Hopes of a slowing U.S. rate increase helping Gulf stocks to gain The stock markets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Qatar began the month on Thursday on a positive note. Both indexes gained to a third session on Thursday after investors put their hopes on a slowdown of U.S. Federal Reserve monetary tightening. Jerome Powell, Fed Chair, said that the U.S. central banks could reduce the pace of interest rate increases "as soon December," but warned that the fight against inflation is far from over. China will take steps to defend its companies following the U.S. telecoms ban The majority…