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-Wall Street climbs, oil slides as investors bet on AI growth over Middle East tensionsMKTS/GLOB

* Oil prices settle lower on hopes for smoother shipping in Strait of HormuzO/R

* PRECIOUS-Gold under pressure as Middle East tensions lift rate-hike betsGOL/

* MIDEAST STOCKS-UAE markets rebound; E& surges on Vodafone stake sale [.MIDEAST]

* Iran's IRGC says second vessel hit in Strait of Hormuz, US Al Udeid air base in Qatar targeted with ballistic missilesnL8N43E01L

* US says it struck 140 Iranian military targets nFWN43C0LZ

* US strikes Iran, Tehran says Strait of Hormuz closed, Gulf states hit nL6N43D07U

* Two children die after ferry hits bridge in eastern SyrianS8N41K0ET

* Russia eyes mid-July start for commercial logistics hub at Syrian port, officials say nL6N43D04G

SAUDI ARABIA

* Saudi Arabia adds industry, mineral resources portfolio to Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz's rolenL1N43D029

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

* UAE says air defense systems responding to missile threatnS8N41R08A

* US makes it easier to export Nvidia AI chips and military equipment to the UAEnL1N43C0LJ

OMAN

* Iran, Oman discuss mechanisms for safe passage of ships through Hormuz strait, Tehran saysnS8N41K0EQ