Mideast Stocks: Factors to watch on January 18

Mideast Stocks: Factors to watch on January 18

* Oil drops 1% as rising coronavirus cases end supply-led rally * MIDEAST STOCKS-Most Mideast stocks in red ahead of earnings season * PRECIOUS-Gold steadies as U.S. stimulus prospects offset firm dollar * Distrust, division and doubt cloud Palestinian election call* Israel economy likely to grow 4.6% in 2021, says finance ministry * In final Trump administration days, Israel approves new settler homes * Major European powers rebuke Iran over uranium metal plans * Jordan finmin says 2.5% growth in 2021 depends on continued economic activity during pandemic EGYPT* Egypt sells 21 mln sq m of land to Talaat Mostafa for housing project * BRIEF-Egyptian Gulf Bank FY Standalone Profit FallsSAUDI ARABIA* Saudi appeals court reduces sentence of U.S.-Saudi physician - documents * Saudi's NCB looks to bolster Tier 1 with dollar sukuk - document UNITED ARAB EMIRATES* UAE lowers age requirement for COVID-19 vaccines to 16 * BRIEF-Abu Dhabi Department of Finance Launches 6 Bln Dirhams Supply Chain Financing Initiative To Support SMEs QATAR* BRIEF-Qatar Islamic Bank Posts Profit Of QAR 3.07 Billion In 2020 * BRIEF-Qatar's Ahli Bank FY Profit Rises KUWAIT* BRIEF-Jazeera Airways Takes Delivery Of New Airbus A320neo BAHRAIN* Israeli banks Hapoalim, Leumi sign cooperation agreements with Bahrain's NBB * BRIEF-Investcorp Acquires Saas Based e-Commerce Solutions Provider, Unilog * BRIEF-Bahrain's Bank ABC To