DUBAI, Aug 17 (Reuters) - 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-Asia shares up as North Korea tensions ease, wary Fed weighs on dollar

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Most markets up; Egypt ends losing streak but Qatar down after data

* Oil edges up on decline in crude stocks, but high production caps gains

* PRECIOUS-Gold edges up after gaining on softer dollar

* Middle East Crude-al-Shaheen fetches premium for first time in 10 months

* ANALYSIS-With a wary eye on Iran, Saudi and Iraqi leaders draw closer

* Lebanese, Syrian ministers vow to improve economic ties

* Libya's Sharara oil field production back to normal - NOC

* Morocco expects GDP growth to slow to 3.2 pct in 2018, from 4.8 pct this year

* Iran's military chief in rare visit to Turkey for Syria talks

* Pace of airstrikes, clashes in Yemen sharply higher in 2017 - report

* EMERGING MARKETS-Emerging Europe muscles higher as GDP readings smash forecasts

* Tillerson raps some U.S. allies for religious freedom violations, slams IS

EGYPT

* Egypt's GASC says buys 355,000 tonnes of Russian, Ukraine wheat

* Egypt signs $1.24 bln light rail deal with AVIC, China Railway Group -Xinhua

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi Arabia crude exports fall to 6.889 mln bpd in June

* Saudi Aramco gets bids to expand Hawiyah gas plant - sources

* Saudi Electricity Co says new loan will help fund supply chain

* Saudi's SABIC acquires Shell's stake in its Saudi plant

* Saudi Arabia plans to launch second local currency sukuk issuance next week

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* HHLA chief rules out merger with DP World, Maersk - Boerse Online

* TABLE-UAE's Fujairah oil inventory data for week ended Aug 14

QATAR

* Saudi Arabia to open Salwa border point to Qatari pilgrims for haj -SPA

* Qatar shipper Milaha launches Kuwait service amid regional diplomatic crisis

* Qatar sovereign fund said to plan new foreign investments despite sanctions

(Compiled by Dubai Newsroom)