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-China gains cushion Asian shares after Apple jolt; flash crash hits currencies 

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Top bank boosts Egypt, Gulf falls in thin trade 

* Oil prices slide on supply surge, global market turmoil scares off investors 

* PRECIOUS-Gold gains on global growth fears, falling Asian stocks 

* Middle East Crude-Dubai kicks off 2019 trade at small premium

* Trump gives no timetable for Syria exit; wants to protect Kurds

* Indian Oil says Iran may still invest in Chennai Petroleum expansion 

* Qatar Airways acquires 5 pct of China Southern Airlines 

* Yemeni hip-hop dancers barred from dancing despite departure of al Qaeda 

 

EGYPT

* Egypt exporting 520 mln cubic feet of LNG per day from Idku plant - official

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* PREVIEW-Saudi Arabia may cut Feb heavy crude prices to Asia 

* Netflix pulls comedy show episode in Saudi Arabia 

* Saudi PIF entertainment company plans to build leisure complex in Riyadh

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* India's Jet Airways defaults on debt payment to banks, shares drop

 

QATAR

* Microsoft gets green light from Qatar for global data centre - QNA

* Vodafone Qatar Goes Live With 5G Commercially 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait's ALAFCO Appoints Adel Al Banwan As CEO 

 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Raises Ownership To 81.944 Pct In Takaful International 

 

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