05/01/2020
UAE Exchange House's parent company now 'finds' $1 billion plus debt
Finablr investigation finds $1.3b in such loans which were later diverted
Research, Comment and Analysis
04/30/2020
What are the Middle East’s working from home habits?
76.3% of respondents work as well or better at home, with 42% saying that they are just as productive working at home as they are in the office.
04/30/2020
Credit profile of GCC banks to weaken over COVID-19, lower oil prices
Despite unprecedented stimulus, credit profiles are expected to weaken
04/30/2020
QSE gains more than 100 points on buy interests of domestic, Gulf institutions
Islamic stocks were seen gaining slower than the other indices on the market, where local retail investors were increasingly net sellers and foreign funds turned bearish.
04/30/2020
Dubai faces biggest risk from virus shock to economy in Middle East, Moody’s says
Dubai’s reliance on real estate, transportation and tourism makes the Middle East business hub the most exposed to the impact of coronavirus.
04/30/2020
Gold prices going to "pop" to $2,700, easily - Frank Holmes
Holmes added that the gold miners should also perform exceptionally well during periods of upward bullion price movements.
04/30/2020
Turkey's Akbank posts 7% drop in Q1 cons net profit
Akbank provides mostly banking services, but it is also active in the insurance sector through its branches Ak Insurance and AvivaSA Pensions and Life Insurance.
04/30/2020
UAE doing too little to stem money laundering and terrorist finance: watchdog
The UAE has tightened financial regulations in recent years to try to overcome a perception among some foreign investors that it is a hot spot for illicit money.
04/30/2020
Fitch: GCC bank credit profiles to weaken despite unprecedented stimulus
GCC countries announced monetary, fiscal and macro-prudential stimulus measures dwarfing any previously seen in the region.
04/30/2020
UAE Needs To Make “Major” Reforms To Tackle Money Laundering, Says Global Watchdog
The main component of the FATF mutual evaluation report deals with the effectiveness of the systems the UAE has developed and, in that regard, the country is often found wanting.
04/29/2020
Capital Intelligence affirms QIIB rating at ‘A’ with stable outlook
Capital Intelligence noted the bank has good liquidity, and enjoys strength in the retail sector, and most of the bank’s deposits are from the local market, even as non-domestic deposits make up a minimal share.
04/29/2020
Dubai at Risk as Coronavirus Poses Shock to U.A.E. Economy, Says Moody’s
Dubai’s reliance on real estate, transportation and tourism makes the Middle East business hub the most exposed to the impact of coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates, according to Moody’s Investors Service. “The coronavirus outbreak
04/28/2020
Saudi banks need to accelerate digital transformation plans amid COVID-19 disruptions
KPMG in Saudi Arabia has published its analysis of COVID-19 impact on the banking sector and the potential countermeasures to cope with the new normal, based on the results of a high-level survey and discussions with C-suit executives in the sector.
04/27/2020
UAE's Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah to negative
In response to the outlook change, the Ras Al Khaimah government said it was in a strong fiscal position to weather global economic conditions.
04/27/2020
StanChart’s Troubled Loans Top $600 Million on Corporate Woes
The exposures to problem companies are unlikely to lead to complete write-offs of the loans.
04/26/2020
Qatar's consumer sector one of the least affected by the pandemic: KPMG
Qatar government has announced a QR75bn stimulus package to the private sector, apart from an additional QR10bn fund support to the QSE.
04/26/2020
Is your low-carbon portfolio destroying the planet?
What leads to this counter-intuitive outcome?
04/26/2020
Banking's New Reality: Getting Remote Work Right (Part 1 of a Multipart Series)
Here are the common missteps banks should avoid to successfully enable remote work and digital operations, during the pandemic and beyond.
04/26/2020
Harnessing the power of digital
Wael Salem, Chief Executive Officer, Tradesocio, on the new era of bespoke investment
04/26/2020
COVID-19 Spot Survey: Implications on Globally Mobile Employees
Assignees remaining in host country locations are being directed to follow local country mandates including stay-at/work-from-home and self-quarantining as needed.