Amman - Volatility and speculation are expected to prevail at Arab stock markets in the coming few weeks as investors monitor performance of listed firms in the first half of the year, financial analysts said Friday.

"I believe caution and speculation will prevail at regional markets in the coming weeks as investors look out for the semi-annual corporate results," Nizar Taher, head of brokerage at the Jordan Ahli Bank, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

"However, I think regional stocks stand to benefit a lot from adamantly soaring oil prices and the subsequent surplus petrodollars that will be seeking investment outlets including stock markets," he said.

Taher and other analysts pointed out that the widely expected good results of firms, particularly blue chips, in the first two quarters of the year would represent a moving factor for stocks in July.

Saudi shares were volatile this week amid moves of profit-taking and speculation.

The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) of the Arab world's largest stock exchange gained 0.3 per cent, closing week at 9,688.45 points from 9,661.48 points last week.

TASI is currently 12.2 per cent lower than the year's start, according to the weekly report of the Riyadh-based Bakheet Investment Group (BIG).

"Investors are waiting for the half-year corporate results", which are expected to start coming out in the first week of July, the BIG report said.

Jordanian shares extended gains this week propelled by the skyrocketing prices of blue chip firms, foremost the Arab Potash Co., the Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. and the Jordan Petroleum Refinery.

The all-share price index of the Amman Stock Exchange gained 6.02 per cent this week, closing at 4,819.91 points, according to the ASE weekly report.

"We believe that strategic firms will continue to lead the market for weeks to come, thanks to local and foreign high demand for their shares," Taher said.

Kuwait's KSE all-share index gained 0.6 per cent this week, to close at 15,306 points compared with last week's close at 15,214 points.

The benchmark price of the United Arab Emirates stock exchanges of Dubai and Abu Dhabi shed 1.6 per cent this week, closing at 6,238 points from 6,338 points last week.

Egypt's CASE 30 Index, measuring performance of the bourse's 30 most active shares, gained 0.43 per cent on Thursday to close week at 10,697 points. (dpa)