Economy Israel inflation rate jumps to new 14-year high of 5.2% in July Israel’s annual consumer price index (CPI) rose to a higher than expected rate of 5.2 percent in July, the most since October 2008 and following a 4.4 percent rate in June, as more aggressive interest rate hikes loom and keep the soaring cost of living centre stage ahead of an election in November. A Reuters […] August 16, 2022
Banking and Finance Egypt’s Central Bank says foreign treasury bills exodus continues A foreign exodus from Egyptian treasury bills continued into May, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) data showed on Monday, after the Ukraine crisis and concerns about US interest rate hikes prompted foreign investors to cash out their holdings. T-bills held by foreign customers dropped in the month by 30 billion Egyptian pounds, at the time […] August 16, 2022
Economy Bahrain posts budget surplus of $88m in H1 2022 Bahrain has posted a budget surplus of 33 million dinars ($88 million) in the first half of 2022 from a deficit of 520 million dinars a year earlier, the country’s Ministry of Finance said on Monday. The data also showed total public revenues at 1.698 billion dinars, up 52 percent year-on-year, while total expenditure stood […] August 16, 2022
Exclusive Digital payments giant hopes for boost from UAE-Africa trade talks Dubai-based digital payments giant Network International is hopeful that “more doors will open” for it across Africa as the UAE starts free trade deal talks on the continent. The Middle East and Africa-focused company, which generated nearly 30 percent of its revenues from Africa last year with key markets including Kenya, Egypt and South Africa, […] August 15, 2022
Analysis Economy Rising inflation leaves UAE businesses underinsured Rising inflation is leaving UAE companies at risk of being underinsured in the event of a potential claim, with industry experts urging companies to make sure they keep the valuation of assets up to date. In the event of a claim, such as those being prepared by UAE businesses damaged by the severe flooding last […] August 15, 2022
Economy Cash-strapped Britons give up pets as living costs soar Stood on her hind legs to greet any prospective owner who might approach her glass-doored kennel, Harriet is a black English cocker spaniel abandoned as a deepening cost-of-living crisis pushes growing numbers of Britons to part with their pets. She was found running along a busy road in London after witnesses saw her pushed out […] August 15, 2022
Economy Kuwait names first ambassador to Iran in over six years Kuwait has appointed an ambassador to Iran, both countries said on Sunday, more than six years after recalling its top envoy to Tehran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after it severed ties with the Islamic Republic in 2016. Ambassador Bader Abdullah Al-Munaikh handed his credentials to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran on Saturday, […] August 15, 2022
Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia plans to renew $3bn deposit to Pakistan Saudi Arabia is planning to renew its $3 billion (656 billion Pakistani rupee) deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The kingdom also plans to provide $100 million a month for 10 months in petroleum products that will be granted as additional support, the news agency reported, expecting the […] August 15, 2022
Economy Moody’s cuts Turkey’s sovereign rating, but raises outlook to stable Ratings agency Moody’s on Friday lowered Turkey’s sovereign credit rating by one notch to “B3” from “B2”, citing rising balance of payment pressures and risks of further declines in the country’s foreign-currency reserves. “(The) current account deficit will likely exceed earlier expectations by a wide margin, raising external financing needs at a time of tightening financial […] August 15, 2022
Economy Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade grows 12% in H1 2022 Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rose 12 percent to about AED 124 billion ($33.76 billion) in the first half of 2022 from AED 110.33 billion in the same period of 2020, UAE state-owned news agency, WAM, reported. Exports during the first six months increased by 26 percent to AED 49.47 billion, compared to AED 39.19 […] August 15, 2022
Economy Turkish central bank to keep rates at 14% despite high inflation Turkey’s central bank is expected to hold its policy rate unchanged at 14 percent for an eighth meeting next week, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, in the face of a global tightening cycle and rampant inflation at nearly 80 percent that shows no signs of falling. Most economists expect the key interest rate to […] August 14, 2022
