Middle East
Saudi Arabia plans to lessen reliance on oil
Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify its economy, and if it can prove to international investors this is possible the country will use foreign investment to grow its private sector to offset the low price of oil.
27 Jan 2016
Emerging market borrowing costs hit 5 year high
Investors warned that emerging markets could face a new credit crunch with borrowing costs reaching their highest levels in five years.
26 Jan 2016
China to flood the Middle East with billions in loans
China, as the world’s second largest economy is largely dependent on oil and gas imported from the Middle East. This week the country announced that US$55bn in investments and loans would be made available for the Arab region, which it has traditionally ignored.
26 Jan 2016
Sharjah issues 5 year sukuk amidst declining demand for Islamic bonds
The Government of Sharjah has issued a benchmark 5 year dollar denominated sukuk. Competition from other issuers could affect its popularity among investors, alongside current market conditions and regional issues.
21 Jan 2016
MENA credit ratings weakening
Standard and Poor’s says the overall sovereign creditworthiness of the Middle East North Africa region is lower on average since its last review 6 months ago.
20 Jan 2016
Argentina prepared to deal with holdout creditors
The new Argentine incumbent Mauricio Macri was elected on the promise of free market solutions to the country’s economic problems, but he will first have to appease the country’s creditors to address the recession, inflation, falling foreign currency reserves and a growing budget deficit that has crippled the country.
20 Jan 2016
Saudi Arabia REIT rules to stimulate foreign investment
The market regulator in Saudi Arabia has approved rules on the listing of real estate investment trust funds, or REITs, in the country. Taqeem, the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers has created a licensing system for real estate valuations. The move may stimulate foreign investment in the housing and building sector, something the country desperately needs.
15 Jan 2016
Egypt struggles to source funding as debt, equities falter
Yields on Egypt's 18-month, three-year and seven-year treasury bonds rose at an auction earlier this week while the country’s main stock market index dropped to its lowest levels in two years, raising concerns that the cash-strapped country is quickly running out of options and struggling to attract investors.
15 Jan 2016
Amidst regional turmoil, Jordan provides opportunities
Most attention on the Middle East is focussed on the main oil producers in the region and their continuing struggle with ever falling prices, as well as various regional conflicts. But this makes it easy to overlook smaller states in the region that provide attractive opportunities for investors.
13 Jan 2016
Saudi Arabia mulls options to plug budget gap
The low price of oil has started to hit Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, very hard in recent months, with the country now mulling a sale of its valuable shares in Saudi Aramco.
12 Jan 2016