DUBAI, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market fell in a broad-based decline on Sunday and political tensions helped to pull down Kuwait, while United Arab Emirates bourses rose.
The Saudi index
.TASI
closed 0.7 percent lower with decliners outnumbering advancers by 121 to 29. Atheeb Telecom
7040.SE
, which jumped last week on news of a deal to sell part of its telecommunications tower network to Saudi Telecom
7010.SE
, pulled back 3.9 percent.
Loss-making Nama Chemicals
2210.SE
, which soared late last month on news of a recovery plan, was also hit by heavy profit-taking, sliding 6.7 percent.
In Kuwait, the index
.KWSE
sank 2.3 percent as investors took profits after a 19 percent leap in January. Much selling was in real estate stocks which gained sharply during the bull run. Abyaar Real Estate
ABYR.KW
dropped 6.5 percent.
Kuwaiti newspapers reported the cabinet might be reshuffled or resign early this week in an effort to avoid a vote of no-confidence in the minister of information and youth.
Ten Kuwaiti lawmakers filed a motion last week to hold a vote of no-confidence in the minister after questioning him over the country's 15-month international sports ban - a sign of political tensions that could ultimately slow the government's economic development plans.
In Dubai the index
.DFMGI
rose 0.7 percent as Dubai Islamic Bank
DISB.DU
rebounded 3.9 percent after several days of falls.
Shuaa Capital
SHUA.DU
added 1.9 percent. The company said its board would meet on Feb. 13 to approve annual earnings, followed by a news conference. Investors expect Shuaa to detail its strategy after Abu Dhabi Financial Group bought a 48.36 percent stake in it last November.
Abu Dhabi's index
.ADI
rose 1.0 percent on the back of strong banks, with National Bank of Abu Dhabi
NBAD.AD
gaining 2.1 percent.
Qatar
.QSI
edged up 0.3 percent though Industries Qatar
IQCD.QA
tumbled 4.1 percent. The petrochemicals, metals and fertiliser producer posted 63 percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit to 230 million riyals ($63.2 million). The average forecast of three analysts polled by Reuters had been for 902.7 million riyals.
The company did not give a reason for the earnings miss, but recommended a cash dividend for 2016 of 4 riyals per share, less than the 5 riyals proposed for 2015.
Egypt's index
.EGX30
gained 0.6 percent as Global Telecom
GTHE.CA
rose 2.5 percent to 7.38 Egyptian pounds, breaking above its narrow range of the past two weeks.
SUNDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
* The index
.TASI
fell 0.7 percent to 7,046 points.
DUBAI
* The index
.DFMGI
rose 0.7 percent to 3,648 points.
ABU DHABI
* The index
.ADI
climbed 1.0 percent to 4,490 points.
QATAR
* The index
.QSI
rose 0.3 percent to 10,596 points.
EGYPT
* The index
.EGX30
gained 0.6 percent to 12,883 points.
KUWAIT
* The index
.KSWE
dropped 2.3 percent to 6,687 points.
OMAN
* The index
.MSI
edged up 0.1 percent to 5,808 points.
BAHRAIN
* The index
.BAX
fell 0.4 percent to 1,302 points. (editing by John Stonestreet)