INSEAD Day 4 - 728x90

Economy

BYD logs record EV sales in 2025

It sold 2.26m EVs vs Tesla's 1.22 by Sept end.

Google to invest $6.4bn

The investment is its biggest-ever in Germany.

Pfizer poised to buy Metsera

The pharma giant improved its offer to $10bn.

Ozempic maker lowers outlook

The company posted tepid Q3 results.

Kimberly-Clark to buy Kenvue

The deal is valued at $48.7 billion.
  • Washington, United States -- An aging president faces poor poll numbers and suspicions about his health but insists that America is thriving. Joe Biden? No, it's Donald Trump. The Republican, back in power for nearly a year, continues to compare himself to his predecessor. Biden would be senile, while Trump...
  • UAE and Azerbaijan presidents pledge to boost ties

    Baku, Azerbaijan-- The UAE and Azerbaijan have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in renewable energy, environmental protection, culture, education, and other areas that contribute to sustainable development. The discussion on the deepening of ties took place in a meeting between Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United...
  • Dubai’s RERA signs MoU with Zand Digital Bank

    Dubai, UAE--The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), the regulatory arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ‘Zand Digital Bank’ identifying Zand as an approved bank authorised by DLD to oversee real estate development escrow accounts and offer associated services. Real estate escrow accounts are...
  • UAE economy likely to grow by 3.8 percent in 2025, says World Bank

    WASHINGTON, US - The World Bank expected the UAE's real GDP to grow by 3.4 percent in 2023, rising to 3.7 percent in 2024 and to 3.8 percent in 2025. According to the Global Economic Prospects report released on Tuesday, the World Bank forecast the growth in the Gulf Cooperation...
  • Tokyo’s Nikkei climbs to its highest level since Mar 1990

    Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo stocks closed higher on Tuesday on the back of gains in US tech stocks, pushing the Nikkei index to a 33-year high. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.16 percent, or 385.76 points, to end at 33,763.18, while the broader Topix index added 0.82 percent, or 19.55...
  • Boost investment to avert ‘decade of wasted opportunity’: World Bank

    Global growth is set to slow from an estimated 2.6 percent in 2023 to 2.4 percent this year, 0.75 percentage points below the average of the 2010s, the World Bank said in its latest report on the health of the global economy. If the forecast proves accurate, 2024 would mark...
  • Aldar to invest US$272m in logistics

    The developer will expand business in Dubai, Abu Dhabi.
  • Oil prices slump but stock markets mostly higher

    Wall Street indices enjoyed solid gains, including the Dow, which mustered a 0.6 percent advance in spite of an eight percent dive in Boeing shares after an emergency landing on an Alaska Airlines aircraft revived safety worries. "We basically are having a little bit of a bargain hunting today," economist...
  • Samsung expects profit dip

    The tech giant forecasts profit to fall to US$2.1bn for Q4.
  • Saudi Arabia tops MENA in venture capital investment in 2023

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia achieves first rank across MENA for the first time in terms of the amount of Venture Capital (VC) funding in 2023, according to MAGNiTT, the MENA-based venture data platform. The Kingdom captured the highest share of total VC funding in the year, accounting for...
  • CBB Sukuk Al Salam securities oversubscribed by 372%

    Manama, Bahrain--The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announced that the monthly issue of the Sukuk Al Salam Islamic securities has been oversubscribed by 372%. Subscriptions worth $426 million were received for the $114.36 million issue, which carries maturity of 91 days. The expected return on the issue, which begins on...
  • Markets drop as US jobs deal fresh blow to early rate cut hopes

    Hong Kong, China - Asian markets stumbled out of the gates Monday, extending last week's grim start to the year, after a forecast-busting US jobs report further dampened hopes for an early interest rate cut. The keenly awaited non-farm payrolls data Friday showed the world's number one economy remains resilient despite...
  • Energy companies to test CO2 capture in Brazil undersea oil field

    PARIS, FRANCE  - A consortium of Brazilian, British, French and Chinese energy firms will test new technology aimed at capturing CO2 in an undersea oilfield off Brazil in an effort to reduce emissions, TotalEnergies said on Monday. The pilot unit will separate oil from CO2-rich natural gas at the bottom of...
  • Private US lunar lander mission imperiled by technical snag

