Stock markets in the Gulf ended mixed on Monday on rising expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut next month, and amid weak oil demand.
Federal Reserve members Mary Daly and Austan Goolsbee, in interviews on Sunday, flagged the possibility of easing in September, while minutes of the last policy meeting due this week should underline the dovish outlook.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks in Jackson Hole on Friday and investors assume he will acknowledge the case for a cut.
Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is usually guided by the Fed's decisions, as most regional currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI), opens new tab gained 0.4%, with Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), opens new tab rising 1.2% and Middle East Pharmaceutical Industries (4016.SE), opens new tab closing 2.2% higher.
Separately, Saudi Arabian perfumer Al Majed For Oud plans to float a 30% stake on the local bourse, the company said on Monday, adding to a growing number of firms in the Gulf opting for a public listing.
The Qatari index (.QSI), opens new tab finished 0.2% higher, led by a 2.8% rise in telecoms firm Ooredoo (ORDS.QA), opens new tab.
In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI), opens new tab was up 0.2%.
Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI), opens new tab eased 0.1%, hit by a 1% fall in top lender Emirates NBD (ENBD.DU), opens new tab.
Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - eased, with Brent holding below $80 as concern over demand in top oil importer China weighed on market sentiment.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30), opens new tab dropped 0.5%, weighed down by a 0.9% fall in Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA), opens new tab.
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