Mideast Stocks: Most major Gulf markets up but Abu Dhabi eases

Mideast Stocks: Most major Gulf markets up but Abu Dhabi eases

Most major Gulf indexes were firm in early trade on Wednesday, but the Abu Dhabi index was hurt by a fall in the country's largest lender.Saudi Arabia's benchmark index was up 0.1%, with Al Rajhi Bank rising 1.1%, while Jarir Marketing increased 1.2%, extending gains from the previous session.On Tuesday, the Saudi retailer proposed a dividend of 1.70 riyal per share for the second quarter, versus 1.40 riyal a year earlier. Dubai's main share index edged up 0.2%, with Emirates NBD Bank gaining 1.3% and DAMAC Properties was up 1.9%.Air Arabia added 0.9%.The United Arab Emirates' only listed airline retreated 1.8% on Tuesday after it swung to a second-quarter loss of 239 million dirhams ($65.07 million) following a collapse in passenger traffic because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Abu Dhabi,