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-Hope rally turns choppy as hot U.S. inflation looms 

* Oil stays on the rebound as Omicron fears ease 

* PRECIOUS-Gold stalls as investors look for direction from Fed, inflation data 

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf bourses fall on weak oil prices; Dubai rises

* EXCLUSIVE-As diplomacy stutters, U.S., Israel to discuss military drills for Iran scenario -U.S. official 

* U.S. envoy to return to Vienna over weekend for Iran talks

* As Iraqi and Syrian migrants leave Belarus, some are afraid to go home 

* U.S. envoy to visit UAE, Turkey, Egypt to discuss Ethiopia conflict -State Dept 

* Palestinian girl facing Jerusalem eviction held on suspicion of stabbing Jewish neighbour 

* U.S.-Israeli firm Tipalti raises $270 mln at more than $8 bln valuation 

* Israel budget deficit falls to 4.6% of GDP yr/yr in November 

* EXCLUSIVE-Aleph, Wacker team up to fast-track mass lab meat production

* Jordan buys 60,000 tonnes feed barley, traders say

* Libyan political body calls for election delay as disputes grow 

* Saudi crown prince on first visit to Qatar since Gulf row resolved 

 

EGYPT

* EgyptAir to resume flights with South Africa as of Dec 16 -statement 

* Egypt shuts four ports due to bad weather 

* Egyptian rights researcher Patrick Zaki freed pending trial 

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* France frees Saudi man mistakenly held over Khashoggi killing 

* Saudi bourse has 50 IPO applications for 2022, considers SPAC listings

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* UAE new weekend seeks to whet appetite of investors, foreigners 

* UAE'S Mubadala acquires 1.9% of Russia's Sibur petrochemical company 

* UAE's Silal and Agthia to build 200,000 tonne grain silos in Zayed port - WAM 

* Dubai financial market announces new trading hours from Monday to Friday - tweet 

* UAE to allow establishment of acquisition companies urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2ST0GK

* Dubai regulator fines Emirates REIT manager over asset report 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait detects first case of Omicron variant

 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain parliament approves value-added tax increase to 10% 

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