MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf shares rebound as Russia-Ukraine tensions ease | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf shares rebound as Russia-Ukraine tensions ease | Reuters:



"* Softer rhetoric from Russia calms down markets



* But volatility likely to persist



* Saudi Arabia's SABIC up on new plant project



* Aldar helps lift Abu Dhabi after raising merger synergy estimates



 * Egypt rallies as Sisi indicates will run for president



By Nadia Saleem

DUBAI, March 4 (Reuters) - Most regional markets bounced back on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops back to base and said he saw no need to use force in Crimea for now, and retail investors jumped at hopes of conflict easing in Ukraine.



 Putin said, however, that Russia reserved the right to use force in the Crimea region as a "last resort".



 The comments calmed jittery investor nerves in the Gulf, sending Saudi Arabia's measure up 1.4 percent in its biggest one-day gain in more than four months. The market recouped losses from the previous day and rose to a new five-year high.



 Trading volumes on the Saudi exchange surged to a near six-month high, taking traded value to almost 9 billion riyals ($2.4 billion)."



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