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-Surge in coronavirus cases set to shake Asian markets 

* Oil plunges over 5% to 4-month low as pandemic surges, U.S. crude output soars

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi index leads losses with most Gulf markets subdued

* PRECIOUS-Gold slides on dollar rally as U.S. stimulus remains elusive

* Sovereign funds seek to raise debt and equity as pandemic strains state budgets

* Microsoft detects cyberattacks from Iran-linked actor engaged in intelligence collection

* Iran reports COVID-19 death every three minutes, speaker tests positive

* Algeria's president transferred to Germany for medical checkups - State TV

* Tunisian parliament, cbank chief tell govt to cut spending plans

* Tunisia says COVID spread 'very dangerous' with new curbs expected

* Libyan investigators find more mass graves in recaptured city

* INSIGHT-In Beirut port, all of Lebanon’s ills are laid bare

* Israel, Lebanon hold second round of sea border talks

* Lebanon Speaker Berri: new government could "see the light" in days

* Firm hired to audit Lebanon central bank has not received all requested info - sources

* Grave-counting satellite images seek to track Yemen's COVID death toll

EGYPT

* Egypt's M2 money supply up 18.62% year-on-year in September -central bank

* Remittances from Egyptians abroad were $27.8 bln in FY 2019/20 -central bank

* Egypt says freedom of expression "stops" when Muslims offended

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi-led coalition destroys two ballistic rockets targeting Saudi Arabia's Jazan and Najran -state TV

* Saudi Arabia's deficit down in Q3 as taxes boost revenue

* Saudi Arabia plans $2 bln boost for space programme by 2030

* Motor racing-Saudi Arabia set for 2021 F1 debut, Miami race on hold

* Demand issues to overshadow OPEC+ supply next year-Aramco trading arm chief

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* MEDIA-Emirates President to delay retirement to 2021

* Wine from Israeli-held Golan Heights to hit Dubai shelves

* Abu Dhabi to issue FDI licences allowing 100% foreign ownership

* Etihad Airways sells $600 mln in 'transition' sukuk

* UAE to launch second Emirati-built satellite in 2023

* First Abu Dhabi Bank resumes exclusive talks to buy Bank Audi Egypt

* UAE's ADCB reports Q3 profit slip, more NMC-related impairments

* Emirate of Sharjah to raise $250 mln in 2029 sukuk re-opening

 

KUWAIT

* BRIEF-Ooredoo Kuwait Q3 Profit Falls

* BRIEF-Kuwait's ACICO Industries Q3 Loss Widens

 

QATAR

* BRIEF-Doha Bank 9-Month Profit Falls

* BRIEF-Qatar Petroleum And Its Partners Announce A Second Discovery In South Africa

 

OMAN

* BRIEF-Oman Gets $1 Billion In Aid From Qatar - FT

 

BAHRAIN

* BRIEF-Bahrain's Batelco Q3 Profit Rises 

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