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))