MIDEAST STOCKS - Factors to watch - Mar 31
DUBAI, March 31 (Reuters) - Here are 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-Record Wall Street boosts sentiment, US holds key in Q2 * Oil settles higher, U.S. crude up 5.9 percent in Q1 * MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi shares slip * MIDEAST DEBT-Gulf's Islamic banks pressed to diversify money market deals * Gold falls, down for quarter as safe-haven bid fades * First commercial flight between Egypt and Iran for 34 years * Palestinians, Israeli Arabs mark "Land Day" with muted protests * Palestinian journalist gets jail term for Abbas insult * Jordan's king swears in new reformist government * Iran criticises Qatar for giving embassy to Syrian opposition * Mortar strike kills 15 in Damascus University-state media SAUDI ARABIA * Saudi Arabia to allow women's sports clubs - paper * Saudi Arabia may try to end anonymity for Twitter users - paper EGYPT * Prosecutor general orders arrest of well-known satirist * Egypt blames power cuts on funding squeeze * Cairo airport to partly close in summer to save power * Egypt to get help from US, European wheat exporters - minister * White House condemns assaults on women at Egyptian demonstrations * Suez Canal revenue drops 7.4 pct in Feb vs Jan * Egypt's Islamic authority asserts role, clashes with Brotherhood * Egypt calls in favours as credit crunch hits key imports * Yields on Egypt T-bills climb at Thursday's auction UNITED ARAB EMIRATES * UAE c.bank agrees to soften plans for mortgage caps - sources * UAE's Al Dahra to invest $400 mln in Serbian agriculture * Exxon in talks to sell 5 pct of Iraq field to Mubadala fund * Kuwait PM says two Kuwaitis among 94 accused in UAE plot trial QATAR * Qatar economy grew 6.2 percent in 2012, 6.6 pct in last quarter * Qatari investors to buy 100 pct of Printemps * Qatar's QInvest plans range of Islamic funds on new platform BAHRAIN * Bahrain-based bank buys stake in Leeds United KUWAIT * Kuwaiti telco Wataniya appoints new CEO (Compiled by Dubai newsroom)
