- Standard & Poor's has downgraded the credit ratings of several Middle East nations, in its second mass cut of large oil producers in almost exactly a year.
- Citing pressures from the drop in crude prices, the ratings agency lowered Saudi Arabia by two notches to A- stable, and stripped Bahrain of its investment grade status.
- S&P also cut the ratings of Bahrain and Oman to reflect lower oil price assumptions.
- ETFs: GULF, MES, KSA