MIDEAST STOCKS-Qatar rises after budget, SABIC drags down Saudi index

DUBAI, Dec 19 (Reuters) – Qatar’s stock market climbed in early trade on Monday after the finance ministry published the 2017 state budget, while large-cap shares weighed on other regional markets.
The index in Qatar, which was closed for a public holiday on Sunday, rose 1.1 percent with 85 percent of shares advancing. Petrochemical and metals producer Industries Qatar was the top performer, adding 2.1 percent.
On Thursday Qatar published a 2017 budget which projected a deficit of 2