Middle East News Older Than 1 year-If your looking for specific news, using the search function will narrow down the results
TASE Launches a New Cross-Sector Equity Index
December 17, 2017--The TA Sector-Balance Index will comprise 100 major shares from 24 Sub-Sectors; Holding Companies and Biomed Companies (Other Than the Pharma Sub-Sector) Will Not be Included
TASE's board of directors approved (on December 14th, 2017), to launch a new equity index-the TA Sector-Balance Index. The index will comprise 100 major shares from a broad spread of sectors. The index will include shares from the TA-125 and the TA-SME60 indices, but will not include holding companies and biomed companies, with the exception of shares classified as pharma sub-sector.
IMF Policy Paper-Gulf Cooperation Council: The Economic Outlook and Policy Challenges in the GCC Countries
December 14, 2017--Summary: Global economic activity is gaining momentum. Global growth is forecast at 3.6 percent this year, and 3.7 percent in 2018, compared to 3.2 percent in 2016. Risks around this forecast are broadly balanced in the near term, but are skewed to the downside over the medium term.
The more positive global growth environment should support somewhat stronger oil demand. With inflation in advanced countries remaining subdued, monetary policy is expected to remain accommodative.
GCC countries are continuing to adjust to lower oil prices. Substantial fiscal consolidation has taken place in most countries, mainly focused on expenditure reduction. This is necessary, but it has weakened non-oil growth. With the pace of fiscal consolidation set to slow, non-oil growth is expected to increase to 2.6 percent this year, from 1.8 percent last year. However, because of lower oil output, overall real GDP growth is projected to slow to 0.5 percent in 2017 from 2.2 percent in 2016. Growth prospects in the medium-term remain subdued amid relatively low oil prices and geopolitical risks.
Policymakers have made a strong start in adjusting fiscal policy. While the needed pace of fiscal adjustment varies across countries depending on the fiscal space available, in general countries should continue to focus on recurrent expenditure rationalization, further energy price reforms, increased non-oil revenues, and improved efficiency of capital spending. Fiscal consolidation should be accompanied by a further improvement in fiscal frameworks and institutions. The direction of fiscal policy in the GCC is broadly consistent with these recommendations.
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf markets soft, stimulus plan doesn't buoy Saudi
December 14, 2017-- Gulf stock markets were mostly soft in early trade on Thursday, with the Saudi Arabian bourse taking little encouragement from the government's announcement of a 72 billion riyal ($19 billion) stimulus package.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi pulls back as Dar Al Arkan bubble bursts
November 11, 2017--Saudi Arabia's stock market pulled back on Monday as a bubble in shares of real estate firm Dar Al Arkan burst, while equities in Qatar pulled further away from six-year lows.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf narrowly mixed early on, Saudi's Dar Al Arkan continues ascent
December 11, 2017--The Saudi index edged down 0.04% in the opening half-hour as Dar Al Arkan, the most heavily traded stock, climbed 2.8%
Gulf stock indexes were mixed in narrow ranges in early trade on Monday, but real estate firm Dar Al Arkan continued a spectacular rally in Saudi Arabia.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf set to consolidate, Saudi has technical support
December 7, 2017--Gulf stock markets look set to consolidate with a possible downward bias on Thursday in the absence of positive factors, and with geopolitical issues, including the conflict in Yemen and the diplomatic rift with Qatar, still dampening sentiment.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf mixed in early trade, Saudi and Dubai edge up
December 7, 2017--Gulf stock markets were mixed in early trade on Thursday with Saudi Arabia and Dubai edging up but Qatar continuing to slide after this week's failure to make progress in ending Doha's diplomatic isolation.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Weak foreign markets, geopolitics may pull down Gulf
December 6, 2017--Middle East stock markets may be weak on Wednesday because of falls in foreign bourses and negative geopolitical news related to Qatar and Yemen.
view more
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf falls back after negative news on Yemen,Qatar
December 5, 2017--Gulf stock markets fell back on Tuesday after geopolitical news from Yemen and Qatar that has heavily influenced the bourses for weeks turned negative.
view more
MENA Equities Round-up: Egypt outperformed local stock markets in November
December 4, 2017--Cairo stockmarket boosted by lifting of Central Bank currency restrictions on importers.
Egypt's stockmarket outperformed its neighbours in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in November-a month during which markets in Saudi Arabia faced turbulence as a result of a crackdown on corruption that led to the detention of several powerful businessmen and royal family members.
New listings and IPOs also had an impact on markets in the UAE and Egypt.
Egypt's main index gained in value by 1.67 percent during the month.
