Bengaluru, January 8 (Reuters) - Gulf stocks were mixed on Thursday after rising oil prices and as investors awaited key U.S. non-farm payrolls data that could help shape expectations on the Federal Reserve's (U.S. central bank) path on interest rates.

Oil prices, a key driver for Gulf markets, rose amid developments in Venezuela and reports of progress on proposed US legislation to target countries doing business with Russia with sanctions. Brent crude gained 1.4 percent to $60.78 a barrel by 12:35 GMT.

The Saudi index rose 0.2 percent, supported by gains in energy, information technology, and financial stocks. Shares of the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) jumped 10 percent, and shares of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), the kingdom's largest bank by assets, rose 0.7 percent.

Shares in Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) rose earlier in the session from a near 17-year low, climbing 0.5 percent after the company said it had agreed to sell its European petrochemicals and thermoplastics engineering businesses in Europe and the Americas for a total of $950 million.

Dubai's index continued its gains for the sixth consecutive session, hovering near its highest level since 2008 and rising 0.1 percent as shares in telecommunications, utilities and industrial companies climbed.

Air Arabia's stock gained 4.6 percent, and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications' stock gained 1.1 percent.

Shares in Emaar Properties fell 1 percent, and shares in Salik, the highway toll collection company, fell 1.1 percent.

Joseph Daherie, a director at Techmill, said, "The market has stabilized near its highest level in 18 years. It may see further gains, supported by strong fundamentals and positive economic prospects."

The Qatari index fell 0.8 percent, with most listed stocks declining. Qatar Industries shares dropped 0.8 percent, and Qatar National Bank shares fell 1.3 percent.

The Abu Dhabi index snapped a two-session winning streak to close down 0.1 percent. Shares in ADNOC Logistics & Services fell 1.2 percent, and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) declined 1.9 percent. Meanwhile, Aldar Properties rose 1 percent after announcing it had raised $1 billion through a dollar-denominated hybrid bond offering.

The Kuwaiti index lost 0.2 percent, and the Bahraini index lost 0.3 percent, while the Omani index rose 0.4 percent.

Investors are awaiting the U.S. non-farm payrolls data due on Friday for further clues on the Federal Reserve's outlook for monetary policy.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries usually follow the decisions of the Federal Reserve in their monetary policies because most of the region's currencies are pegged to the dollar.

Outside the Gulf region, Egypt's blue-chip index rose 0.8 percent, supported by gains in Telecom Egypt (up 5.3 percent) and Commercial International Bank (up 1.3 percent).

A Reuters poll published on Wednesday revealed expectations that inflation in Egypt rose to 12.5 percent in December from 12.3 percent in November.

(Prepared by Noha Zakaria for the Arabic Bulletin - Edited by Ayman Saad Muslim)