Finance News & Analysis
News
Dubai developing Islamic management standards
Dubai standards will match Islamic principles with value-based management methods
Abu Dhabi stocks on the rise
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange reports improving trading volumes and value
Mobily agrees $400m refinancing
Mobily funding in place for Bayanat al-Oula
Sadara set for financial close in June
Biggest Middle East project finance deal in years entering final stages
Saudi banks told to replace expatriates
Local banks must draw up plan to be staffed entirely by Saudi nationals
Dana Gas completes refinancing
New, five-year sukuk worth $850m have been listed on Irish Stock Exchange
Maaden to launch $7.5bn phosphates financing by July
Mining company considering bond issue to fund project in north of kingdom
Dubai Group agrees terms for $6bn debt restructuring
Sheikh Mohammed’s investment vehicle aims to complete restructuring by early summer
DFM General Index first-quarter value rises 12.7 per cent
But trading increases only 1.7 per cent year-on-year
Marafiq to launch $666m sukuk issue
Utility firm sets pricing at 85 basis points
Riyadh changes fuel allocation for Rabigh 2 power plant
Fuel allocation move part of broader plan to cease burning oil for power production
Taqa year-on-year profit drops 80 per cent
Taqa profit decrease due to shut-in of North Sea platform and drop in oil prices
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank profit up 8.1 per cent
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s net profit for first quarter of 2013 reached AED389.6m
Sabic planning bond issue this year
Petrochemicals firm Sabic considering debt issue
Saudi Arabia creating framework for private project housing
Housing Ministry working on incentives to encourage private sector to build more houses
Saudi Arabia could open stock market in a year
Market regulator is working on opening up stock exchange to foreign investors
Banks still wary of funding greenfield hotel projects
NBAD executive says banks are more willing to finance property refurbishments
Egypt signs financing deal for sugar project
New facility will produce 500,000 tonnes a year
Gulf Capital granted $120m loan for residential project in Riyadh
Gulf Capital deal highlights housing demand in Saudi Arabia rising significantly
Arabtec first quarter profit surges
Arabtec net profit up 97.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter, but down 25.7 per cent on same period last year
Dubai repays bonds worth $909m
Dubai’s benchmark index rises 1.88 per cent as a result of repayment
Sheikh Maktoum raises questions over African investment
Corruption, lack of transparency and politics make investment in Africa a challenge, says Shuaa Capital executive chairman
Africa urged to engage private sector for investment funds
State-led solutions not the key to growth in Africa
Sharia-compliant banking 'rapidly growing' in Kenya
But many legal and technical complications remain in setting up Islamic finance products in Kenya
First Gulf Bank's year-on-year revenue increases 12 per cent
First Gulf Bank achieved net profit of AED1.05m
Comment
HSBC reviews Iraq operations
If the UK banking giant sells out of Iraq, it will be another bad omen for the country struggling with economic and political malaise
Analysis
Lending to small businesses in Mena
SME banking revenue in the Mena region is expected to grow by 18 per cent per year, reaching $15bn by 2015
GCC financial sector bond issuances set to reach $13bn by 2018
Bonds are currently trading at tight pricings, the result of quantitative easing
Fiscal competition heats up in the GCC
Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh could prove challengers to Dubai’s dominance as a regional financial hub
Dubai strengthens role as gold and diamond hub
Volumes of precious metals and gems traded in Dubai likely to increase throughout 2013
United Arab Bank
The Sharjah-based lender has seen profits accelerate in 2012 on low exposure to problem loans
Q&A Paul Trowbridge, Chief executive officer, United Arab Bank
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