Market Forecasts

Comment & Analysis

Gulf budget gaps to further narrow in 2018 kuwaits govt revenues increase to kd 13 3bn oil revenues expected to stay at kd 11.7bn in 2017/18

March 19, 2018

Budgets deficits for the GCC region in 2018 are forecasted to come in at $51bn, a 52 percent reduction from…

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Market Forecasts

Qatar's biggest bank to double foreign ownership

March 13, 2018

Qatar National Bank, the Middle East's biggest bank, yesterday said it aimed to almost double its foreign ownership limit, nine…

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Comment & Analysis

What the year-end financial results say about the UAE economy

March 5, 2018

We’re fully in the midst of corporate year-end results. As the numbers for 2017 start emanating from the listed corporates,…

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Comment & Analysis

Mideast’s luxury leather goods valued at $1.54b

February 19, 2018

South African artisans of fine leather products will be under the spotlight at a Dubai exhibition this month, as they…

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Comment & Analysis

Citigroup targets rapid Middle East, Africa growth in 2018

February 8, 2018

Citigroup expects 2018 to be its best year for investment banking in the Middle East and Africa in at least…

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Financial Results

Citigroup Targets Rapid Middle East, Africa Growth in 2018

February 7, 2018

Citigroup expects 2018 to be its best year for investment banking in the Middle East and Africa in at least…

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Comment & Analysis

A Worryingly ‘Exceptional’ Week by Gary Dugan

February 5, 2018

That was an exceptional week in financial markets and worrying too. There have been only two occasions in the past…

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Comment & Analysis

Crackdown concern: Saudi corruption purge could lead to greater investor caution

February 4, 2018

The anti-corruption crackdown in Saudi Arabia which has netted the state more than $100 billion, according to its attorney-general, will…

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Comment & Analysis

Kuwait to spend $500bn on oil projects by 2040

February 1, 2018

OPEC member Kuwait plans to spend more than half a trillion dollars by 2040 to boost its oil and gas…

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Comment & Analysis

Middle East to benefit from pick-up in global economy, says Standard Chartered CEO

January 24, 2018

Economies in the Middle East will see more stability this year, as prices of major commodities rebound and the global…

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Islamic Finance

DIB brings first GCC bank paper this year

January 24, 2018

Dubai Islamic Bank, the largest Islamic bank in the UAE by total asset size,has mandated eight banks for a five…

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Comment & Analysis

UAE banks improve profitability on lower costs and higher margins

January 21, 2018

‘Cautious optimism’ and ‘resilience’ were the favourite phrases of UAE bankers and banking sector analysts in 2017.   Early bank…

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