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-Asian stocks and pound cheer Brexit, Alibaba slumps on monopoly probe  

* Oil rises on U.S. inventory draw, Brexit deal hopes 

* PRECIOUS-Gold firms on weaker dollar, U.S. stimulus bets 

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Dubai leads most Gulf markets higher; Qatar dips

* Qatar minister calls for de-escalation of Gulf crisis, Gulf-Iran dialogue 

* Israel hopes for rapprochement with fifth Muslim country before Trump exit - minister 

* Dubai to begin inoculations with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Wednesday 

* Top U.S. officials agree options to give Trump for any attacks on Americans in Iraq

* Egypt seeks more coronavirus vaccines as infections surge

* Lebanon to ask consultants A&M to resume central bank audit 

* DP World to build new port in Senegal costing over $1 billion 

 

EGYPT

* Eni Makes Oil Discovery In The Western Desert Of Egypt 

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi's CMA Approves Aljazira Takaful Request To Increase Capital To Merge Solidarity Takaful 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Dubai's Damac Board Approves Increasing Ownership In Nine Elms SH To 40%

* Etihad Airways Says Entry Restrictions Into Abu Dhabi Will Be Relaxed

* Masdar Achieves Financial Close On 100 MW Nur Navoi Solar Project In Uzbekistan 

* Tabreed Announces Acquisition Of saadiyat Cooling and Saadiyat District Cooling 

 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait Financial Centre Repays Murabaha Facility To A Local Lender 

 

QATAR

* Qatar Airways Bolsters Connectivity In Canada With Announcement Of Daily Flights 

 

OMAN

* Oman Arab Bank Says Shareholders Of Alizz Islamic Bank Approve Capital Increase 

 

BAHRAIN

* Batelco Says Ihab Hinnawi Resigns As CEO International Investments 

 

(Compiled by Dubai newsroom) ((dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com))