Middle East ETF News Older than One Year
Saudi Arabia sees oil revenue climb 48%
July 19, 2012--According to figures by Opec, Saudi Arabia's saw a 48% jump in revenue from exports of crude oil and other petroleum products in 2011
as shipment volumes increased over the previous year, Saudi Gazette has reported. The kingdom shipped oil and products valued at $318.5bn last year, compared with $215.4bn in 2010, Opec said in its annual statistical bulletin. Iran, the group's second-biggest producer after Saudi Arabia, exported crude and petroleum products valued at $114.8bn, compared with $72.2bn the previous year, the data showed.
Source: AME Info
NASDAQ Dubai welcomes US$ 500 million Emaar Sukuk to its market
July 19, 2012--First Sukuk listing by Emaar on NASDAQ Dubai, the region's international exchange
Listing is landmark that strengthens region's capital markets
Emaar welcomes successful capital-raising from international and regional investors
NASDAQ Dubai, the region's international exchange, today welcomed the listing of a US$ 500 million Sukuk on its market by Emaar Properties
PJSC, the Dubai-based global property developer.
The listing is the first by Emaar on NASDAQ Dubai and constitutes the second drawdown under the company's recently updated US$ 2 billion Trust Certificate
Issuance Programme. The Sukuk's success underlines Emaar's strong value proposition and the credit standing of the company in international financial markets.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
Saudi Arabia's economic growth seen slowing in 2013
July 18, 2012--Analysts forecast the Saudi economy to expand at a median rate of 5.2% this year, instead of the 4.5% forecast in the March poll
Reuters has reported. Last year, the Saudi economy grew 6.8%, analysts cut the kingdom’s outlook for next year to 4.0% from 4.3%. "We expect Saudi oil production to increase a little bit this year and we think the government spending will be trimmed a little bit by around 5%, but that really reflects last year’s outsized spending," said James Reeve, senior economist at Samba Financial Group in London. "In the short term, they can easily cope with significantly lower oil prices as they did in 2009. But they need to get a handle on domestic oil consumption in the medium to long term."
Source: AME Info
IMF increases Middle East growth forecast
July 18, 2012--The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised upwards its economic forecast for the Middle East and North Africa, despite trimming its predictions for global growth, Ahram has reported.
According to the IMF, growth of 5.5% for the Mena region is expected in 2012, 1.3% higher than its April forecast, helped by boosts in Saudi and Libyan oil production. "In contrast with the broad trends, growth in the Middle East and North Africa will be stronger in 2012–13 relative to last year," the fund said in its quarterly revision of economic forecasts. The region, which is a net importer of raw materials and food staples, may also benefit from a projected easing in global consumer price inflation.
Source: AME Info
Bahrain banks safe as EU crisis continues
July 18, 2012--Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has said lenders in the kingdom are unlikely to be directly affected by the eurozone turmoil, because their net funding dependence on European banks, and external funding in general, is largely limited and manageable, Daily Tribune has reported.
"The banking sector is also very liquid and that is the reason that makes Bahraini banks very resilient," said BAB Chairman Abdulkareem Bucheery. "Even with the economic woes, the liquidity means that the banking system would operate normally, even under extreme economic conditions. And banks will continue lending because of the high levels of liquidity." [AMEInfo.com]
Source: AME Info
UAE stocks gain ahead of Q2 earnings
July 18, 2012--The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) index rose strongly again yesterday amid higher volumes as investors took positions ahead of the declaration of the second quarter corporate earnings.
However, increasing downside risks in Europe and Asian markets capped the upside move on the market.
Source: Zawya
Egyptian pound set to fall 9% next year-poll
July 14, 2012--Economists have said Egypt's currency is expected to fall 9% to a historic low in the coming year,
although some see a much bigger drop if the country's economic and political woes trigger a balance of payments crisis, Reuters has reported. "Anything could happen, but in our central scenario we still expect some form of devaluation to happen," according to Said Hirsh at Capital Economics. "In this case it is a gradual depreciation, perhaps over a two or three steps, until then." That kind of devaluation would keep the currency within the central bank's comfort zone and would not provoke significant inflationary pressures, he said.
Source: AME Info
CFTC Approves New Financial Rules Submitted by the National Futures Association to Strengthen the Protection of Customer Funds Held by Futures Commission Merchants
July 13, 2012--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) today approved new financial rules submitted by the National Futures Association (NFA) that enhance protections to customer funds held by futures commission merchants (FCMs).
The new financial rules are set forth in NFA Financial Requirements Section 16, and an Interpretive Notice entitled “NFA Financial Requirements Section 16 FCM Financial Practices and Excess Segregated Funds/Secured Amount Disbursements.”
The new NFA rules require FCMs to strengthen their controls over the treatment and monitoring of funds held for customers trading on U.S. contract markets (segregated accounts) and for funds held for foreign futures and foreign option customers trading on foreign contract markets (Part 30 secured accounts).
Source: AME Info
Qatar market advances by half a percent
July 12, 2012--The Qatar Exchange (QE) 20 Index ended a volatile week in the green, adding half a percentage point to close at 8,285.03 points, as investors await more earning reports in the coming weeks.
Financial shares helped the gauge to stabilise as Qatar National Bank, the country's largest lender by assets, advanced 0.40% to reach QR131.60. Doha Bank gained 1.82% to hit QR56. General Insurance lost the most , closing off 9.79% at QR42.40.
Source: AME Info
Merger canididates Aldar, Sorouh help to stabilie Abu Dhabi market index
July 12, 2012--The ADX General Index added 0.05% Thursday to end at 2,466.54 points.
Developers Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate gained 1.83% and two percent, respectively. Market heavyweight Emirates Telecommunication or Etisalat dipped slightly, while Bank of Sharjah dived 5.83% to Dhs1.11. Twelve shares advanced, six declined and 10 closed flat.
Source: AME Info
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