Egypt's main index recoups part of Monday's sharp decline, rising 0.7 percent as investors wait to see if the military leadership will challenge a move by the country's new president to recall the parliament it dissolved.
Parliament met unopposed by the generals on Tuesday after President Mohamed Mursi recalled the lower house. The speaker said the assembly would seek its own way to implement a top court's ruling that had declared it void.
"I don't think people are overcooking the importance of this," says Teymour el-Derini of Naeem Brokerage. "When an executive power overrules a judicial power then you're in a stalemate."
The index slid 4.2 percent on Monday, its biggest drop in three weeks, but Derini said trading volume was not massive.
Among the most heavily-traded stocks, Orascom Telecom Media and Technology is up 0.7 percent, Palm Hills 1.6 percent and SODIC 2.4 percent.
Shares in Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) tumble after the firm's quarterly profit missed estimates, while petrochemical stocks also help to drag down Saudi Arabia's bourse as oil price declines weigh.
Maaden plunges 5.6 percent. It made a second-quarter net income of 128 million riyals ($34.13 million), which was more than double its profit for the prior-year period, but fell short of analysts' estimates. These on average forecast Maaden would make a quarterly profit of 328 million riyals.
Newly-listed Saudi Airline Caterting slips 0.4 percent, in its second day of trade.
Advanced Petrochemical Company falls 2.6 percent. Its quarterly net profit was 52.9 million riyals, down 65.3 percent from the year-earlier period. The petrochemical firm cited a decline in product prices and decreased sales quantities.
The kingdom's benchmark slips 0.2 percent to 6,747 points, down for a third day.
The petrochemical index is 0.6 percent lower.
Elsewhere, Oman's bourse ends 0.7 percent lower at 5,946 points.
Most Gulf bourses edge lower as investors cut risk on weak global cues but trading is thin in typical summer lull.
Dubai's index slips 0.2 percent to 1,489 points, down for a third straight day.
Bellwether Emaar Properties falls 1.6 percent, Dubai Investments sheds 2.4 percent.