EU hits Google with $3.47 billion fine despite Trump threats
Brussels, Belgium -- The EU slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euro ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favoring its...
Business
Market Report
Asian markets swing as US jobs data disappoint
Asian equities wobbled at the end of a draining week as fresh US jobs data put revived bets on two...
- Data recently pointed to a weakening in the US economy that would help ease inflation, the Fed has said it needed to see more softening in the jobs sector.
- This week's stumble follows a rally last week when a faster-than-expected slowdown in US inflation stoked hopes the Fed could end its rate hikes. .
Business
FAB second quarter net profit $1.14bn
The rise attributed to increase in net interest and non-interest income.
- For the first six months of 2023, the net profit was $2.19 billion, up 7 percent from $2.08 billion.
- The company said the operating income was $1.82 billion, up 37 percent from 2022.
Tech titans promise watermarks to expose AI creations
Representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI were to join US President Joe Biden later Friday to...
- Commitments by the companies include independent testing of AI systems for risks when it comes to biosecurity, cybersecurity, or "societal effects," according to the White House
- Watermarks for AI-generated content were among topics EU commissioner Thierry Breton discussed with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman during a June visit to San Francisco
Business
Saudi Arabia’s PIF sets up Sawani Company for camel dairy industry
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the establishment of Sawani Company to enable the growth of...
- The company aims to be a leading producer of camel dairy products, supporting Saudi Arabia’s wider food and agriculture sector.
- Sawani will work in partnership with the private sector to boost the production capacity of the camel dairy industry.
Business
Aramco buys 10% stake in Chinese petrochemical firm for $3.4 billion
The Saudi energy giant unveiled plans in March to acquire the stake in Rongsheng Petrochemical, valued at $3.4 billion. The...
- "Our strategic partnership with Rongsheng advances Aramco's liquids to chemicals strategy while growing our presence in China," Aramco vice president Mohammed Al Qahtani said.
- Aramco, which is mostly state-owned and said it earned record profits totaling $161.1 billion last year, has pledged to achieve "operational net-zero" carbon emissions by 2050.
Geostrategy
Security, trust: Tech titans promise watermarks on AI creations
Representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI were to join US President Joe Biden later Friday to...
- Worry that imagery or audio created by AI will be used for fraud and misinformation has ramped up as the technology improves and the 2024 US presidential election gets closer.
- Commitments by the companies include independent testing of AI systems for risks when it comes to biosecurity, cybersecurity, or "societal effects," according to the White House.
Business
Dates exports from Saudi Arabia hit $342m in 2022, marking a 5.4% surge
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia exported 321,000 tons of dates in 2022 worth 1.28 billion Saudi Riyals ($342 million),...
- The upward trajectory continued with Saudi dates exports rising by 2.5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2023
- In 2022, the Kingdom's dates exports surged by a remarkable 121 percent compared to 2016
Business
G42, Cerebras unveil world’s largest supercomputer for AI training, deal worth $100m
Sunnyvale, CA: G42, the UAE-based technology group and Cerebras Systems, the company specializing in accelerating generative AIÂ on Thursday announced...
Business
FAB H1 2023 net profit $2.2bn
It is highest ever profit achieved by FAB in a half-year.
- Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) increased substantially to 18.6 percent as of June-end 2023.
- Strong capital accretion lifted group Common Equity Tier 1 to 13.6 percent as of June-end 2023.
Business
AD Ports Group, CMEC ink MoU
The two companies will explore opportunities globally.
- The two companies will cooperate in various fields including global industry and infrastructure development, financing, building.
- The agreement will be valid for three years and will focus on achieving complementary advantages, sharing resources.
EU hits Google with $3.47 billion fine despite Trump threats
Brussels, Belgium -- The EU slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euro ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favoring its...
Business
Company News
Apple to make changes to App Store in Europe
Geostrategy
Latest News
UAE, KSA lead as tech and energy drive IPOs in GCC
Market Report
UAE real estate sector transforms with cross-border payments revolution
Dubai, UAE - Leading financial institutions are spearheading a transformative wave in the UAE real estate sector through the introduction...
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Geostrategy
WTO ministers struggle to forge deals as talks go into overtime
ABU DHABI, UAE – World trade ministers were locked in disagreement Thursday on fisheries subsidies, agriculture and digital customs duties as...
- The meeting opened with disagreements between the body's 164 member states on key issues that dominated the agenda of the talks.
- They include fisheries subsidies, agriculture and a moratorium on customs duties for digital transactions.
Business
Major stock markets trade mixed as US inflation data awaited
London, United Kingdom - Major stock markets traded mixed Thursday before the release of US inflation data that could present a...
- Shares in Air France-KLM slumped nine percent after annual profit fell short of expectations as it fell into a final-quarter loss
- Yen jumped on rising expectations of a hike to Japanese interest rates, as other central banks look to reduce borrowing costs
Business
QFC signs two MoUs
MoUs with BFB, Partior were inked during Web Summit 2024.
- The MoU with Bahrain FinTech Bay establishes comprehensive frameworks for cooperation in joint research projects.
- Under the MoU, each entity shall provide support, assistance and resources to start-ups from the QFC and BFB.

