IMF-Israel: Concluding Statement of the 2015 Article IV Consultation
June 24, 2015--1. Israel's economy is performing well. This is visible in GDP growth-Israel has not had the sharp post-crisis slowdown that many other countries have experienced. It is also visible in employment creation-since 2007, employment has grown from 59 percent of the working age population ratio to 68 percent.
2. Nevertheless, policy makers are confronted with a number of challenges. The fiscal deficit remains stubbornly high, leaving limited buffers to respond to shocks. Inflation is negative-well below the Bank of Israel's (BOI) target-but housing prices continue to rise. Labor productivity is low and the gap with the United States is widening. And income inequality is among the highest in advanced countries.
Outlook
3. The economic outlook is positive. Growth this year is expected to rebound to 3 percent (from 2.8 percent in 2014), the result of strong private consumption growth-driven by rapid employment growth, near-zero interest rates, falling import prices, and the rebound from the impact of military operations last year.
Source: IMF
Oil prices stable as strong fuel demand meets high production
June 23, 2015--JP Morgan said in its weekly oil research note that U.S. production had posted a new high this week
but that it would start to drop.
Source: AME Info
Abu Dhabi non-oil trade hits AED42 billion in Q1
Highest value reported in January with AED14.8bn
June 22, 2015--The value of Abu Dhabi's non-oil trade shot up by 20 per cent in the first quarter of the current year to AED42 billion, according to government data.
The figure stood at AED34.9bn in the same period last year, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Source: AME Info
Saudi Arabia opens stock exchange to foreign investors
June 21, 2015--Despite numerous restrictions, the future for the
mammoth Saudi market looks bright..
Source: AME Info
Egypt: Industry Minister-Egypt Open to Fdis
June 21, 2015-Egypt is open to and welcomes foreign direct investments (FDIs) in development projects
especially from Russia, Minister of Trade and Industry Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour, said.
Source: AllAfrica.com
Saudi Arabia imports 31.4 million barrels of gasoline in 2014
Nation is world's largest oil exporter but consumes 15 to 25 per cent more gasoline than it produces
June 19, 2015--Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, imported 31.4 million barrels of gasoline in 2014 to meet a rising demand at home, a report reveals.
The kingdom's daily imports of gasoline in the previous year averaged 86,000 barrels, according to data and analysis by Al Eqtisadiah newspaper.
Source: AME Info
UAE's financial markets top Arab markets on MSCI
June 17, 2015--Investments travelling from UAE markets to Saudi market unlikely.
Source: AME Info
Dubai pulls back after speculative rally
June 11, 2015--Widespread profit-taking dragged Dubai's stock market lower in early trade on Thursday after oil prices slipped, while other Gulf bourses were narrowly mixed.
Dubai's index dropped as much as 2.1 percent before trimming its losses to 1.4 percent as it retreated from Wednesday's six-week closing high of 4,187 points. The benchmark had jumped 4.3 percent in the two previous sessions as some stocks surged on speculative buying.
Source: Zawya
Qatar cuts forecast for GDP growth in 2015 expecting deficit in 2016
June 10, 2015--"Oil prices continue to pose a significant risk to economic outlook"-Ministry
Source: AMEInfo
Egypt eyes 4.5 per cent GDP growth in current fiscal year
June 10, 2015--Government's current strategy plans on removing all hindrances at stock market
Source: AMEInfo