DUBAI - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy.

INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks up as vaccine shields against second-wave worries 

* Oil gains after stockpile draw amid hopes for coronavirus vaccine

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf markets rally on vaccine optimism, oil price rise

* PRECIOUS-Gold firms on softer dollar, concerns over rising virus cases

* Israel's Peregrine launches $300 mln life sciences VC fund

* Israel to send first delegation to Sudan on Sunday to firm up normalisation - source

* Israeli parliament approves deal establishing ties with Bahrain

* Israeli military says it downed Hezbollah drone from Lebanon

* Palestinian negotiator Erekat dies after contracting COVID-19

* Reactions to death of PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat

* Poor turnout in Jordan elections reflects limits of kingdom's democracy

* Iran to double coronavirus tests to 100,000 per day

* U.S. imposes Iran-related sanctions on individuals, companies

* Iran frees 157 detained during protests as more U.S. sanctions loom

 

EGYPT

* POLL-Egypt central bank expected to leave interest rates unchanged

* Egypt's headline inflation quickens to 4.5% in October

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi economy contracts 4.2% in Q3, improves from Q2

* Saudi Arabia, Iraq to commit to all decisions that have been agreed -joint statement

 

* Fitch revises Aramco's outlook to negative after similar move on sovereign

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Arabtec cuts thousands of jobs ahead of liquidation - sources

* Air Arabia reports Q3 loss, in strong position to weather pandemic

* Dubai's Emaar Malls Nine-Month Profit Falls

* Abu Dhabi's Etihad to make face masks for staff, health professionals

* UAE's ADNOC-ADQ JV plans potential investments worth over $5 billion

 

KUWAIT

* MSCI adds Kuwait stocks to emerging market index at 0.58% weight

* Kuwait raises December KEC crude export price for Asia

 

QATAR

* Qatar lowers December Marine crude OSP; keeps Land crude OSP unchanged

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