JEDDAH: Middle East stock markets were mixed on Sunday as turnover in most places shrank to low levels, although Saudi Arabia rose for a 10th straight day as it continued a rally triggered by its plan to allow direct foreign investment in equities.

The Tadawul All Share Index climbed 0.3 percent to a 6-year closing high of 10,579 points and has gained 8.6 percent in the past 10 trading days.

The index rose 26.64 points to close at 10,579 points. The value of traded shares reached SR8.82 billion.

Alinma Bank was the second most heavily traded stock, rising 1.8 percent, but by and large attention has shifted beyond the large-cap banks and petrochemical firms which foreign investors are expected to favor, to a wide variety of shares.

Industrial investment index rose nearly 1 percent.

The most heavily traded on Sunday was telecommunications operator Zain KSA, which climbed 2.0 percent.

Medical care for the growing Saudi population is a major theme for prospective foreign investors. Hospital firm Al-Hammadi, which listed at an IPO price of SR28 in mid-July, jumped 7.5 percent to a fresh record closing high of SR79.25.