an investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the abu dhabi securities exchange june 25 2014file photo jan 17 reuters  most stock markets in the gulf rose in early trade on monday in line with rising oil prices with the saudi index hitting its highest mark in over 15 years oil prices a catalyst for the regions financial markets gained ground as investors bet supply would remain tight amid restrained output by major producers with global demand unperturbed by the omicron coronavirus variant brent crude futures were up 40 cents or 05 at 8646 a barrel by 0641 gmt touching their highest in more than three years saudi arabias benchmark index tasi edged up 01 to its highest since july 2006 helped by a 12 rise in saudi telecom company 7010se and a 04 increase in oil giant saudi aramco 2222se saudi energy minister prince abdulaziz bin salman said on monday that it was up to the united states whether or not to release more supply from its strategic petroleum reserves read more in abu dhabi the index adi was up 02 the qatari index qsi gained 02 led by a 14 increase in qatar national bank qnbkqa last week the gulfs biggest bank reported a 10 increase in annual net profit driven by loan growth read more however qatar islamic bank qisbqa fell 08 despite reporting a rise in annual profit reporting by ateeq shariff in bengaluru editing by pravin char