Do you agree that Shakespeare is careful to balance the characters of Shylock and Antonio so that we do not feel more sympathy for one over the other?

Shakespeare gives Antonio a decidedly unsavory side to his
character while showing the persecution that Shylock justly feels a reaction to, so it
is possible, from one perspective, to read The Merchant of Venice
with very little sympathy for Antonio and much for Shylock. Granted, Shylock,
takes extreme measures in writing up his loan contract but Antonio displays extreme
arrogance in cavalierly agreeing to it even though Bassanio has the sense to protest
it.

Shylock accuses Antonio of unchristian and uncivil,
truly deplorable behavior, which Antonio not only doesn't deny, but claims he'll commit
again, and worse, if given the chance. In the opening scene Antonio tells his friends
that he is not gloomy about finances because he is not dependent on the success or
failure of his present shipping venture. Yet, a few moments later, he tells Bessanio
that he has nothing with which to provide him a loan, thus forcing the conflict of the
play caused by an appeal to Shylock for a loan. One reading of Antonio's words
recognizes that he lies to his friends about his finances and then is forced to confess
the truth to Bassanio.