MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi, Egypt rise in early trade

Petrochemical shares buoyed Riyadh's stock index early on Sunday after oil steadied over $40 a barrel, while Egypt's stock market headed for a seventh straight day of gains after the government took steps to help manufacturers. The petrochemical sector added 0.9 percent, with Saudi Basic Industries 0.7 percent higher. Saudi Arabia Fertilizers (SAFCO) said it was considering taking full control of chemical fertiliser producer National Chemical Fertilizers Co (Ibn Al-Bayttar) by buying out SABIC's