By Ateeq Shariff
Most Gulf stock markets closed higher on Sunday following a positive early turn in the talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, while Egypt's benchmark index finished at a fresh record high.
Iran's top diplomat said on Friday that the Oman-mediated talks were off to a "good start" and set to continue. Those remarks could help allay concern that a failure to reach a deal might nudge the Middle East closer to war.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index TADAWUL:TASI finished 0.3% higher, led by a 0.5% rise in Al Rajhi Bank TADAWUL:1120.
Elsewhere, Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co TADAWUL:2223 advanced 3.5%, following an increase in second-half dividend.
Milad Azar, an analyst at XTB MENA, said market sentiment was strengthened by the diplomatic meeting, which eased previous geopolitical pressures on regional indices.
"The market appears poised to continue its upward trajectory, supported by solid non-oil economic fundamentals and growth projections for the year, while investors await further fourth-quarter earnings releases from major heavyweights like Aramco," he said.
The Qatari index QSE:GNRI was up 0.5%, with petrochemical maker Industries Qatar QSE:IQCD rising 1.1%.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index EGX:EGX30 rose for the fourth consecutive session to finish 0.6% higher, closing at its highest ever.
Egypt has signed a $3.5 billion agreement to allocate 410 megahertz of new spectrum to its four mobile operators, the cabinet said in a statement on Saturday, describing it as the largest spectrum deal in the country's telecommunications history.
According to Azar, the rally is underpinned by improving macroeconomic conditions, which have bolstered overall market sentiment.
Saudi Arabia
TADAWUL:TASI rose 0.3% to 11,217
Qatar
QSE:GNRI gained 0.5% to 11,415
Egypt
EGX:EGX30 added 0.6% to 50,035
Bahrain
BAHRAIN:BHBX was flat at 2,060
Oman
(.MSX30) advanced 2.2% to 6,565
Kuwait
(.BKP) added 0.7% to 9,330