http://www.meed.com/rss/rss_meed_companies.xml en-uk Kuwait’s Mushrif Trading & Contracting Company is in the process of raising capital valued at KD14m ($53m). http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kuwaits_mushrif_to_raise_kd14m_53m_capital.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kuwaits_mushrif_to_raise_kd14m_53m_capital.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Christopher Sell 20 July 2008 11:08 Qatar’s Council of Ministers has delayed the creation of a single financial regulator until September at the earliest, after failing to pass the legislation that would establish the new regulator before the summer break. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/creation_of_a_single_financial_regulator_faces_further_delay.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/creation_of_a_single_financial_regulator_faces_further_delay.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 17 July 2008 19:35 Saudi investment house expected to use funding to invest in a series of projects in its domestic market http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kingdom_holding_seeks_13bn_loan_facility.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kingdom_holding_seeks_13bn_loan_facility.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Matthew Martin 17 July 2008 18:41 http://www.meed.com:80/images/kingdom_resized_70_tcm24-1735616.jpg It has been another bearish week in GCC markets, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE markets leading the falls, driven by negative sentiment globally. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/marketwatch_gcc_markets_continue_to_slide.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/marketwatch_gcc_markets_continue_to_slide.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Matthew Martin 17 July 2008 16:48 http://www.meed.com:80/images/MARKETS_resized_70_tcm24-1386660.jpg Lower than expected trading volumes at Dubai Financial Market could mean it missing its earnings targets in 2008, according to US investment bank Morgan Stanley. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/low_trading_volumes_undermine_case_for_dubai_financial_market.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/low_trading_volumes_undermine_case_for_dubai_financial_market.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 16 July 2008 17:00 The Dubai Financial Market has suspended trading in the shares of Shuaa Capital after the bank’s share price climbed 15 per cent in one day, the maximum gain in a single trading session allowed under the market’s regulations. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/stock_exchange_suspends_trading_in_shuaa_capital_shares.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/stock_exchange_suspends_trading_in_shuaa_capital_shares.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 15 July 2008 15:34 Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank (NCB) is to relocate its Riyadh-based syndications team to Bahrain to move closer to international institutions in the region, according to sources at the bank. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/national_commercial_bank_moves_team_to_bahrain.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/national_commercial_bank_moves_team_to_bahrain.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Matthew Martin 11 July 2008 17:09 Egypt’s plans to deliver economic growth and open up state-dominated industries have been hit by soaring inflation, which is the now the highest in the region. http://www.meed.com:80/economy/features/2008/07/inflation_hits_cairos_reforms.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/economy/features/2008/07/inflation_hits_cairos_reforms.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Dominic Dudley 11 July 2008 08:25 http://www.meed.com:80/images/case_resized_70_tcm24-1710458.jpg As Lebanon’s credit rating improves, its largest bank is in a strong position to grow its regional presence. http://www.meed.com:80/companiesandmarkets/features/2008/07/business_closeup_banque_audi_on_merger_rumours.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/companiesandmarkets/features/2008/07/business_closeup_banque_audi_on_merger_rumours.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Matthew Martin 11 July 2008 07:44 http://www.meed.com:80/images/Freddie-Baz_resized_70_tcm24-1710435.jpg All four of the Middle East’s largest stock exchanges lost ground this week, showing they are not immune to the bear market that has savaged share prices in the US and Europe. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/regional_exchanges_follow_global_markets_with_a_week_of_losses.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/regional_exchanges_follow_global_markets_with_a_week_of_losses.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 10 July 2008 16:01 http://www.meed.com:80/images/MARKETS_resized_70_tcm24-1386660.jpg Over $5.4bn worth of contracts were awarded across the Middle East region up to 8 July, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports. Check back at the end of the month for a full list of contracts awarded in July. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/contracts_awarded_monthly_round_up/2008/07/middle_east_contracts_awarded_july_2008.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/contracts_awarded_monthly_round_up/2008/07/middle_east_contracts_awarded_july_2008.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Beverly Shemaine 09 July 2008 13:52 http://www.meed.com:80/images/CONTRACTS_resized_70_tcm24-1375056.jpg Oman’s Ministry of Finance has invited expressions of interest from international telecoms companies interested in acquiring a 25 per cent stake in Omantel, the country’s largest mobile phone operator. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/finance_ministry_invites_expressions_of_interest_for_25_per_cent_omantel_stake.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/finance_ministry_invites_expressions_of_interest_for_25_per_cent_omantel_stake.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 07 July 2008 13:32 The Saudi bourse’s privatisation plans and a new trading platform are set to boost investor confidence. http://www.meed.com:80/saudiarabia/features/2008/07/tadawul_joins_the_race_to_modernise.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/saudiarabia/features/2008/07/tadawul_joins_the_race_to_modernise.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 04 July 2008 14:44 http://www.meed.com:80/images/060708-AFP-tadawul-workers_resized_70_tcm24-1700614.jpg Over $6bn worth of contracts were awarded across the Middle East region in June, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports throughout the month. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/contracts_awarded_monthly_round_up/2008/06/middle_east_contracts_awarded_june_2008.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/contracts_awarded_monthly_round_up/2008/06/middle_east_contracts_awarded_june_2008.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Beverly Shemaine 16 June 2008 12:02 http://www.meed.com:80/images/CONTRACTS_resized_70_tcm24-1375056.jpg Jordan's Kingdom Electricity Company is to buy the government's stakes in Electricity Distribution Company (Edco) and Irbid District Electricity Company (Ideco). http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/amman_sells_off_distribution_companies.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/amman_sells_off_distribution_companies.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Karin Maree 03 July 2008 16:16 The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) gained 2.5 per cent over the past week after retail investors pushed up the price of a handful of stocks. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/marketwatch_adx_benefits_from_speculation_by_retail_investors.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/marketwatch_adx_benefits_from_speculation_by_retail_investors.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 03 July 2008 17:36 http://www.meed.com:80/images/MARKETS_resized_70_tcm24-1386660.jpg Gulf sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) have attended a meeting in France in an effort to improve relations with Europe. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/france_hosts_gulf_swfs.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/france_hosts_gulf_swfs.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Matthew Martin 03 July 2008 14:52 State-owned power company Electricite du Liban (EdL) lost $662m in the first five months of the year, 85 per cent higher than in the same period last year. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/electricite_du_liban_makes_massive_loss.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/electricite_du_liban_makes_massive_loss.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Karin Maree 02 July 2008 17:26 Saudi Industrial Services has won approval from the Capital Markets Authority to raise SR322m ($85.9m) in a rights issue. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/saudi_industrial_services_wins_approval_for_sr322m_rights_issue.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/saudi_industrial_services_wins_approval_for_sr322m_rights_issue.html;jsessionid=52FD701AFA1B15911FB052EB1216CC04 Will Hadfield 01 July 2008 15:58