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 shares fall after U.S. blacklists China's Huawei 

* PRECIOUS-Gold holds steady as rising equities counter safe-haven demand  

* Oil rises for a third day amid escalating Mideast tensions  

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi Arabia up on banks, weak earnings hurt Dubai  

* ANALYSIS-Tanker attacks near UAE expose weaknesses in Gulf Arab security 

* Saudi oil facilities attacked, U.S. sees threat in Iraq from Iran-backed forces 

* Iraq sells June Basra crude cargoes at steady premiums - sources 

* EXCLUSIVE-Tanker unloads Iranian fuel oil at China port after near 5-month trek -data  

* PM Abe says Japan wants to develop ties with Iran 

* Iran says exercising restraint despite 'unacceptable' escalation of US sanctions 

* U.S. pulls staff from Iraq, says Iran gave 'blessing' for tanker attacks  

* Asia oil buyers, shippers go on alert after Saudi ship, facility attacks 

* Fighting grips Yemen's Hodeidah port, complicating peace moves 

* UAE says it will show restraint after tanker attacks, Iran's behavior a concern  

* Iran will defeat U.S.-Israeli alliance, says defence minister  

* We are on cusp of full-scale confrontation with enemy - Iranian Guards commander  

* U.S. believes Iran encouraged tanker attacks -U.S. sources 

* London marine insurers to meet after ship attacks in Middle East  

* German, Dutch military suspend training operations in Iraq amid US-Iran tensions  

* Japan's Idemitsu sees no supply disruption from Iranian oil sanctions  

* France: Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure are unacceptable  

* Asia oil buyers, shippers go on alert after Saudi ship, facility attacks  

SAUDI ARABIA

* IMF expects Saudi budget deficit to hit 7% of GDP this year  

* Almarai Board Announces 5-Year Business Plan  

* Saudi's Medgulf Appoints Rakan Bin Abdullah Abunayyan As Chairman  

* Saudi Aramco resumes oil pumping via pipeline after drone attack - source  

 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* UAE's Finablr slumps below IPO price in London market debut  

* DAMAC profit falls 94 pct as Dubai property market slumps  

* Sharjah Insurance Q1 Profit Falls  

 

QATAR

* Fitch Says Pressure On Qatari Banks Shifts To Asset Quality From Liquidity 

 

OMAN

* Oman suspends dividend tax for three years as of May 6 -market authority 

* Oman condemns tanker attacks off UAE, urges efforts towards stability 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait's International Financial Advisors Q1 Loss Widens 

* Kuwait's Muntazahat Q1 Profit Rises

* Kuwait's Al-Arabiya Real Estate Posts Q1 Profit 

* Kuwait's National Consumer Holding Posts Q1 Profit 

* Kuwait Syrian Holding Q1 Loss Widens 

* Kuwait's Al Mal Investment Q1 Loss Narrows 

* Kuwait's Equipment Holding Q1 Loss Narrows 

* Kuwait's Al Madar Finance And Investment Q1 Profit Falls 

* Kuwait's Arabi Holding Group Posts Q1 Loss 

* Kuwait's Danah Alsafat Foodstuff Q1 Loss Narrows

* Kuwait's First Investment Posts Q1 Profit 

* Kuwait's National Cleaning Q1 Profit Rises 

* Kuwait's Al Deera Holding Posts Q1 Profit 

* Kuwait's Gulf Cable And Electrical Industries Q1 Profit Rises

* Kuwait's Shuaiba Industrial Q1 Profit Falls

* Commercial Bank Of Kuwait Q1 Profit Falls

 

EGYPT

* Nestle in talks with EQT Partners to sell skin health unit - source

* Egypt's Sisi opens huge suspension bridge over the Nile 

* Egypt's Arab Real Estate Investment Q1 Profit Falls 

* Egypt's Arab Ceramic Q1 Profit Falls 

* Egypt's Riva Pharma Posts Q1 Loss 

* Misr Beni Suef Cement Q1 Profit Falls 

* National Co For Maize Products Q1 Profit Falls 

* MENA For Touristic And Real Estate Investment Q1 Consol Loss Widens

* Pharaoh Tech For Control And Communication Systems Q1 Profit Falls

* International Business Corporation For Trading Comercial Agencies Q1 Profit Rises 

* Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt Q1 Consol Profit Rises 

(Reporting By Dubai Newsroom) ((Dubai.Newsroom@thomsonreuters.com))