Managers of Wealth Middle East -Wealth, private banking and asset management news and opinion

PROPERTY Saudi property sales ‘down more than 50%’

Sharp decline in market as investors wait for prices to drop due to new tax on undeveloped land – report

Aldar Properties eyes Al Ain as key growth market

The Mall will be expanded to include some of the world's leading retailers. The expansion project is set to be completed in 2018.

Cityscape to expand portfolio in to India early next year

Cityscape India takes place at a pertinent time for Indian investors; according to Dubai Land Department (DLD)

DPI to provide about $34 mln to Egyptian retailer B.TECH

Sales are supported by B.TECH’s market leading instalment payment system which has served over 700,000 Egyptians to date.

Full foreign ownership in Bahrain good for realty market

Gulf state approves new law allowing foreigners to own 100 per cent of businesses in various sectors

Qatar 'most active' in debt capital markets

Middle Eastern debt issuance reached $32.9bn during the first six months of this year, it said.

Understanding blockchain and its growing importance in the UAE

It’s an application that has other applications build on top of it, like Whatsapp, Facebook or Google Chrome.

Why many UAE expats can’t afford to buy property

Property analysts discuss the reasons why majority of population are still renting

Middle East Stocks Mixed, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Weighed by Disappointing Corporate Results

In other company news, Saudi Hollandi Bank said net profit was flat at 540 million riyals, beating the average analyst forecast of 508 million riyals.

Moody's: Rising emerging market debt increases risks; Middle East and Africa least vulnerable

Debt is now growing faster than GDP and faster than foreign exchange reserves for many of these countries.

UAE shares defy regional sell-off to close higher

US shares were poised to open higher, buoyed by better than expected quarterly results from Microsoft and Morgan Stanley.

UAE markets close higher as laggards stage comeback

Emaar drives DFM gains, closing 1.7% higher and accounting for 32% of volumesUnderperforming stocks staged a comeback on UAE bourses, with blue-chip Emaar Properties lifting the Dubai Financial Market to extend the rally.

Saudi bank Samba’s Q2 net profit slips 1.4%, but meets forecasts

The bank attributed its drop in net profit to a 6.4 per cent rise in total operating expenses as a result of an increase in salaries and related expenses and higher credit provisions.

Gulf narrowly mixed in quiet trade; Saudi banks firm

When it reported that its quarterly profit came in at 2.44 billion riyals, at the low end of estimates.

Qatar bonds are likely to remain popular with investors: BMI

Sovereign debt risk will increase across the Mena economies over the coming quarters as lower oil prices and the slow pace of fiscal reform are hindering revenue generation

Harbinger of hope – Qatar Investment Authority's purchase of Asia Square Tower One

In addition to Asia Square Tower One, BlackRock also owns Asia Square Tower Two, which is located on an adjoining plot.

Mideast Stocks-Gulf may have firm tone; bank earnings are mixed

Samba Financial Group reported a 1.4 percent drop in quarterly profit that was in line with forecasts.

Emirates NBD says reduced impairments helped lift profit in first half of the year

An average of forecasts from four analysts had predicted the bank would make a net profit of Dh1.8bn for the quarter.

Gulf stocks benefit from EM inflows ahead of stimulus moves

The first slew of second quarter earnings also lifted Gulf investor confidence, bucking expectations of corporate weakness this period because of low oil prices.

Libya investment bodies eye unity like oil authorities

The agreement by the rival NOC leaders to unify their ranks is expected to boost Libya's vital oil industry, ravaged by years of conflict.

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