MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf set to consolidate before Saudi budget

Gulf stock markets look set to consolidate in quiet trade on Thursday ahead of the announcement of Saudi Arabia's 2017 state budget in the afternoon. Sources familiar with budget planning told Reuters the government would reveal substantial progress in cutting the budget deficit from a record high in 2015, and that state spending would be raised in 2017 to support economic growth. This would be positive for the stock market, but many investors may wait to buy stocks until they see details of aus