Adedokun Waliyu 
Saudi Arabia’s stock market closed lower on Sunday, ending five sessions of gains as investors booked profits, while the Egyptian index extended gains for a second session.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index (.TASI), opens new tab dropped 0.3%, weighed down by a 1.2% fall in Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), opens new tab and a 1% decrease in ACWA Power Company (2082.SE), opens new tab.
In Qatar, the index (.QSI), opens new tab fell 0.9%, with the Gulf’s biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), opens new tab losing 1.3% and Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA), opens new tab retreating 2.2%.
The Qatari market is awaiting clear directional catalysts, said Samer Hasn, senior market analyst at XS.com.
Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index (.EGX30), opens new tab gained 0.6%, rising for a third consecutive day, led by an 8.4% jump in El Sewedy Electric Co (SWDY.CA), opens new tab.
