MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf bourses end mixed as investors await clarity on US tariffs

By Ateeq Shariff

March 26 (Reuters) - Major Gulf stock markets were mixed on Wednesday as investors waited for clarity on U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policy ahead of looming tariffs.

Traders are hoping there may be room for flexibility around recently-announced trade policies, after Trump hinted earlier this week that not all tariffs would kick in on April 2, and that some countries may be exempt.

Oil prices O/R - a catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - initially rose on U.S. plans for additional tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil and gas, and a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories.

But the impact was later mitigated by the U.S.-brokered maritime security and energy truce between Russia and Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI advanced 2.3%, led by a 3% rise in Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE and a 2.1% increase in oil giant Saudi Aramco 2222.SE.

"The Saudi bourse exhibited strong positive performance, showing improved sentiment after a period of uncertainty," Joseph Dahrieh, managing principal at TickmillAll, said, adding that all sectors traded positively on Wednesday.

"The energy sector extended its rebound, benefiting from the recent two-week oil price recovery, with Aramco also posting gains," he said.

In Qatar, the index .QSI added 0.3%, helped by a 0.3% rise in the Gulf's biggest lender by assets, Qatar National Bank QNBK.QA.

The Abu Dhabi index .FTFADGI edged 0.2% higher.

Dubai's main share index .DFMGI, however, finished flat, despite budget airline Air Arabia's AIRA.DU 8.9% plunge. Emirates Integrated Telecommunications DU.DU also retreated 3.2%. Both stocks traded ex-dividend.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 eased 0.1%, with EFG Holding HRHO.CA slipping 1.7%.