ended flat with industry and utilities seeing broad losses but financial and communication sectors recording some gains.

Dubai roadtoll operator Salik lost 1.2 and National Central Cooling dropped 2.1.

The emirate39;s largest lender Emirates NBD added 1.2.

Outside the Gulf,…