MIDEAST STOCKS-Egypt gains as vote on constitution starts; Gulf shares mixed | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Egypt gains as vote on constitution starts; Gulf shares mixed | Reuters:

"* Egypt buoyed by expectations for Sisi presidency

* But index tests, fails to break major chart resistance

* Arabtec jumps on Abu Dhabi contract

* Qatar rises for 11th straight session

* Saudi continues edging down from five-year high

By Nadia Saleem

DUBAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Egypt's stock market rose for a fourth consecutive session on Tuesday, to levels last seen before the 2011 revolution, as the country voted on a referendum that is a key step in its planned transition back to civilian rule. Gulf markets were mixed as some investors took profits.

Cairo's benchmark index climbed 1.1 percent to close at 7,196 points, a fresh three-year high. During the day it rose as high as 7,258 points, eclipsing the January 2011 peak of 7,248 points, but it fell back before the close, leaving that major technical resistance unbroken.

Presidential elections will follow if the two-day referendum approves a new constitution as expected, and a positive result could lead to a presidential bid by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi."

'via Blog this'