Saudi stocks led gains on an otherwise quiet day for Arabian Gulf bourses, on the back of better than expected first-quarter results from companies including Kayan Petrochemical. UAE shares were little changed in thin trade, with stocks across the region trading within a narrow range. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose 1 per cent, after the petrochemicals major Kayan reported a return to profit on improved operational performance and higher sales and product prices. Kayan’s shares soared 9.8 per cent to a 20-month high of 9.75 Saudi riyals. Sabic, which owns a 35 per cent stake in Kayan, closed up 2.7 per cent. Dallah Healthcare and Saudi Arabian Fertilizer, known as Safco, closed up 3.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively, after releasing better than forecast results. City Cement, whose earnings came in below analyst forecasts, fell 4.3 per cent. Shares in the UAE were little changed yesterday, ahead of a series of first-quarter results published after the market closed. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange General Index gained 0.2 per cent at 4,522.56, thanks to gains by ADFB and Aldar Properties. Shares in Bank of Sharjah closed up 2.1 per cent at Dh1.46, in spite of the bank reporting a 28 per cent drop in first-quarter profits. Arkan Building Materials gained 4.3 per cent at 67 fils after its profits for the first quarter fell 65 per cent. Dubai shares closed 0.1 per cent lower at 3,414.93 in thin trading, with gains by Emaar Properties and Amanat Holdings cancelled out by falls from Dubai Islamic Bank and Arabtec Holding. Follow The National's Business section on <a href="https://twitter.com/Ind_Insights">Twitter</a>