Middle East
Lebanon’s Default Barely Heard Amid Global Markets Rumbling and Tumbling
It came not with a bang, but a whimper. The Middle Eastern country’s failure to pay USD1.2bn on its March bond appears to put the ball in creditors’ court. But as coronavirus-linked turmoil and the collapse of oil prices dominates the headlines, Lebanon seems to be way down the pecking order on the elongating list of investors priorities.
11 Mar 2020
On the Ground and Off the Record: What Will Drive the Infrastructure Sector in Saudi Arabia This Year?
The year ahead looks to be a busy one for Saudi Arabia. A strong project pipeline will provide opportunities for many inside and outside the country, but the sheer scale and complexity of these will test the market, according to bankers, corporates and investors who spoke with Bonds & Loans on a recent research trip to the region.
6 Mar 2020
Oil Plunges as OPEC Standoff with Russia Escalates
While the cartel and Moscow wait to see who blinks first, Brent could fall below the crucial USD50-mark by April.
6 Mar 2020
Saudi Construction Sector to Grow 1.4% this year, Average 3.2% Annually to 2029
Saudi Arabia’s construction sector is forecast to grow 1.4% in 2020 and 2.1% in 2021, Fitch Solutions said in a report published this week.
6 Mar 2020
Alhokair Group Inks Islamic Loan and Revolver with Local and Regional Lenders
Alhokair Group secured a USD800mn funding package this week from a handful of domestic and regional lenders in a bid to consolidate its debt, the company said.
5 Mar 2020
DAE Recommends Buying its Own Dip in Bond Repurchasing Boost
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has touted its bond repurchasing programme in a bid to shore up demand for its outstanding notes, a move that could be replicated by other regional issuers seeing a drop-off in credit demand.
3 Mar 2020
SWOT: KSA Dominates GCC Infrastructure Pipeline Despite Lack of Mega-Project Expertise among Local Developers
Bonds & Loans examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats across the GCC projects and infrastructure space on the back of the latest Project, ECA & Structured Finance Saudi Arabia conference.
3 Mar 2020
Volatility Could See Gulf Issuers Shun Bonds for Loan Markets
With spreads widening and bond pricing on the rise, some Gulf-based issuers are looking to maintain a holding pattern until market volatility subsides, while others could lean on the region’s large lenders for funding.
3 Mar 2020
GCC Non-Performing Loans May Deteriorate on Weaker Activity in 2020
GCC banks’ asset quality is likely to stay under pressure as asset growth is showing signs of peaking, according to Fitch Solutions.
28 Feb 2020
Oil, Non-Oil Growth Continue to Head in Opposite Directions in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi economy experienced a temporary growth slowdown through much of 2019 while non-oil growth saw one of the strongest performances in a year, a trend analysts believe may continue through much of 2020.
28 Feb 2020