Analysis Finance Kuwaiti stocks toil but analysts foresee 2024 rebound Overpriced valuations, high interest rates and oil production cuts have sapped investor confidence in Kuwait, and the country’s stock market is among the Mena region’s worst performers this year. Despite this, analysts predict a sustained rebound in crude prices, steady corporate earnings and renewed government infrastructure spending. This could boost ebbing sentiment and spark a […] October 13, 2023
Analysis Tech Investors turn to data centres in Gulf and Mena tech push Investor appetite for data centres in the Middle East is soaring as the region, particularly the Gulf, accelerates its digital transformation. Experts say they are seeing increased levels of investment and interest from international operators, who are looking to capitalise on the region’s growing need for data processing and storage. Earlier this year the Saudi […] October 12, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Turkey and Egypt can trip up Gulf lenders says analyst Gulf banks are in a resilient position as oil production cuts crimp economic growth, but lenders could face headwinds from macroeconomic volatility in Egypt and Turkey, an S&P Global analyst said this week. In Turkey, Dubai’s Emirates NBD owns Denizbank and Qatar National Bank owns QNB Finansbank, the country’s eighth and ninth largest banks by […] October 12, 2023
Analysis Finance Qatar makes belated entry into crypto tokens market Qatar’s financial regulators have proposed a new digital assets framework which seeks to regulate investment tokens. In contrast to its Gulf neighbours like the UAE and Bahrain, which have opened their doors to global cryptocurrency exchanges, Qatar has maintained a ban on trading. But legal insiders say Qatar’s delayed entry into the virtual assets arena […] October 12, 2023
Finance Moody’s downgrades ratings of five Egyptian banks Moody’s Investors Agency has downgraded five Egyptian banks by one notch, including the largest private bank, after downgrading the country’s credit rating on high inflation and rising borrowing costs. The long-term bank deposit ratings of the National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr and Banque Du Caire, and privately-owned Commercial International Bank were lowered to “CAA1” […] October 12, 2023
Finance More IMF nations support funding boost Support increased on Wednesday for the US-backed call to boost the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) quota lending resources without shareholding changes, according to statements from various countries issued at the IMF’s annual meeting in Morocco. France, Britain, Ghana, Switzerland, Finland and Belgium said in statements to the IMF’s steering committee that they supported an equi-proportional […] October 12, 2023
Real Estate Super-rich choosing Dubai for second homes Dubai has become a second-home paradise for the super-rich as the number of wealthy residents in the emirate continues to soar. The city boasts more than 500 centi-millionaire second-home owners. It features ahead of locations such as Palm Beach and West Palm Beach in the US, Sydney, Nice and Napa, according to the latest wealth […] October 11, 2023
Finance Qatar National Bank profit up 8% on high loan growth Qatar National Bank (QNB), the Gulf’s biggest bank by assets, reported an 8 percent increase in third-quarter 2023 net profit to QR4.31 billion ($1.18 billion) from QR3.99 billion a year earlier, spurred by higher loan growth. Net profit reached QR11.9 billion, up eight percent year on year in the first nine months of 2023, as […] October 11, 2023
Finance Mubadala Capital’s second Brazil fund raises $710m Mubadala Capital, the wholly owned asset management subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, has closed its second flagship investment fund in Brazil, with total commitments of over $710 million. Brazil Special Opportunities Fund II has raised capital from a range of global investors, including a public pension fund, family offices, corporates, private equity funds […] October 11, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Islamic finance set to grow 10% in 2023 The Islamic finance industry is set to grow by 10 percent this year, driven by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, according to a new report by ratings agency S&P Global. This is despite a slowdown in growth in the Gulf region caused by Opec+ oil production cuts. “We generally expect sukuk issuance volume to diminish […] October 11, 2023
Finance Dubai’s Shuaa Capital shares plunge to all-time low Shares in Dubai’s Shuaa Capital plunged to a record low on Tuesday after the indebted investment bank said it would launch a rights issue to increase its capital as part of attempts to bolster its finances. Shuaa’s stock was trading at AED 0.271 at 12:53 UAE time (09:53 GMT), down the maximum 10 percent. The […] October 10, 2023
