Banking and Finance Egyptian banks tighten foreign currency withdrawals Egyptian banks have tightened limits on foreign currency withdrawals from local currency accounts as they seek to conserve scarce dollars. Though no industry-wide rules have been announced, in recent days a number of banks have sent notifications instructing clients with Egyptian pound accounts of new monthly limits on how much foreign currency they can withdraw […] October 11, 2022
Energy Aramco to keep full oil supplies to north Asia despite OPEC+ cuts Saudi Aramco has told at least five customers in North Asia they will receive full contract volumes of crude oil in November, according to several sources. The allocation comes despite a decision by the OPEC+ group – the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia – to lower their output target by […] October 10, 2022
Economy Qatar population rises 13.2% in World Cup hiring surge Qatar’s population has surged by 13.2 percent in a year, official data shows, as the tiny Gulf state recruits thousands of overseas workers ahead of hosting the World Cup in November and December. The wealthy gas producer’s population stood at 2.94 million after some 370,000 additional people moved to Qatar in the 12 months to […] October 10, 2022
Business of Sport Smiles and some sadness for Vettel on Japan’s Suzuka farewell It was smiles and some sadness for four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel on Saturday after his last qualifying lap around a Suzuka circuit that has played a big part in his Formula One career. The 35-year-old German is retiring at the end of the season and every race is a farewell of sorts, but Suzuka […] October 9, 2022
Banking and Finance Erdogan vows to cut rates ‘as long as he remains president’ Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Saturday that the central bank would continue to cut its policy interest rates every month for as long as he stayed in power, after it surprised markets by cutting rates twice in the last two months. “As long as this brother of yours is in this position, the interest […] October 9, 2022
Banking and Finance EBRD head raises concerns over Turkey’s rate-cutting policy The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) raised some concerns with Turkish authorities over their “outlier” policy of seeking to drive economic growth with low interest rates, she told Reuters on Friday. Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the EBRD, was in Istanbul after meetings that she called “frank and transparent” with Turkey’s […] October 9, 2022
Economy Israel’s central bank chief sees rates peaking to avoid recession Israel’s aggressive interest rate hiking cycle aimed at lowering inflation was at a “well advanced” stage, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said, with price pressures starting to ease and inflation hopefully moving back into its target range next year. Israel will likely avoid a recession, Yaron said, and growth will be stronger than the […] October 7, 2022
Paris-based Eutelsat accuses Iran of jamming its satellites Eutelsat alleged on Thursday that Iran had jammed two of its satellites since Sept 26, adding that it had asked the relevant authorities to stop the interference immediately. Paris-based Eutelsat also said in a statement that it had reminded the Iranian authorities that intentional jamming is “explicitly prohibited” by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio […] October 7, 2022
Banking and Finance Turkey receives $780m from South Korea under swap deal South Korea made a transfer worth $780 million to Turkey’s central bank last week, a portion of the $2 billion agreed under a swap deal signed in 2021, two bankers told Reuters. The total amount transferred to Turkey from South Korea under the deal is now worth almost $1 billion, said bankers, citing calculations based […] October 7, 2022
Retail India’s Nykaa and Dubai’s Apparel Group forge Gulf alliance Indian cosmetics and fashion retailer Nykaa and Dubai-based lifestyle and fashion conglomerate Apparel Group have struck an alliance to expand in the Gulf region, the companies said on Thursday. With the agreement, Nykaa hopes to grow in a region where it sees high demand for beauty products, months after inflationary pressures in India led it […] October 7, 2022
Tourism Oman’s SalamAir places $935m order for six Embraer jets Embraer SA said on Thursday that Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir has signed a firm order for six E195-E2 jets, with options for a further six aircraft, an announcement that sent shares in the Brazilian planemaker higher. The deal was valued at $934.6 million with all options exercised and will be added to Embraer’s third-quarter backlog, […] October 7, 2022
