MIDEAST STOCKS-Banks weigh on #Qatar, Gulf mostly weak but Dubai firm early on | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Banks weigh on Qatar, Gulf mostly weak but Dubai firm early on | Reuters:

The Qatar stock market fell early on Wednesday, weighed down by banking shares, while most major Gulf markets slipped as year-end holidays dampened trading volumes.

Qatar’s index, one of the world’s best performing markets last year with a 20.8 percent gain, dropped 0.4 percent with Qatar National Bank falling 1.4 percent and Industries Qatar decreasing 1.2 percent.

But real estate firm United Development Co gained 1.8 percent after saying it sold its stake in Seef Ltd to Qatar Petroleum for 214.4 million riyals ($58.9 million).