Stock markets in the Middle East ended higher on Sunday, boosted by positive economic data the previous week and signals from Federal Reserve policymakers that they could cut U.S. rates as early as September.

A trio of Fed policymakers indicated on Thursday that they were more confident that inflation is cooling enough to cut rates, and this - along with a bigger-than-expected fall in U.S. jobless claims data - helped to underpin the recovery.

The U.S. Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 17,000 to a seasonally adjusted 233,000 for the week ended Aug. 3, the largest drop in about 11 months. Economists had expected 240,000 claims.

Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is usually guided by the Fed's decisions as most regionpicksal currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index <.TASI> gained 0.6%, with aluminium products manufacturer Al Taiseer Group <4143.SE> rising 5.3% and the country's biggest lender Saudi National Bank <1180.SE> increasing 2.3%.

In Qatar, the index <.QSI> added 0.2%, helped by a 2.3% rise in Qatar Electricity and Water Company <QEWC.QA>.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index <.EGX30> advanced 2.7%, with Talaat Mostafa Holding <TMGH.CA> finishing 4.5% higher.

Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt <ADIB.CA> gained 2.5%, following a rise in second-quarter net profit.

Separately, Egypt will bid to host the 2036 and 2040 Summer Olympics, with the country's improving infrastructure and sports facilities key for a successful African bid, the head of the African national Olympic committees association (ANOCA) said on Sunday.

SAUDI ARABIA

<.TASI> rose 0.9% to 11,772

QATAR

<.QSI> was up 0.2% to 10,077

EGYPT

<.EGX30> leapt 2.7% to 29,533

BAHRAIN

<.BAX> gained 1.1% to 1,932

OMAN

<.MSX30> rose 0.3% to 4,659

KUWAIT

<.BKP> added 0.7% to 7,748

(Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Chopra)