The performance of stock markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries varied on Sunday in the first sessions of the week. While the UAE markets were closed, the Saudi index continued its gains for the third session in a row and rose 1.3%, with almost all stocks increasing. The energy, raw materials and healthcare sectors led the gains. Aramco shares rose 2.4%, and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) gained 3.5%, the largest percentage increase in one session for this stock in nearly five months. SABIC said on Thursday that it had agreed to sell SABIC Europe and sell its entire stake in the thermoplastic engineering plastics business in the Americas and Europe in a deal worth a total of $950 million.