Shares on the Abu Dhabi bourse closed in the positive territory on Monday, propped up by banks stocks.

ADX, the main benchmark stock index, gained 0.49% or 25.46pts to 5186.38 points.

“Banks stocks served as the main booster to the index amid selling pressure on small and mid-cap stocks,” said Nabil Hyder, head of Gulf Research in Al Madina Investment.

Shares in First Gulf Bank, the weightiest in the index, climbed 0.54%, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank gained 2.22%.

The real estate sector index added 0.33%, as shares in Eshraq Properties surged 3.94%, while Aldar closed flat.

Turnover hit AED 349.3 million, through the trade of 123.6 million shares.