Saudi stocks rise while Qatari stocks fall amid anticipation of an agreement between Iran and the United States.

Tadawul All Shares Index

Tadawul All Shares Index

TASI.SA

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From Atiq Sharif

- The Saudi stock market closed higher on Sunday, while Qatar's market declined as markets struggled to find direction amid uncertainty over a possible extension of the Middle East ceasefire.

Iranian state media quoted chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying on Sunday that his country would not accept any agreement to end the war with the United States unless it guaranteed the rights of the Iranian people.

The Saudi index, which resumed trading after a five-session hiatus, rose 0.5 percent, with Al Rajhi Bank shares climbing 1 percent.

But shares of oil giant Saudi Aramco fell 1.3 percent.

Oil futures fell more than 2 percent on Friday, posting their biggest weekly loss since early April, as traders awaited confirmation of a ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran.

US President Donald Trump has not yet announced his decision, but sources told Reuters that he will make a decision soon on a preliminary agreement to extend the ceasefire and lift restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar's index fell 0.4 percent, weighed down by a 1.7 percent drop in shares of Qatar Petrochemical Industries.

The Oman Stock Exchange fell 0.2 percent to 7,757 points.

Markets in Egypt, Bahrain and Kuwait remain closed for the Eid holiday.