Bloomberg European equities traded at a seven-week high, coming close to erasing their post-Brexit losses, boosted by optimism in the recovery as companies from Zurich Insurance Group AG to KBC Group NV posted profit that beat estimates. Zurich Insurance added 4.5 percent after saying earnings fell less than projected. Belgian lender KBC advanced 5.5 percent after posting better-than-expected profit …

  DUBAI / Reuters Gulf stock markets were soft early on Thursday after oil prices and global bourses pulled back, while Saudi Arabia edged down despite the Saudi regulator’s announcement that it would ease restrictions on foreign investment sooner than expected. The Saudi index fell 0.3 percent in the first 75 minutes of trade with most banks and many second-tier …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business Despite a softening in several sectors in the GCC amid a stuttering global oil price recovery, business in the regional lighting fixtures market appears to be booming. International lighting manufacturers and local suppliers reported a number of significant regional projects over the last 12 months, and anticipate double-digit business volume growth over the next …