MIDEAST STOCKS-Top bank boosts Egypt, Gulf falls in thin trade | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Top bank boosts Egypt, Gulf falls in thin trade | Reuters:

Egypt's blue-chip stock index rose sharply on Wednesday, boosted by its biggest bank, while all major Gulf markets were weak, with some investors away on year-end holidays.

The Egyptian index rose 1.3 percent as Commercial International Bank gained 1.9 percent.

Real estate firm Talaat Mostafa rose 3.2 percent after saying its sales last year reached 21.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.2 billion), up from 13.1 billion pounds a year earlier.