Egypt’s foreign currency gap narrows to $400m in July Egypt’s foreign currency gap narrowed to $400 million last month from $3.9 billion in February, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Gamal Negm said on Saturday. Egypt has seen billions of dollars leave its markets since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February as investors have fled emerging markets for safer havens. But […] August 14, 2022
Markets Saudi Tadawul Group reports Q2 profit drop on mounting costs Saudi Tadawul Group, the bourse’s owner and operator, on Sunday reported an almost 24 percent decline in second-quarter profit as expenses, including salaries, rose. Net profit in the quarter ended June 30 fell to SAR 137.7 million ($36.68 million) from a SAR 181.1 million in the year-earlier period. The group said operating expenditures increased 16.6 percent […] August 14, 2022
Analysis Banking and Finance BlackRock may spur wealthy to make crypto leap Institutional investors and high net worth individuals have traditionally shunned cryptocurrencies as volatile and untrustworthy. The ongoing turbulence in the market, with the value of bitcoin dropping by nearly half so far this year, has not helped sentiment but there are signs this is changing. BlackRock, which has $8.49 trillion of assets under management, yesterday […] August 12, 2022
Turkish locals’ forex and gold holdings rise $3.77bn Turkish locals’ forex and gold holdings rose $3.77 billion when adjusted for the parity effect to stand at $216.86 billion by August 5, data showed on Thursday, as corporates bought hard currencies. Turkish local corporates bought $4.27 billion last week, when adjusted for the parity effect, central bank data showed. Individuals sold $498 million in […] August 12, 2022
Analysis Economy Raising prices is not the only way to protect margins from inflation Amid the onslaught of rising UAE business costs, a newly published industry report has outlined where exactly the pain is being felt most. While some firms are opting to raise prices, experts outlined some of the other short-term strategies companies are adopting in order to help keep their margins healthy. The latest S&P Global Dubai […] August 12, 2022
Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia’s Maaden’s Q2 profit triples to $1.1bn Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) reported Q2 2022 net profit more than tripled to SAR 4.03 billion ($1.07 billion) from SAR 1.10 billion in the year-earlier period on higher sales prices and increased production. Sales revenue stood at SAR 11.87 billion in Q2 2022 compared to SAR 6.10 billion in the prior period, the mining […] August 12, 2022
Analysis Banking and Finance Traditional UAE banks must snap up neobanks to survive The UAE’s growing army of digital-only banks could soon be snapped up by traditional banks as digitisation continues apace, experts have told AGBI. A global survey published on Tuesday by UK-based comparison platform, Finder, said 19 percent of adults in the UAE have a neobank account, up from 17 percent last year – and that […] August 11, 2022
Economy China unclear on report that President Xi is to visit Saudi Arabia A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday that he had no information to offer at the moment when asked to comment on a media report that President Xi Jinping will visit Saudi Arabia next week. The Guardian in the UK reported on Thursday that plans are underway in Saudi Arabia for a gala […] August 11, 2022
Economy Egypt’s annual urban consumer inflation rises to 13.6% in July Egypt’s annual urban consumer inflation accelerated to a higher-than expected 13.6 percent year-on-year in July from 13.2 percent in June, data from the country’s statistics agency CAPMAS showed on Wednesday. Month-on-month, headline inflation increased by 1.3 percent, compared with a 0.1 percent decrease in June. A Reuters poll of 14 economists had predicted a median […] August 11, 2022
Banking and Finance Kuwait central bank raises discount rate by 25 bps The Central Bank of Kuwait raised its discount rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent effective from Thursday, it said in a statement on Wednesday. The decision was in response to inflationary pressures, bank Governor Basel Al-Haroon said in the statement. The bank had also increased the rate by 25 bps on July 27, […] August 11, 2022
Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia invests $1.3bn in four Egyptian firms The Saudi Egyptian Investment Co (SEIC), owned by Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Public Investment Fund (PIF), has bought minority stakes in four Egyptian companies for $1.3 billion, Egypt’s planning ministry said on Wednesday. The companies are Abu Qir Fertizilers and Chemical Industries, Misr Fertilizers Production Company , Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling, and payments firm E-Finance […] August 11, 2022
