MIDEAST STOCKS-Most Gulf bourses rise on Gaza ceasefire

By Ateeq Shariff

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Monday, helped by the ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, while investors awaited key policy announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump's incoming administration.

Hamas released three Israeli hostages and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the first day of a ceasefire that suspends a 15-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and inflamed the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI gained 0.4%, with ACWA Power Company 2082.SE advancing 4.4% and Etihad Etisalat Company 7020.SE increasing 1.8%.

In Abu Dhabi, the index .FTFADGI nudged 0.1% higher.

Oil prices - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - were steady as traders awaited Donald Trump's inauguration in the hope of some clarity on his policy agenda, including plans to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Qatari benchmark .QSI rose 0.4%, led by a 2.2% gain in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar IQCD.QA.

Trump is widely expected to make a flurry of policy announcements in the first hours of his second term as U.S. president.

Dubai's main share index .DFMGI dropped 0.3%, hit by a 2.9% fall in toll operator Salik Company SALIK.DU.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 lost 0.4%, with Commercial International Bank Egypt COMI.CA falling 0.9%.

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

((AteeqUr.Shariff@thomsonreuters.com; +918061822788;))