Fed Chair Powell confirms September rate cut signal
The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate at 5.25% to 5.5%, citing “some further progress” toward its 2% inflation...
Economy
Dubai’s GDP tops $31.3 bn in Q1 2024, growing 3.2%
The financial and insurance sector saw a 5.6% rise, reaching USD 4.1 billion (AED 15.1 billion), supported by significant growth...
Economy
Global inflationary waves may hit Arab world’s growth
Rising rates and global slowdown pose challenges for economic growth and investment in Arab countries, which expect to expand at...
- Rising rates and global slowdown pose challenges for economic growth and investment in Arab countries, which expect to expand at 3.4% in 2023, down from 5.6% in 2022
- Diversified Arab economies are better equipped against economic shocks, says Arab Monetary Fund, adding that the regional inflation may hover around 6.8% for 2023
Business
Stock markets drop over fears of more interest-rate hikes
In Asian stock market trading, Hong Kong extended the week's losses Friday, even as e-commerce titan Alibaba surged on a...
- Official data Thursday that showed US inflation rising less than expected in July failed to stop bets on the Federal Reserve raising borrowing costs
- Across the Atlantic, better-than-expected UK growth data Friday increased the likelihood of more BoE tightening, boosting the pound
Business
IEA predicts record oil demand of 2.2m barrel a day in 2023
PARIS, FRANCE - The International Energy Agency said Friday it had revised upwards its forecast for global oil demand growth in...
- World oil demand already hit a record 103 million barrels per day in June and August and "could see yet another peak", IEA said.
- "For 2023 as a whole, global oil demand is set to expand by 2.2 million barrels per day to 102.2 million barrels per day," it said.
Economy
Non-oil sectors to maintain UAE economy’s robust growth: OPEC
This performance will be delivered through constant contributions from the non-oil sector, especially from tourism, leisure and real estate. The...
- The report said the oil demand growth is forecast to slow to 2.2 mb/d in 2023, down from 2.4 mb/d in the previous assessment.
- The main drivers of liquids supply growth for 2023 are expected to be the US, Brazil, Norway, Kazakhstan Guyana and China, while the largest decline is expected from Russia.
Markets struggle again as US inflation fails to sooth rate worries
A highly anticipated report showed July consumer prices rose more than the previous month but less than feared, giving the...
- Hong Kong and Shanghai fell further, even as Alibaba surged in response to an earnings report showing a forecast-busting rise in first-quarter revenue
- Sydney, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta also fell, though Seoul, Wellington and Taipei eked out gains. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday
Economy
Iraq’s apex bank introduces new exchange categories for dollar sales to travelers
BAGHDAD -- The Central Bank of Iraq has introduced three distinct categories of exchange companies dedicated to selling dollars to...
- Exchange companies will operate under strict Central Bank regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Law
- Enhanced electronic platform by the Central Bank of Baghdad will oversee all dollar sales to citizens
Economy
Iraq streamlines imports, focuses on strengthening domestic industries
In a move to fortify the local market, Iraq's Ministerial Council of Economy has taken decisive steps, including the removal...
- Iraq's Ministerial Council of Economy removes four items from import lists
- 4% customs tariff reduction announced for imported live animals for slaughter
Business
Dubai Municipality parks attract more than 15m visitors in H1
Dubai, UAE-- More than 15 million people visited Dubai Municipality public parks, neighborhood parks, lakes, and recreational facilities for the...
- The record-breaking trend marks a 50 percent increase in the same period of 2022, which recorded approximately 10 million visitors
- The spike in the number of visitors to the parks and other recreational facilities is made possible by their location and ease of access
Business
World’s largest cruise ship all set to sail
TURKU, FINLAND - With cruise bookings seeing a resurgence after the Covid pandemic caused luxury liners to mothball, a Finnish shipyard...
- Royal Caribbean's luxurious new vessel Icon of the Seas is nearing completion in the Turku shipyard on Finland's southwestern coast.
- Resembling a village more than a ship, the mammoth vessel boasts colourful waterparks, more than 20 decks and can carry nearly 10,000 people.
Business
UAE witnesses record 2.4m tourists in first six months of 2023
Abu Dhabi, UAE - A record 2.4 million tourists visited the UAE during the first six months of 2023, a...
- The emirate’s hotel establishments generated revenues exceeding AED3 billion during the same period, a 26 percent growth compared to last year.
- The hotels also recorded an average occupancy rate of 70 percent, with the average stay in the emirate's hotels being 2.7 nights.
Fed Chair Powell confirms September rate cut signal
The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate at 5.25% to 5.5%, citing “some further progress” toward its 2% inflation...
Economy
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Sharjah Chamber posts growth in membership in 2023
SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced a series of significant achievements of the...
Business
Saudi Arabia, Swiss Fund unveil billion-euro initiative for zero-emissions investments
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia and Swiss Fund have decided to initiate financing initiatives in the debt market in...
Economy
OECD predicts rise in global economy amid Middle East ‘risk’
The OECD raised its 2024 world economic growth forecast Monday but warned that the Middle East conflict posed a risk,...
Economy
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Economy
Turkey’s inflation 65% in Jan, piles pressure on central bank
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's annual inflation rate stayed stable in January at nearly 65 percent, but month-on-month consumer price increases jumped...
- The year-on-year inflation rate moved to 64.86 percent -- up a notch from 64.77 percent in December, the TUIK statistics agency reported
- The monthly inflation rate in January climbed to 6.7 percent, from 2.9 percent in December, following a 49-percent rise in the minimum wage in January
48 Middle East and North Africa IPOs raise $10.7bn in 2023: Report
Five listings, mainly in the energy and logistics sectors, contributed 58 percent towards the total IPO proceeds raised, said the...
- During Q4 2023, 19 IPOs raised US$4.9bn in proceeds. ADES Holding Company raise the most funds and contributed 25% to the overall IPO in Q4.
- Saudi Arabia dominated IPO activity in the region with 14 of the 19 listings in Q4 2023. ADES was the biggest with US$1.2bn in proceeds.
Business
Total M&A market drops to US$3.2trn in 2023, says report
DUBAI, UAE - The total M&A market dropped 15 percent, to US$3.2 trillion, the lowest level in a decade, as...
- Many of the assets that did not come to market last year will fuel active dealmaking in 2024.
- The collapse of technology M&A has been the biggest drag on strategic mergers and acquisitions.