Abu Dhabi: The region's stock markets this week will likely factor in the overhang of the European debt crisis and its potential ramifications for the global economy before deciding their future course, analysts say.

"Our markets have remained less volatile compared to the European markets due to the better sovereign profiles within the region.

"In the next couple of weeks, we anticipate both macro-economic and geopolitical news relevant to this region that would determine how we move on from here," Anastasios Dalgiannakis, Head of Trading at Dubai-based Mubasher Financial Services told Gulf News.

As matters stand, the credit default swaps (CDS) market implies a very high chance of a sovereign debt default by Greece, which has shaken investor confidence worldwide.

Negative investor sentiment has resulted in a flight from riskier assets globally, with investors seeking to park their money in the ultimate safe haven — gold, which has seen the prices of the precious yellow metal scaling newer all-time highs within a fortnight.

Disruption

"The Eurozone appears to be lurching to another crisis that may further disrupt global financial markets.

"In the last week, Greece and Italy have each backtracked on their previous commitments to reduce their budget deficits," said Gary Dugan, chief investment officer, Private Banking, at Emirates NBD in his latest weekly research note.

"Officials from the IMF (International Monetary Fund), European Union and European Central Bank suspended talks with the Greek government over a further wave of financial support.

"We understand that Greece is already behind by as much as €1.2 billion (Dh6.2 billion) in its planned deficit reduction and has been slow to implement the structural reforms needed to make a meaningful dent in the deficit over the medium term," said Dugan.

On Friday, US stocks fell, driving the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to the sixth drop in the past seven weeks, as concern that Greece's finances are deteriorating overshadowed President Barack Obama's $447 billion plan to stimulate growth.

The S&P 500 fell 1.7 per cent to 1,154.23 last week, the second straight weekly loss and the lowest level since August 22. The Dow retreated 248.13 points, or 2.2 per cent, to 10,992.13.

European stocks fell on Friday, with investors worried about a seeming lack of action on the part of the US Federal Reserve and as Eurozone sovereign-debt credit default swaps edged wider, indicating concerns about the region's debt crisis still weigh heavily.

In a speech Thursday about the economic outlook, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Federal Reserve was prepared to discuss options to prop up the economy, but investors were left disappointed by the absence of any detail.

High inflation

Asian shares mostly fell Friday, as China's August inflation rate remained on the high side, while President Barack Obama's plan to boost jobs in the world's biggest economy failed to inspire markets.

Sentiment was also weighed by news that Eurozone growth forecasts were slashed due to concerns over the ongoing debt crisis, while Japan's economy shrank more than first thought in the April-June quarter.