WEEKLY REVIEW

ing at 6,486.41 points.

Saudi analyst Walid AbdulHadi expected the market's benchmark to push higher in the coming weeks as investors monitor the yearly earnings of leading firms, foremost the Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

Kuwait's KSE all-share index gained 0.35 per cent last week, to close at 5,747 points.

The benchmarks of the United Arab Emirates’ stock exchanges of Dubai and Abu Dhabi fell by 1.6 per cent, to close at 1,328 points and 2,361 points respectively.

Qatar's index plunged by 2.1 per cent last week, closing at 8,699 points; while Bahrain's benchmark closed week 0.4 per cent in the red at 1,133 points.

Jordanian shares lost fresh ground because of shrinking liquidity and the effects on the economy of the Syrian uprising, Taher said.

The all-share index of the Amman Stock Exchange shed 1.1 per cent last week, closing at 1,955 points.

However, Taher expected the government's appointment of Mohammad Tash as the new chief of the Jordan Securities Commission to spur the market in the coming weeks.

Egyptian shares were the main regional gainers last week, largely because of promises by the United States and the International Monetary Fund to boost the faltering economy, analysts said.

The successful conclusion of general elections also prompted foreign and Arab buying of Egyptian shares last week, they added.

Egypt's AGX 30 index, which measures the performance of the market's 30 most active stocks, climbed 3.5 per cent, closing at 3,778 points. — dpa