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

INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks fall on U.S. stimulus uncertainty 

* Oil prices bolstered by bigger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude stocks

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi outperforms Gulf markets; Egypt extends losses 

* PRECIOUS-Gold falls below $1,900 level as U.S. dollar, yields rise

* Lebanese call for downfall of president, other officials over Beirut blast

* Container lines resume calls to Beirut as terminal restarts operations 

* Lebanon registers record number of daily COVID-19 cases 

* INSIGHT-Who owned the chemicals that blew up Beirut No one will say

* U.S. attempts to win more support with streamlined bid to extend Iran arms embargo 

* Iran arrests five Iranians for spying for foreign states - judiciary 

* Explosions hit U.S. coalition supply convoys in Iraq - sources and military say

* Iraq cancels Turkish Defense minister visit, summons ambassador -statement

* Yemen president Hadi to head to U.S. for medical treatment, sources say 

* Israel closes Gaza crossing after Palestinians launch incendiary balloons

 

EGYPT

* Egyptians vote for newly created Senate 

* Egypt's GASC buys 120,000 tonnes of Russian wheat in tender 

* POLL-Egypt central bank seen holding interest rates steady

* Lebanon's Blom Bank considers selling Egypt subsidiary

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Watchdog finds U.S. did not weigh civilian risks when pushing Saudi arms sales

* Samba Financial wins licence for Dubai International Financial Centre branch 

* Arm rival SiFive raises $60 mln from SK Hynix, Aramco

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* China to suspend Etihad Airways, SriLankan Airlines Shanghai route from Aug 17

* MEDIA-Abu Dhabi seeks local investors for $21 billion pipeline - Bloomberg

* CME delists Dubai gold refinery three weeks after listing it 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait Oil Company says limited oil spill near kilo 18 from the seventh ring road - tweet 

* MEDIA-Kuwait pension fund plans to triple infrastructure investments- Bloomberg News 

 

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