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-Stocks edge up as Biden spending plan boosts U.S. outlook  

* Oil gains ahead of OPEC+ meeting on output policy  

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi shares outperform on $1.3 trillion private investment push  

* PRECIOUS-Gold rebounds from three-week low as dollar rally pauses  

* POLL-Rising U.S. yields a villain in EM FX growth story, sell-off likely by end-June  

* COLUMN-Prolonged OPEC+ output cuts will confirm bearish outlook: Russell  

* OPEC oil output rises in March, led by Iran - Reuters survey  

* BREAKINGVIEWS-Capital Calls-Saudi Arabia adds new scratch to crown jewel 

* Lloyd's of London sees 'large loss' due to Suez Canal blockage  

* Iraqi parliament approves 2021 budget of $89 billion  

* After inconclusive election, Netanyahu urges right-wing rivals to join him  

* Hezbollah: Time to end deadlock and agree new Lebanese government 

* Jailed Fatah leader shakes up Palestinian election by running rival candidates against his own party  

* Israel plans to give Pfizer's COVID vaccine to adolescents upon FDA approval 

* Yemen gets first COVID-19 vaccines but is "at the back of the queue"  

 

EGYPT

* Investigator boards ship at start of probe into Suez Canal blockage  

* Suez Canal chairman says losses from Ever Given blockage could reach $1 bln 

* Egypt's cabinet sets wheat procurement price at 725 Egyptian pounds per ardeb  

* Drugmaker Bausch to sell stake in Egypt's Amoun Pharma for $740 mln  

* Egypt gets 854,400 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine -ministry  

* Egypt's M2 money supply up 20.2% year-on-year in Feb. -central bank  

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi Arabia's new private sector investment plans could dim allure for stocks 

* Saudi Arabia's bourse invites banks to pitch for roles in its upcoming IPO - sources 

* Saudi Aramco role in private investment drive guided by business not state, says CEO  

* Iraq, Saudi Arabia sign five accords during Iraqi PM's visit to Riyadh - Saudi TV  

* Saudi Arabia, Iraq to establish a $3 bln joint fund -joint statement  

* Saudi unemployment falls to 12.6% in fourth quarter of 2020  

* Saudi construction firm Binladin to propose restructuring terms to lenders  

 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Alpha Dhabi unit buys $953 mln stake in Aldar from Mubadala  

* Average Dubai crude oil price rises in March to $64.414/bbl  

* Dubai's DEWA signs $410 million water desalination agreement with Utico 

 

QATAR

* Qatar's Ooredoo sells $1 billion in 10-year bonds  

* Soccer-Amnesty calls on England to follow Netherlands, Germany in Qatar protest  

* Qatar orders private health centres to halt non-urgent services 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait cautiously optimistic that oil demand will improve - state news agency  

 

OMAN

* Oman crude OSP rises to $64.43/bbl for May  

 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain's NOGA sells $600 million in 8-year Islamic bonds 

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