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-Muted start to second half for Asia stocks as U.S. payrolls loom  

* Oil prices nudge higher before OPEC+ meet  

* PRECIOUS-Virus worries lift gold ahead of key U.S. jobs data  

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Dubai drops as fresh virus spike in other nations stokes recovery fears  

* Israeli govt, settlers reach deal over West Bank outpost  

* OPEC+ may extend oil supply cuts amid warning of glut, sources say 

* Iran, U.S. choices on nuclear deal 'crystallize' in Vienna - U.S. envoy 

* U.N. chief urges U.S. to remove Iran sanctions as agreed in 2015 

* Algeria names finance chief Benabderrahmane as prime minister

* Turkey sells 1.5 billion euros in 6-year bonds at 4.5% 

* Criticism of Palestinian security forces raises pressure on Abbas 

* Lebanon parliament approves cash subsidy costing $556 mln annually 

* Israel seeks to extend new Gulf ties to all Middle East, says Lapid 

* Lebanon says it could get $900 mln from expansion of IMF reserves 

* Iran appoints new central bank chief - TV 

 

EGYPT

* Egypt's CIB gets FRA preliminary approval for green bond issuance 

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Aramco's CFO Khalid al-Dabbagh set to step down - Bloomberg 

* Saudi regulator gives green light for ACWA Power IPO 

* Saudi Arabia seizes 4.5 million amphetamine pills hidden in oranges 

* Saudi Arabia's PIF considers buying Dubai design firm Depa, sources say 

* Saudi unemployment down to pre-pandemic levels in Q1 as economy rebounds 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Firms face owner disclosure as UAE acts to avoid dirty money list 

* Abu Dhabi's Mubadala, Bpifrance to invest up to 350 mln euros in African companies - WAM 

* Dubai's DP World hires banks for sale of flagship free zone stake - sources 

 

QATAR

* Qatar Petroleum grabs $12.5 bln in emerging market bonds record

* Qatar sovereign fund cuts Credit Suisse's stake to below 5% - filing 

* Qatar Petroleum workforce down 3%, bond prospectus shows 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait oil minister says vaccine rollouts helping oil demand prospects 

 

OMAN

* BP raises gas production from Oman's Block 61 - ONA 

* Oman crude OSP rises to $71.66/bbl for August 

* Oman's OQ exports first shipment from Salalah LPG plant to global markets - ONA

 

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