RIYADH, 8 January 2008 — Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul all share index ended a three-day rally, closing lower as Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Al-Rajhi Bank fall.

The index fell 0.43 percent to 11,661.89 points. It had jumped 7.86 percent in the last three trading days. SABIC shed 1.62 percent and Rajhi 0.91 percent.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark was the best-performing Gulf Arab bourse in the fourth quarter, adding about 42 percent. It has risen 7.86 percent in the last three trading days.

In yesterday’s trading activity, agricultural sector was the top gainer led by Saudi Fisheries, Tabuk Agriculture, Eastern Agriculture, National Agriculture Marketing Co (Thim’ar) and Jouff Agriculture, netting percentage increases of 9.91, 9.90, 9.64, 9.52 and 9.14, respectively.

Top losers were SAICO, Saudi Hollandi, Emaar E .C., Saudi Electricity and Walaa Insurance, with their volume shedding 5.29, 4.34, 4.00, 3.27 and 2.12 percentages, respectively.

In the UAE, Dubai’s benchmark closed lower for the first time in four trading days as investors book profits in stocks that rallied through the New Year. The index fell 0.73 percent to 6,145.41 points. Emaar Properties, up more than 31 percent since hitting a one-month low on Nov. 28, fell 1.27 percent. Shares of Dubai Ports World extended declines into a third trading day, falling 2.48 percent to AED1.18.

Abu Dhabi’s index, which extended trading hours after a technical glitch delayed the open, closed higher for a fourth trading day, driven by Dana Gas and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (Taqa). The index rose 0.46 percent to 4,765.81 points. Dana Gas jumped 8 percent and Taqa 2.99 percent.

Bahrain shares ended higher for a third trading, with the index gaining 0.41 percent to 2,793.45 points.

Kuwait’s main index gained 0.49 percent to 12,843.80 points. Zain added 1.55 percent and Kuwait Finance 1.31 percent.

Qatar’s main index posted its biggest one-day gain in more than two months as Industries Qatar and Qatar Telecommunications Co led a rally driven by expectations of good 2007 dividend payouts. The index gained 3.03 percent to 10,068.14 points, its sharpest rise in a daily session since Nov. 4. Industries Qatar rose 8.5 percent and Qatar Telecom 8.84 percent.

Oman’s main index posted its sharpest one-day decline in almost seven months, falling 2.27 percent to 9,630.72 points, its biggest single-day decline since June 11.

Bank Muscat, which had rallied almost 52 percent since hitting a near two-month low on Nov. 7, fell 2.62 percent.