Saudi Arabia's stock market edged up on Thursday, extending gains for a third straight session supported by gains in financials, while Dubai was propped up by real estate firms.
In Saudi Arabia, the benchmark index was up 0.1% with Al Rajhi Bank increasing 0.8% and Bank Aljazira gaining 1.1%.
On Wednesday, the latter reported an increase in third-quarter net profit to 256.9 million riyals, compared with 247.4 million riyals a year earlier. The lender attributed the rise to increase in operating income by 13%.
National Commercial Bank posted a more than 20% rise in its third-quarter net profit as it saw an increase of 5.9% in its operating income.
However, the stock was flat in early trading.
Zahrat Al Waha For Trading jumped 4.6% after it reported a rise in third-quarter net profit compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
In Dubai, the index added 0.3% led by a 1.4% gain in its blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 0.7% rise in its unit Emaar Development.
In Abu Dhabi, the index also rose 0.3%. Market heavyweight First Abu Dhabi Bank increased 0.9% and Abu Dhabi National Energy advanced 4.8%.
In Qatar, the index dipped a further 0.3% as it extended losses for a sixth straight session. Qatar International Islamic Bank lost 2% and Industries Qatar was down 0.6%.
The sharia-compliant lender is due to announce its nine-month result on Thursday.
(Reporting by Shamsuddin Mohd in Bengaluru Editing by Jacqueline Wong) ((Shamsuddin.Mohd@thomsonreuters.com; +918067497129;))
