OpenAI signs $38 bn infrastructure deal with cloud giant AWS
Under the seven-year agreement, OpenAI, which is partly owned by AWS's archrival Microsoft, will gain access to computing resources including...
Business
US Fed will likely cut again despite economic murkiness from shutdown
The central bank's second-to-last rate meeting of the year is taking place against the backdrop of a weeks-long standoff between...
Economy
Business
$128 billion in US company deals during Dubai Airshow: US Ambassador
Abu Dhabi, UAE - Martina A Strong, the US Ambassador to the UAE revealed on Monday that American companies secured...
- Martina A Strong underlined the UAE's significance as a market for American companies, highlighting the presence of over 1,500 American businesses
- The companies are drawn to the UAE's strategic location, its pro-business environment, and its gateway to burgeoning regional markets, she noted
Economy
UAE pioneers smart city, clean energy initiatives
"The country's strategies, such as the Energy Strategy 2050, aims at raising the share of clean energy in the total...
- The UAE leads in sustainable development and urban planning, emphasizing renewable energy, efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation for a greener future.
- The UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 aims for 50% clean energy, while Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050 targets 75%, supported by solar parks and green funds.
Business
Al Rajhi Bank appoints Abdullah Al Rajhi as chairman
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Al Rajhi Bank said on Monday that it has appointed Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi as...
- Al Rajhi Bank is also the world’s largest Islamic bank by assets and market capitalization.
- It said in a regulatory filing that it also named Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Romaih as vice chairman.
Business
Abu Dhabi’s EWEC opens Q4 2023 Clean Energy Certificates auction
ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) on Monday announced that it will conduct its Q4 2023...
- CECs are the only accredited instruments in the Emirate that prove the environmental and economic benefits of consuming clean energy.
- Issued in units of 1MWh, each CEC certifies that the electricity consumed by the entity originates from a clean energy source.
Market Report
Stock markets on hold as investors await key US inflation data
Stock markets were mostly in wait-and-see mode as investors eyed the release this week of key US inflation data that...
- The Dow edged higher at the open, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq drifted lower.
- With Wall Street seeing little action at the back of last week owing to the Thanksgiving break, traders had few catalysts to drive action.
Business
Beltone 9M net profit at $2.7m
In 9M, the firm's restructuring led to a turnaround.
- Operating revenue in 9M 2023 increased to US$30 million, a growth of 271 percent Year-on-Year.
- The NBFIs operating revenue recorded US$15 million in 9M2023, a growth of 680 percent YoY.
Business
EDB commits US$350m for renewable energy projects in developing countries
ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Development Bank (EDB) has committed US$350 million (AED 1.3 billion) to support the Energy Transition Accelerator...
- The ETAF platform is a global climate finance facility established by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
- The announcement was made during the signing of a collaborative partnership agreement between EDB and IRENA.
Economy
Monsha’at reports Q3 rise in SMEs driven by growth across non-oil sectors
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor,...
- The total number of SMEs in the Kingdom has risen and reached 1.27 million.
- Over 43 percent of SMEs are located in the financial capital of Riyadh.
Business
Bank of Sharjah joint lead manager for $350m Ittihad sukuk
SHARJAH, UAE - Bank of Sharjah announced its selection as joint lead manager and bookrunner in the debut US$350 million...
- The Sukuk issuance was 1.7 times oversubscribed, with the orderbook reaching approximately US$600 million.
- “This demonstrates Ittihad’s solid business fundamentals and confirms its strong credit appetite,” CEO of Bank of Sharjah said.
Geostrategy
Some farmers in drought-hit Iraq forced to reduce crops: NGO
Baghdad, Iraq -- Sixty percent of farmers surveyed in four provinces of drought-hit Iraq reported having to reduce cultivated areas or...
- Successive years of drought have already displaced tens of thousands from rural areas in Iraq, particularly in the southern provinces that face extreme heat during the summer.
- In addition to drought, the authorities blame upstream dams built by Iraq's powerful neighbours Iran and Turkey for dramatically lowering water levels in the Tigris and Euphrate.
OpenAI signs $38 bn infrastructure deal with cloud giant AWS
Under the seven-year agreement, OpenAI, which is partly owned by AWS's archrival Microsoft, will gain access to computing resources including...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Automakers lead market losses after Trump tariffs on imported vehicles
Wall Street's main indexes opened in the red, with General Motors sinking more than nine percent in early trading while...
Business
From cars to champagne: Trump’s expanding tariffs trigger trade war fears
Paris, France -- From champagne to steel and now cars: it is getting harder to keep up with US President...
Geostrategy
Lebanon cabinet appoints Karim Souaid central bank governor
Born in 1964, Souaid officially takes over after embattled former chief Riad Salameh's term expired in July 2023 with no...
Geostrategy
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Business
Stock markets rise on fresh hopes for Trump’s tariff approach
Investor sentiment has been jolted in recent weeks by fears that the president's hardball policies could deal a painful blow...
- Gold held at around $3,030 an ounce (28.3 grammes), having hit a series of records last week to a peak of more than $3,057 owing to a surge in demand for safe havens.
- Asian markets fluctuated through the day, with Tokyo falling while Hong Kong and Shanghai rose.
Science
EU skewers Google, Apple over tech rules – despite Trump threats
The European Union defied US threats of retaliation Wednesday by accusing Google of violating its digital rules -- which could...
- The moves risk opening up a new front in the already fraught relationship between the EU and President Donald Trump,
- Apple and Google responded that the EU risked European users' security and its moves would hinder innovation
Economy
AI, wealth management and trust: Could machines replace human advisors?
The future of wealth management lies in hybrid models, combining AI’s data-driven precision with human empathy and ethical oversight. While...
- By 2027, AI-driven investment tools are expected to become the primary source of advice for retail investors
- The question of AI’s impact on different factors and its overall implications is an important one to address.