Finance China funds look to Middle East as US investments wane Chinese funds are seeking new capital sources in the Middle East and other markets, according to managers. It is a shift that could reshape investment flows as diplomatic tensions and other risks drive many US investors out of the country. Seven China equity funds, including hedge funds and mutual funds, running more than $500 billion […] October 10, 2023
Finance Dubai regulator halts unapproved crypto sale Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has halted the sale of Islamic Coin (ISLM), a crypto token touting its adherence to sharia and ethical principles. The intervention demonstrates the emirate’s balance of innovation and regulatory oversight, say legal insiders. In a market alert, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) highlighted that Bored Gen DMCC, the fintech software […] October 9, 2023
Banking and Finance Late-stage funding tumbles for UAE tech startups Late-stage funding for UAE technology startups has declined sharply in recent months as the region’s risk-averse venture capitalists shy away from larger, high-stakes investments. The latest report by Indian market intelligence platform Tracxn showed only $25 million was allocated to late-stage startups in Q3 2023, a year-on-year drop of 75 percent. It reflects investors’ growing […] October 9, 2023
Video length: 05:10 VIDEO Finance Explained: Green bonds and how they work The aggregate listing value of green bonds and sukuks on Nasdaq Dubai stands at around $24 billion, according to Christian Kunz, DIFC’s chief strategy, innovation and ventures officer. Regional conglomerates, as well as global companies, have recently used the exchange to raise funds to finance their green projects. Retail giant Majid Al Futtaim raised $500 […] October 6, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Dealmakers expect record year for UK-GCC M&A The GCC region – in particular Saudi Arabia and the UAE – is seeing a “significant influx” of interest in mergers and acquisitions from UK investors. Lumina Capital Advisers, a mid-market corporate finance company, said record levels of M&A activity are expected this year between the Gulf and the UK, based on a new survey […] October 6, 2023
Finance Iraq to end all dollar cash withdrawals by January Iraq will ban cash withdrawals and transactions in US dollars as of January 1, 2024, in the latest push to curb the misuse of its hard currency reserves in financial crimes and the evasion of US sanctions on Iran, a top Iraqi central bank official said. The move aims to stamp out the illicit use […] October 6, 2023
Finance Egyptian banks suspend overseas use of debit cards At least two Egyptian banks have suspended the use of Egyptian pound debit cards outside the country to stop a drain on foreign currency as the country’s currency shortage worsens. Arab African International Bank sent a notice to customers on Wednesday and Arab International Bank sent one on Thursday announcing the suspension, according to several […] October 6, 2023
Analysis Banking and Finance Lebanon’s new bank rules offer ‘lollar’ accounts respite The Banque du Liban (BDL), Lebanon’s central bank, has issued a circular limiting fees and commissions that commercial banks can impose on so-called “lollar” accounts. Circular No. 679 prohibits the imposition of commissions that were established after October 31, 2019 on dollar deposits made before September 3, 2019. It also obliges banks to publish their […] October 5, 2023
Leisure & Hospitality Dubai hotelier’s $350m green bond to fund Ibiza expansion Hospitality group Five Holdings has listed a $350 million green bond on Dubai’s Nasdaq. A spokesperson for Five told AGBI the company would use the proceeds of the bond to fund its acquisition of Ibiza’s Universo Pacha, which owns the famous Pacha nightclub, as well as Destino Hotel and El Hotel Pacha on the Spanish […] October 5, 2023
Finance UAE entities explore green finance prospects An Abu Dhabi sovereign fund and Dubai’s largest listed bank are working on promoting and exploring green finance as part of their commitment to a sustainable future. Emirates NBD Bank, Dubai’s largest lender, intends to raise $750 million from its first five-year green bonds. The spread for the debt sale has been set at 120 […] October 5, 2023
Finance UAE company to take over 60% of Telkom Kenya UAE-based Infrastructure Corporation of Africa LLC (ICA) will take over 60 percent of shares in Telkom Kenya from London-based private equity firm Helios after a competitive process, Kenya’s finance ministry said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Kenyan cabinet rescinded a deal between a previous administration and Helios for the nationalisation of Telkom, citing “governance challenges” […] October 5, 2023
