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-Asian stocks edge higher, Aussie in demand on recovery signs  

* Oil rises on demand hopes after days of sell-off  

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Major Gulf markets gain; ex-dividend stocks drag down Qatar  

* PRECIOUS-Firm U.S. yields keep gold under pressure  

* OPEC sees positive oil market outlook, continued downside risks  

* France, allies to push on with protest at IAEA over Iran's activities - foreign minister  

* BREAKINGVIEWS-Biden finds Mohammed bin Salman is too big to nail  

* Media watchdog seeks German investigation of Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi death 

* Israeli defence chief sees 'special security arrangement' with Gulf states 

* Crisis-hit Lebanese pound falls to new low of 10,000 to the dollar  

* Two U.S. men charged with aiding Ghosn's escape land in Japan  

* U.S. Justice Department confirms extradition of men charged in aiding Ghosn's escape  

* U.S. Commerce sets anti-dumping duties on aluminum sheet from 18 countries  

* Sunni militants attack Iran Revolutionary Guards vehicle  

* U.S. blacklists two leaders of Yemen's Houthi movement  

* Iraq receives first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China 

* Palestinian COVID-19 vaccine rollout under fire over doses for VIPs  

* Syrian victims of chemical attacks file case with French prosecutors  

 

EGYPT

* Egypt private sector contraction slows, buoyed by foreign business - PMI  

* Egypt's GASC says seeking vegetable oils in tender for arrival May 1-15  

 

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi non-oil private sector growth slows in February - PMI  

* Saudi Aramco, Chevron chiefs see global oil demand recovery  

* CERAWEEK-Aramco chairman says Saudi govt still planning stake sell-down  

* Predicting growth, Saudi's Ma'aden to boost fertiliser capacity 

* Saudi Arabia says COVID-19 vaccination required for 2021 haj - newspaper 

* Saudia plans to order 70 Airbus, Boeing jets - report 

* APICORP plans reopening of bonds due in February 2026 - document 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Dubai's Emaar to buy out minority shareholders in malls unit 

* UAE's ADNOC to ease oil supply cuts in April - sources 

* CERAWEEK-ADNOC CEO says low-cost oil will remain central to the fuel mix 

* Abu Dhabi's Mubadala hires banks for euro bonds -document 

* UAE non-oil private sector grows at marginal pace in February - PMI 

 

QATAR

* Dutch postpone Qatar trade mission over World Cup worker concerns 

* CERAWEEK-Qatar to detail next LNG expansion within a year 

 

KUWAIT

* Kuwait wealth fund in talks with KPC on $20 bln-plus dividends - sources  

* Kuwait reappoints oil, finance ministers in new Cabinet  

 

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain expects $3.2 bln deficit in 2021, 5% economic growth  

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