** Shares in Egyptian firm Qalaa Holdings  jump 9.7 percent to 2.48 Egyptian pounds in heavy trade, have soared 78 percent so far this month

** Traders say investors looking to start-up of Egyptian Refining Co, in which it is a key shareholder; project's managing director told local media early this month that trial start-up would occur in third quarter, after mechanical preparations are completed in first half of 2018

** Qalaa said in late February that Egyptian Refining Co had obtained about $500 million in additional financing for project, raising cost to around $4.2 billion

** Qalaa made third-quarter consolidated net loss attributable to shareholders of 311.6 million Egyptian pounds ($83.1 million) versus year-earlier loss of 214 million pounds

** Egyptian stock index rises 0.9 percent

(Reporting by Andrew Torchia) ((andrew.torchia@thomsonreuters.com)(+9715 6681 7277)(Reuters Messaging: andrew.torchia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))