CAIRO/DUBAI: Optimism for the year ahead lifted Egypt’s stock market Monday, while Gulf bourses were mixed in muted trade as many investors were still away on holidays. Egypt’s benchmark index rose 1.6 percent as some investors took new positions in the tentative hope of equity gains this year after the market slumped by almost half in 2011.

“It’s extremely quiet but I think we are still building on some of the positive momentum of Thursday’s session with fund managers adding some stocks to their portfolios,” said Mohammad Radwan, head of equities at Pharos Securities. “Some market participants might be betting on a rebound this year.” Commercial International Bank climbed 1.9 percent, Citadel Capital added 2.8 percent and Talaat Moustafa gained 1.7 percent.

UAE markets halted a two-session rally, with investors finding little reason to add risk. Abu Dhabi’s benchmark slipped 0.2 percent and Dubai’s index dipped 0.9 percent. Aldar Properties ended 2.2 percent higher, up for a third session, and accounted for over half of all shares traded. The government bailed out Aldar last week with a $4.6 billion lifeline, buying assets and retiring a loan.

“UAE is perhaps the only market with a lack of positive catalyst compared to its peers,” said Amer Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset Management. “The only exception is event-driven trading like what happened to Aldar but apart from that, there would be precious little reason to attract foreign investors.”

Dubai’s Emaar Properties shed 2.7 percent and Dubai Islamic Bank fell 1 percent. In Saudi Arabia, the benchmark climbed 0.2 percent, trading higher in three of last five sessions. Heavyweight Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) gained 0.5 percent and Saudi Cement rose 1.4 percent.

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company ended 0.4 percent higher, after saying production units at its refining and petrochemical complex completed a reliability test. “Banks, construction and petrochemical stocks are the best option available for investors right now compared to other markets inside or outside our region,” said Tarek al-Mady, a Riyadh-based independent financial analyst.

In Qatar, the index edged up 0.08 percent. Heavyweight Qatar National Bank gained 0.7 percent and Industries Qatar rose 1.1 percent.

United Development ended 6.8 percent lower, down for a second session after saying last week it was in talks to issue 80 million new shares to a state pension fund. In Oman, stocks expected to post strong 2011 earnings helped lift the index by 0.1 percent, up for a fourth session.