DUBAI - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Sunday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy.

INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL

* GLOBAL MARKETS-World shares scale new peak on stimulus hopes; oil gains 

* Oil rises 1%, hits highest in a year on growth hopes, OPEC+ output cuts 

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Dubai leads major Gulf markets lower; Saudi index gains

* PRECIOUS-Gold gains as dollar retreats, U.S. jobs report signals slow recovery 

* Iran top diplomat urges Biden to return to nuclear deal 

* U.S. to drop Houthi terrorist designation due to Yemen crisis 

* Biden administration expects Saudi Arabia to improve human rights - White House 

* Saudi Arabia says Biden's speech reiterates U.S. commitment to work with allies 

* UAE says it's committed to working with US to reduce regional tensions-state news agency 

* Netanyahu postpones UAE, Bahrain trip due to COVID-19 lockdown 

* New Libya interim government agreed in U.N. talks 

* Thousands protest in Tunis despite police blockade

* Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist after four years in detention 

* Race between vaccines and virus to shape uneven Middle East recovery - IMF 

* Sputnik-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trials to start in Azerbaijan, MidEast 

* INSIGHT-In Saddam strongholds that fought America, Iraqis fear a U.S. departure 

* EXCLUSIVE-Sudan will decide to float currency once it has sufficient reserves, finance minister says 

EGYPT

* Egypt central bank keeps interest rates on hold 

* Emaar Misr For Development Signs Contract To Establish Hotel Project Under Name 'Vida' 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi Arabia raises March Arab Light crude OSP to Europe 

* Malaysia's Prasarana to lodge graft report over Saudi project losses

* MEDIA-Trafigura, Mubadala said to weigh sale of Spanish copper miner Matsa 

* Arabtec Holding Says Wail Farsakh Resigns As Group CEO

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Denmark to lift UAE flight ban from Sunday - UAE embassy 

* Uber's Mideast business Careem sees recovery slowing as infections rise 

QATAR

* UBS hires HSBC banker as head of Qatar wealth business -memo

KUWAIT

* Kuwait should accelerate reforms to be less tied to oil price fluctuations - IMF 

* Kuwait Finance House Q4 net profit falls 22% as COVID-19 hurts economy 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain says it foiled 'terrorist plots' to bomb two bank ATMs 

* Investcorp Appoints Harsh Shethia As Head Of India Business 

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