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 again, dollar drifts 

* Oil prices extend gains after draw in U.S. stocks 

* PRECIOUS-Gold steady as investors eye Fed policy meet 

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi, UAE stocks gain after IEA's oil demand outlook

* Iran president selects hardline cabinet to drive hard bargain with U.S. 

* EXCLUSIVE-Lebanon to resume IMF talks, begin reforms, draft policy statement says

* U.S.-Israeli fintech Pagaya to go public via $8.5 bln SPAC deal

* Turkey raises required reserve ratios for forex deposits 

 

EGYPT

* U.N. council urges Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to restart dam talks 

* Remittance payments to Egypt rose to record $31.4 bln FY 2020-21- c.bank

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* StanChart to add bankers in sustainable finance, capital markets in Saudi Arabia

* Saudi Arabia signs agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca -SPA

* SoftBank makes first direct investment in Saudi company

* Saudi inflation rate up 0.3% in August 

* Saudi Arabia bans beef imports from Brazilian meatpackers 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* UAE to announce investment expansion across Britain 

* MOVES-Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank hires capital markets banker 

* Dubai Expo visitors must be vaccinated or COVID-free, organiser says

 

QATAR

* Qatar sells Nov-loading al-Shaheen crude at 5-month lows - sources 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait's Burgan Bank gets approval for up to $500 million senior bonds 

 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain releases some political prisoners under new law 

 

 

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