Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Monday as investors looked for more clues to the global monetary policy trajectory after mixed U.S. economic data last week, although the Saudi index eased on downbeat bank stocks.
The Qatari benchmark (.QSI) gained 0.4%, with the Gulf's biggest lender, Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA) rising 0.7%, while Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) finished 0.5% higher.
The Qatari bourse stabilized to a certain extent after a volatile week, said George Khoury, Global Head of Education and Research at CFI.
"The market could remain exposed to the volatility in energy markets and could be exposed to large fluctuations this week."
In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI) added 0.5%, led by a 4% jump in the United Arab Emirates' largest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) (FAB.AD).
FAB has set the final spread for its benchmark-sized 5-year sukuk, or Islamic bond, at 85 basis points over U.S. Treasuries, an arranging bank document showed on Monday.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gave up early gains to close 0.3% lower, hit by a 1.8% fall in Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) and a 1.6% decrease in Alinma Bank (1150.SE).
Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - fell by more than 2% on sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia and a rise in OPEC output, offsetting supply concerns generated by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
However, media giant MBC Group (4072.SE) soared 30% above the listing price in its market debut, raising 831 million riyals ($221.59 million) in an initial public offering (IPO) for 10% of the business.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index <.EGX30> was flat.
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