Finance Turkey says interest rate hikes ‘cooled’ inflation Turkey’s interest rate hikes have helped lower inflation expectations and improved visibility on prices, attracting Western fund inflows that have boosted depleted FX reserves, central bank governor Hafize Gaye Erkan said on Wednesday. Interest in Turkish lira deposit accounts and assets has increased since June, Erkan told the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, after years of […] November 30, 2023
Banking and Finance Brevan Howard to double Abu Dhabi headcount Brevan Howard, one of the world’s biggest hedge funds with assets exceeding $33 billion, is to double its workforce in Abu Dhabi next year. The UK company initiated its Middle East expansion by opening an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market in February, joining an increasing number of hedge funds drawn to the region’s substantial […] November 29, 2023
Finance Kingdom Holding ups stake in Citigroup with Alwaleed deal Kingdom Holding Company has increased its investment in Citigroup after buying a $450 million stake from its Saudi Arabian billionaire chairman, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal. The deal has raised Kingdom’s stake to 2.2 percent from 1.63 percent, according to a filing on the Saudi Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The company did not disclose any further […] November 29, 2023
Finance US private equity giant General Atlantic opens Gulf offices Global private equity firm General Atlantic, which manages $77 billion in assets, is opening offices in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company has been investing in the Middle East since 2015 without a local base, but is now establishing a stronger foothold as it nears the completion of new investment deals in the region. […] November 29, 2023
Trade UAE and China renew $4.9bn currency swap deal The UAE and China have renewed their currency swap agreement to settle cross-border financial and trade transactions in local currencies. The Central Bank of the UAE and the People’s Bank of China signed a currency swap agreement with a nominal value of AED18 billion ($4.9 billion) for the next five years, UAE state-owned Wam news […] November 29, 2023
Banking and Finance PIF buys 10% stake in UK’s Heathrow airport Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will acquire a 10 percent stake in the parent company of London Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport. Spanish infrastructure major Ferrovial will sell its entire 25 percent stake in FGP Topco for £2.37 billion ($3.01 billion), the company said in a statement. Paris-based private equity fund Ardian will buy the remaining […] November 29, 2023
Banking and Finance Aster DM to sell majority stake in Gulf business for $1bn UAE-based hospital chain Aster DM Healthcare will sell a majority stake in its Gulf business to a regional consortium for $1 billion as part of a plan to separate the unit from its Indian operations. A consortium led by state-backed Fajr Capital will own 65 percent of the Gulf business, while Azad Moopen, the founder […] November 29, 2023
Finance Turkey’s total reserves hit record high $137bn The Turkish central bank’s total reserves rose $2 billion last week to a record of $136.5 billion, five bankers’ calculations showed on Tuesday, sustaining an uptrend after it adopted more orthodox monetary policy since June. The central bank has raised interest rates by 3,150 basis points since June, when President Tayyip Erdogan appointed former Wall […] November 29, 2023
Finance European fund Amundi dips toe back into Turkey’s lira Amundi, Europe’s largest asset manager and among the top 10 in the world, has started dipping its toe back into the Turkish lira having been impressed by the country’s turnaround efforts since its mid-year elections. The Paris-based firm, which has $2 trillion worth of assets under management, is yet to go all in given the […] November 29, 2023
Energy Politicians lack will for climate action, says ex-chancellor Former UK chancellor Sajid Javid has suggested that Western politicians lack the will to follow through on climate commitments – because the costs of energy transition can be unpopular with voters. Speaking in the UAE just three days before the Cop28 summit begins in Dubai, Javid said the cost of living crisis had pushed climate […] November 29, 2023
Banking and Finance Strong upsurge in UAE green sukuk ahead of Cop28 The UAE has witnessed a strong push for sukuk to finance green projects, according to data released by Fitch Ratings. Sukuk are sharia-compliant bonds that were developed as an alternative to conventional bonds, which are not considered permissible by many Muslims as they pay interest, and also may finance businesses involved in activities not allowed […] November 29, 2023
Opinion Banking and Finance Israel war tests GCC regional bank resilience GCC governments have been notably proactive in terms of their support to the local banking system November 28, 2023
Banking and Finance PIF signs first funding deal with an export credit agency Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed a financing agreement to raise a term loan of up to $5 billion from a syndicate of nine international lenders, which will be covered by Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure). The financing carries a tenor of 13 years and will initially be sized at $3 billion, with […] November 28, 2023
Finance Abu Dhabi’s financial sector to grow 13% in 2023 Abu Dhabi’s financial sector is forecast to grow 13 percent in 2023 as the UAE continues its economic diversification drive. The financial sector surged by 30 percent in the second quarter, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, citing Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and Abu Dhabi […] November 28, 2023
Real Estate London’s suburban real estate moves Middle East investors While central London property retains its allure for ultra-high-net-worth individuals from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, cash buyers are flocking to the outskirts of the UK capital to snap up investment properties. A survey of GCC high-net-worth individuals by London-based shariah-compliant lender Al Rayan Bank found that a third of respondents said they had […] November 28, 2023
Banking and Finance Saudi’s top 10 banks post 3.8% rise in profits Saudi Arabia’s 10 largest listed banks saw net income rise 3.8 percent to SAR18 billion ($4.8 billion) in the third quarter of 2023, driven by higher loan growth and interest income. In light of the Saudi Arabian Interbank Offered Rate (Saibor) increasing by 13 basis points in the third quarter, aggregate total interest income increased by […] November 27, 2023
Tech Binance scandal won’t rock UAE but clarity is needed Industry experts have told AGBI that the UAE needs to address some of its own internal challenges if it is to realise its ambitions to become a global cyptocurrency player. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao’s guilty plea as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with US anti-money laundering authorities is unlikely to lead to major […] November 24, 2023
Banking and Finance UAE bank profits grow on greater lending and higher interest The UAE’s top 10 banks expanded their combined net profits in the third quarter versus the previous three months thanks to growing demand for corporate and retail borrowing, improved lending margins and lower impairments. A report by consultants Alvarez & Marsal studied the country’s biggest homegrown lenders by assets including leading duo First Abu Dhabi […] November 23, 2023
Finance Dubai’s investment arm almost doubles profits Transport and finance have helped the Dubai government’s investment body almost double profits for the first half of the year. Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) reported an 86 percent rise in first-half net profit on Thursday as earnings from its financial services and transportation divisions surged. ICD, which is the Dubai government’s main investment unit, […] November 23, 2023
Finance Turkish deposit rates to rise as liquidity tightens Turkish banks’ deposit rates, already above 45 percent, are expected to continue rising for the remainder of 2023 as the central bank takes additional steps to tighten liquidity and lenders spruce up their year-end balance sheets. Central bank data shows the average return on three-month lira deposits rose to near 46 percent by November 10 […] November 23, 2023
Finance JPMorgan backs bounce in Turkey’s lira as key 2024 bet Investment bank JPMorgan on Tuesday backed a bounce in Turkey’s lira as one of its key emerging market bets for 2024. The value of Turkey’s currency has plummeted in recent years, but a screeching 180-degree change of policy direction following President Tayyip Erdogan’s re-election win this year has seen interest rates hiked significantly, creating more […] November 23, 2023
Finance PIF’s Saudi Real Estate issues $933m sukuk Sukuk worth SAR3.5 billion ($933.17 million) to expand funding in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector has been issued by the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company. The offering from the company, which is wholly owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, makes up the final two tranches under its SAR20 billion government-guaranteed sukuk programme. The issuance […] November 23, 2023
