Saudi Arabia's stock market ended higher on Thursday after a set of strong earnings from major firms, while most other markets were in negative territory as oil prices turned red.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) finished 0.9% higher, buoyed by a 4.1% rise in Riyad Bank (1010.SE) while Etihad Etisalat Company (7020.SE) jumped 4.5%.
The telecom firm reported quarterly net profit after zakat and tax 465 million riyals ($124 million), up from 319 million riyals year ago.
Elsewhere, Savola Group (2050.SE) concluded 4.7% higher, following a rise in quarterly earnings.
The main index could maintain its uptrend and extend gains in particular if oil prices are able to rebound more strongly, said Ahmed Negm, Head of Market Research MENA at XS.com.
Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI) eased 0.1%, with sharia-compliant lender Dubai Islamic Bank (DISB.DU) retreating 1.1%.
In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI) closed 0.6% lower, with conglomerate International Holding (IHC.AD) losing 0.3% as the firm is slated to report its first-quarter earnings.
Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - erased earlier gains during U.S. trading hours as a political standoff about the U.S. debt ceiling overshadowed a G7 finance leaders' meeting, raising jitters about a possible recession in the world's biggest oil consumer.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) declined 1.3%, as most of the stocks on the index were in neagtive territory including top lender Commercial international Bank (COMI.CA), which was down 1.1%.
The Egyptian bourse slid as it failed to move beyond this year's peak, said Negm.
"At the same time, international investors continue their selling trend in the face of a potential pound devaluation in the medium term and as the country is faced with a possible deterioration in credit rating."
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