Saudi Arabian stocks edged up on Tuesday, recovering from the previous session's biggest single-day loss in a month, as strong earnings from two lenders boosted most bank shares. Dubai's bourse consolidated gains after touching nearly a year-high on Monday. The Saudi index was up 0.1%. Al Rajhi Bank gained 1% after it posted a more than 4% rise in second-quarter profit, as revenue from special commissions and investments increased.
Riyad Bank gained as much as 2.4% after its profit surged over the same period on a 22.9% jump in operating income, but traded unchanged at the close. Outside banks, Yamama Cement jumped 4.4% after turning profitable in the second quarter on higher sales and lower expenses, while Saudi Ground Services, which posted a higher quarterly profit, rose 2.9%. By contrast PetroRabigh slumped 8.8% as it slipped to a second-quarter loss from a profit a year earlier.
Dubai's index rose 1.1%, boosted by real estate and financial stocks. Emaar Properties gained 1.5%. The blue-chip developer has risen in recent sessions after signing a memorandum of understanding concerning an $11 billion project at Beijing's new airport. Dubai Financial Market jumped 5.1% to its highest level since Sept. 16 last year, after higher second-quarter profit triggered a seven-day rally.
In Abu Dhabi, the index closed 0.6%. Emirates Telecom Group slipped 1.4% and the United Arab Emirates' biggest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank, edged down 0.5%. Qatar's index slipped 0.1%, primarily driven by a 2% fall in Qatar Islamic Bank. Qatar First Bank plunged 7% to another record low after the company drifted to a first-half loss, having scored a profit in the first quarter. The market received some support from telecommunications firm Ooredoo, which traded 2% up after reporting a higher second-quarter profit. Egypt's blue-chip index was down 0.4%, with El Sewedy Electric dropping 7.9%.