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Gulf edges up in thin trade after global environment improves
September 30, 2015--Gulf stock markets edged up in early trade on Wednesday after the global market environment improved
but modest trading volumes indicated investors were not prepared to bet on an extended rally.
Saudi hit by weak oil, commodities; Egypt down modestly
September 29, 2015--Weak oil prices and commodity-related shares hit Saudi Arabia's stock market on Tuesday as it
reopened after a long Eid al-Adha break. Egypt's market edged down only slightly, reflecting an improving technical outlook for that market.
UAE markets to consolidate; global backdrop sluggish
September 27, 2015--The Dubai stock index faces technical resistance around 3,700 points,
which has capped it since the end of August.
Palestinians Getting Poorer for Third Year in a Row-World Bank Report Calls for Urgent Measures to Reverse Trend
September 27, 2015--Reduced donor aid, war, suspension of revenue payments and ongoing restrictions by the Government of Israel have had a severe impact on the Palestinian economy.
The World Bank economic report to the Ad Hoc Liaison committee (AHLC), a forum of donors to the Palestinian Authority, examines current economic trends and recommends measures and reforms to stop further deterioration.
"The persistence of the current volatile reality increases anxiety and uncertainty, overshadowing the ability of Palestinians to perceive a brighter future. Economic development measures could serve to build confidence towards a diplomatic horizon that is desperately needed on both sides," said Steen Lau Jorgensen, World Bank Country Director for West Bank and Gaza.
view the Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee-September 2015
IMF-Israel: Selected Issues
September 26, 2015--On September 16, 2015, the IMF published the Israel: Selected Issues report.
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY IN ISRAEL-WHY IS IT LOW?1
Israel's GDP per capita is low relative to the US, despite high labor input, as labor productivity is low. Catch-up of labor productivity to the US stopped in the 1980s and relative labor productivity has since declined.
Low labor productivity is the result of a low capital-to-labor ratio-kept low by high employment growth-and low total factor productivity growth. The latter may reflect lack of competition and product market restrictions, which are amongst the highest in advanced economies. Boosting competition, lowering product market restrictions, and improving the quality of education and infrastructure would help boost productivity.