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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-Asian shares steady; euro hampered by Italian political risk
* MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi banks merger boosts Alawwal as geopolitical worries weigh on Gulf
* Oil markets firm as Brent edges ever closer to $80 per barrel on tight market
* PRECIOUS-Gold prices steady as dollar hovers below 2018-peak
* Middle East Crude-Strong; al-Shaheen trades at highest premiums in over 2 yrs
* Huge numbers of Yemenis flee Hodeidah as fighting nears - Amnesty
* Israel says Hamas curbed Gaza protests after Egyptian warning
* France's Total warns of Iran exit as EU struggles to save economic ties
* EU leaders struggle to save Iran economic ties from US sanctions
* OPEC sees oil rally towards $80 as short-term spike, not supply-driven
* Iraqi election commission says Kirkuk voting stations under siege, staff inside
* U.S. sanctions Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, deputy Qassem
* Morocco’s trade deficit rises 12 pct yr/yr in Jan-April
* Iran signs oil contract with Pergas to develop Keranj field
* POLL-U.S. sanctions on Iran to boost prices, keep oil at $70/bbl
* Turkish central bank says to take action, suffering lira firms
* IEA warns global oil demand may suffer as crude nears $80
EGYPT
* Egypt's Sisi says US Embassy move to Jerusalem causes instability
* Egypt's Sisi defends Cairo metro fare hikes after protests
* Egypt's President Sisi pardons over 330 mostly youth prisoners
* SPECIAL REPORT-From war room to boardroom. Military firms flourish in Sisi's Egypt
SAUDI ARABIA
* S&P Dow Jones may lift Saudi Arabia to emerging market status
* Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank changes CEO
* Saudi bank merger helps RBS to shed assets, boost capital
* SABB and Alawwal agree $5 bln merger to create Saudi's third largest bank
* TABLE-Saudi Arabia Q1 earnings estimates (2)
* TABLE-Saudi Arabia Q1 earnings estimates (1)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
* TABLE-Dubai inflation stays flat in April
* TABLE-UAE's Fujairah oil inventory data for week ended May 14
* UAE's ADNOC signs MoU with Ravago for Ruwais facility
* TABLE-Abu Dhabi Q1 earnings estimates
* TABLE-Dubai Q1 earnings estimates
QATAR
* Trump lawyer Cohen sought $1 mln from Qatar in late 2016 -Washington Post
* U.S. secretary of state, Qatari foreign minister discuss terror financing
* TABLE-Qatar Q1 earnings estimates
KUWAIT
* Kuwait's Noor Financial gets offer for part of Pakistan Meezan Bank stake
* Philippines' Duterte orders lifting of labour deployment ban to Kuwait
* TABLE-Kuwait Q1 earnings estimates
BAHRAIN
* TABLE-Bahrain Q1 earnings estimates
OMAN
* TABLE-Oman Q1 earnings estimates (Reporting by Dubai newsroom)
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