MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf bourses little changed amid trade talks uncertainty

By Ateeq Shariff

April 27 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf were little changed on Sunday as uncertainty surrounding U.S.-China tariff negotiations kept investors cautious, with many awaiting further corporate earnings reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump asserted in an interview published Friday that tariff negotiations were underway with China, but Beijing denied any talks were taking place, the latest in a series of conflicting signals over what progress was being made to de-escalate the trade war threatening to sap global growth.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI eased 0.1%, with the country's biggest lender Saudi National Bank 1180.SE losing 1.4%.

Elsewhere, Saudi Tadawul Group 1111.SE - the owner of the Saudi Exchange - retreated 1.6% following a steep decline in first-quarter profit.

In Qatar, the index .QSI edged 0.1% higher, helped by a 1.8% rise in petrochemical maker Industries Qatar IQCD.QA.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 - which traded after a session's break - gained 0.7%, led by a 0.5% rise in Commercial International Bank COMI.CA.