Economy Moody’s upgrades Oman’s outlook to ‘positive’ on higher oil prices Global ratings agency Moody’s on Thursday upgraded Oman’s outlook to “positive” from “stable”, citing elevated oil prices easing the Middle Eastern nation’s debt position over the next few years. Oman, one of the Gulf’s weaker economies, swung to a budget surplus in the first half of 2022, easing pressure on public finances and improving its […] October 7, 2022
Banking and Finance Mubadala to lead $105m in funding for Brazilian fintech Cerc Mubadala Capital LLC, Abu Dhabi’s state investor, is set to lead a funding round of up to 550 million reais ($106.6 million) in Brazilian receivables exchange Cerc, the Brazilian firm said on Thursday. Cerc confirmed Mubadala’s interest in the investment, first reported by a Brazilian news website, which it said was still pending regulatory approval. […] October 7, 2022
Banking and Finance Lebanese lawmaker ends protest after release of ‘frozen’ savings Lebanese lawmaker Cynthia Zarazir ended a protest at a bank on Wednesday after obtaining the funds she needed from her frozen savings to pay for surgery, her lawyer said, in the latest in a series of stand-offs between individuals and lenders. Zarazir, who was elected in May to represent Beirut, entered the Antelias branch of […] October 6, 2022
Lifestyle James Bond producers mull choice as film franchise turns 60 James Bond, the martini-drinking, tuxedo-wearing British secret agent, celebrated 60 years on the silver screen on Wednesday — but who will be the next actor to take on the iconic role? According to sibling Bond producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, the search for a new actor has not even begun following Daniel Craig’s […] October 6, 2022
Banking and Finance Egypt’s central bank to allow trading in NDFs and derivatives The new governor of Egypt’s central bank, Hassan Abdalla, has alerted Egyptian banks that it may soon allow them to begin trading in non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) and derivatives for local currency transactions. The measures, part of a new foreign exchange convention under review by banks, are designed to smooth operations as the central bank moves […] October 6, 2022
Banking and Finance Tunisia raises key interest rate again to combat inflation Tunisia’s central bank on Wednesday raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 7.25 percent to combat inflation, the bank said, the second hike in five months. The central bank also decided to raise the interest rate on savings by 25 bps to 6.25 percent. Inflation in the North African country rose […] October 6, 2022
Economy Bahrain attracts $921m direct investment in diversification drive Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Wednesday it attracted $290 million direct investment in manufacturing and logistics in the first nine months of 2022 as the country seeks to diversify its oil-based economy. The investments, through 25 manufacturing and logistics companies setting up and expanding in the small island nation, are expected to create […] October 6, 2022
World Cup 2022 Qatar to intensify labour inspections during World Cup Qatar will intensify labour inspections during the soccer World Cup including extra health and safety checks to protect workers from exploitation, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said on Wednesday. Rights groups and labour unions have warned that hospitality, transport and security workers are especially vulnerable during the month-long tournament, the first held in a […] October 6, 2022
Economy MENA’s growth rate this year to be fastest since 2016 The Middle East and North Africa region is expected to post economic growth of 5.5 percent in 2022, the fastest pace since 2016, before slowing to 3.5 percent next year, the World Bank said on Wednesday. Oil exporters in MENA, the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have received a windfall from high oil prices. The […] October 6, 2022
Banking and Finance NMC Healthcare granted anti-suit injunction from Abu Dhabi court United Arab Emirates hospital group NMC Healthcare (NMCH) was granted an injunction from an Abu Dhabi court on Wednesday to prevent one of its creditors from taking legal action against it in another jurisdiction. NMCH was forced into administration in 2020 after the disclosure of more than $4 billion in hidden debt left many UAE […] October 6, 2022
Banking and Finance PIF becomes first wealth fund to raise $3bn in debut green bonds Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was set to raise $3 billion on Wednesday in its first foray into the debt capital markets, taking advantage of a brief period of calm to become the first sovereign wealth fund to issue green bonds. PIF joined a flurry of other issuers tapping the market after a run […] October 6, 2022