Major Gulf markets gain as geopolitical concerns ease

Major stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Tuesday, on course to recover some losses as fears of wider geopolitical strife eased.

Iran said on Friday that it had no plan to retaliate following an apparent Israeli drone attack within its borders, which in turn followed an Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel days before.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index gained 0.6%, with Saudi Aramco advancing 0.5%, after the oil giant said it is in talks to acquire a 10% stake in China's Hengli Petrochemical.

The deal would further bolster Aramco's growing downstream presence in China.

Dubai's main share index rose 0.5%, led by a 1% gain in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties.

Meanwhile, banks and finance companies in the United Arab Emirates may defer personal and car loan installments for six months to help deal with the repercussions of last week's storm, the UAE central bank said on Monday.

The UAE last week suffered the heaviest rains in 75 years, causing widespread flooding which trapped residents in traffic, offices and homes and left many people counting the costs of damage to vehicles and property.

In Abu Dhabi, the index was up 0.2%.

The Qatari benchmark added 0.5%, on track to snap three sessions of losses, with the Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank rising 1.1%.