MIDEAST - Factors to watch - February 7

DUBAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Sunday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy.

INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL

* GLOBAL MARKETS-World shares scale new peak on stimulus hopes; oil gains MKTS/GLOB

* Oil rises 1%, hits highest in a year on growth hopes, OPEC+ output cuts O/R

* MIDEAST STOCKS-Dubai leads major Gulf markets lower; Saudi index gains nL1N2KA17G

* PRECIOUS-Gold gains as dollar retreats, U.S. jobs report signals slow recovery nL4N2KB41A

* Iran top diplomat urges Biden to return to nuclear deal nL1N2KC0DM

* U.S. to drop Houthi terrorist designation due to Yemen crisis nL1N2KC015

* Biden administration expects Saudi Arabia to improve human rights - White House nL1N2KB2D8

* Saudi Arabia says Biden's speech reiterates U.S. commitment to work with allies nD5N2EC04H

* UAE says it's committed to working with US to reduce regional tensions-state news agency nL8N2KC0HB

* Netanyahu postpones UAE, Bahrain trip due to COVID-19 lockdown nL8N2KA1X8

* New Libya interim government agreed in U.N. talks nL1N2KB0LE

* Thousands protest in Tunis despite police blockade nL1N2KC094

* Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist after four years in detention nL1N2KC0DD

* Race between vaccines and virus to shape uneven Middle East recovery - IMF [nL1N2KA0D0

* Sputnik-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trials to start in Azerbaijan, MidEast nL1N2KA0V7

* INSIGHT-In Saddam strongholds that fought America, Iraqis fear a U.S. departure nL4N2KB3V7

* EXCLUSIVE-Sudan will decide to float currency once it has sufficient reserves, finance minister says nL1N2KB156

EGYPT

* Egypt central bank keeps interest rates on hold nL1N2KA1UO

* Emaar Misr For Development Signs Contract To Establish Hotel Project Under Name 'Vida' nFWN2KA0JV

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi Arabia raises March Arab Light crude OSP to Europe nFWN2K70NW

* Malaysia's Prasarana to lodge graft report over Saudi project losses nL1N2KA0CB

* MEDIA-Trafigura, Mubadala said to weigh sale of Spanish copper miner Matsa nL4N2KA3S4

* Arabtec Holding Says Wail Farsakh Resigns As Group CEO nFWN2KA086

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* Denmark to lift UAE flight ban from Sunday - UAE embassy nS8N2I401T

* Uber's Mideast business Careem sees recovery slowing as infections rise nL8N2KA201

QATAR

* UBS hires HSBC banker as head of Qatar wealth business -memo nL1N2KB2N5

KUWAIT

* Kuwait should accelerate reforms to be less tied to oil price fluctuations - IMF nL1N2KA0OH

* Kuwait Finance House Q4 net profit falls 22% as COVID-19 hurts economy nL4N2KA2Z0

BAHRAIN

* Bahrain says it foiled 'terrorist plots' to bomb two bank ATMs nL1N2KC0AP

* Investcorp Appoints Harsh Shethia As Head Of India Business nFWN2KA15P

(Compiled by Dubai newsroom)

((dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com))