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DUBAI - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Thursday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy.
INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL
* GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks hold firm, dollar slips as Fed holds rates steady
* Oil gains more than 1% on fuel demand optimism
* PRECIOUS-Gold gains ground as yields, dollar dip after Fed holds rates
* MIDEAST STOCKS-Banks buoy Saudi index; other major Gulf bourses dip
* EXCLUSIVE-Major Chinese investors in talks to take Aramco stake -sources
* ANALYSIS-U.S. Fed tames taper talk, but investors look for clues in coming months
* U.S. special envoy for Yemen to travel to region on Thursday
* Blinken says Turkey, others, should refrain from new purchases of Russian weapons
EGYPT
* Egypt's central bank keeps overnight rates on hold
* Egypt signs $7.5 bln petrochemical complex deal in Ain Sokhna
* Dana Gas says IPR Wastani Petroleum seeks arbitration over cancelled Egypt deal
SAUDI ARABIA
* Saudi crown prince says he will further centralise policy-making
* BREAKINGVIEWS-Aramco’s mystery sale saga follows familiar plot
* Ex Airbus unit ordered to pay $42 mln over corrupt Saudi contracts
* Saudi Aramco And India’s Reliance Discuss Cash And Share Stake Deal - FT
* Saudi Tadawul Group hires JP Morgan, Citi, NCB Capital for IPO -statement
* TABLE-Saudi money supply increase in March
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
* Abu Dhabi Ports gets $1 billion via 10-year bonds
* Air Arabia Resumes Flights To Moscow
* Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries Signs Loan Agreement Of 1.01 Bln Dirhams
* Commercial Bank Of Dubai Q1 Profit Rises
* National Bank Of Fujairah Q1 Profit Falls
* Dubai Airports Says DXB Reports 5.75 Million Passenger Volumes In Q1
QATAR
* Ooredoo extends exclusivity period with CK Hutchison on Indonesia deal
* Qatar's Ooredoo Says Q1 Profit Falls
* Doha Bank Q1 Profit Rises
* Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Q1 Profit Rises
*
KUWAIT
* Kuwait's Gulf Bank Q1 Profit Rises
* Kuwait's Petrogulf Q4 Loss Widens
OMAN
* Oman's oil firm OQ raises $750 million with 7-year bonds
* Fitch Says Omani Banks Face Rising Bad Loans Amid Slow Economic Recovery
BAHRAIN
* Batelco Q1 Profit Rises
(Compiled by Dubai newsroom) ((dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com))