    Washington, United States -- An historic private mission to land on the Moon was facing potential failure Monday due to technical problems, in a blow to America's hopes of placing its first robot on the lunar surface in five decades. Fixed to the top of United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan...
  • Vinfast to build EV factory in India

    It is part of the company's planned US$2bn investment.
  • Qatar PMI data reveals ‘stable business conditions’ in non-energy sector

    Doha, Qatar--Qatar's non-energy private sector registered broadly stable business conditions in December, the latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) survey data from Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has revealed. Volumes of output, new business and backlogs of work were all largely stable compared with November levels, while employment growth was maintained, and...
  • Germany ready to sell Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia: minister

    "We do not see ourselves, as the German federal government, opposing British considerations on other Eurofighter (sales)," Baerbock told journalists on a trip to Israel, in which she highlighted the Saudi role in the Middle East security crisis since the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
  • Alumicor to set up base in Bahrain

    It will help the kingdom in the processing of aluminum.
  • GCC telecom firms turn to Europe, Asia for expansion

    Wielding piles of cash and cutting-edge technology, many Arab telecom firms are scouting overseas markets to expand business beyond home territory.
  • Resilient supply chains are essential to global trade: Expert

    DUBAI, UAE – For over 30 years, globalization has been the evergreen megatrend as global trade has helped lift some one billion people out of poverty, an expert has said. Yin Zou, the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, DHL Group, wrote in the World Economic Forum that the COVID-19...
  • UK announces Europe’s first high-tech uranium fuel plant

    HALEU fuel is needed to power many of the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors, including so-called small modular versions that the UK intends to use. The first plant of the uranium fuel will be in northwest England and is scheduled to be operational by the 2030s, the government said.
  • Shanghai to build 200 smart factories to shore up its manufacturing status

    Shanghai, China--Shanghai plans to build 200 new smart factories and 20 demonstration sites by end of 2025 after 70 intelligent plants in 2023, officials announced, solidifying its intelligent manufacturing stronghold, according to China Daily report. Covering auto, equipment and IT, this year's batch features life-cycle, process and supply chain enhancements....
  • Qatar National Bank forecasts world economic growth to be 2.9% in 2024

    Doha, Qatar--Qatar National Bank (QNB) expects the global economic growth to be around 2.9 percent in 2024, roughly the same rate as last year. QNB, in its weekly commentary, said, "There is no doubt that expectations for 2024 were influenced by the experience of investor sentiment from 2023, when negative...
  • Global maritime trade sails into geopolitical storm

    Most large international shipping companies have decided to reroute trading to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal through which 12 percent of world trade usually passes. The Houthis say the strikes are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza, which Israel has bombarded relentlessly for three months, in what...
  • Eurozone inflation rises to 2.9% in Dec mainly due to energy costs

    The data supports comments by European Central Bank (ECB) chief Christine Lagarde, who has warned that Europe should remain on guard despite falling inflation.
  • Foreign governments paid Trump firms millions as president, claims US report

    NEW YORK, US - Former US president Donald Trump's businesses received at least $7.8 million from foreign governments including China during his time in the White House, a congressional report claimed. Officials from Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey and Democratic Republic of Congo were among some 20 countries' representatives who paid money...
  • Saudi insurance sector targets 25m beneficiaries by 2030

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia saw an 18% surge in health insurance beneficiaries in 2022, reaching a total of 11.5 million individuals by year-end, a report by the Saudi Council of Health Insurance revealed. The target is to reach 25 million beneficiaries by 2030, aiming for health insurance to...
  • AD Ports to build passenger terminals at Egyptian Red Sea ports

    Cairo, Egypt--AD Ports Group (AD Ports) has signed a contract with Egypt to build, develop, operate and maintain terminals for passengers and cruise lines at the Red Sea ports of Hurghada, Safaga and Sharm El Sheikh. The contract will also commit AD Ports Group to develop yacht and cruise ship...
  • Alba sets new production record

    It produced 1,620,665 metric tonnes of aluminium in 2023.
  • Japan earthquake death toll jumps to 92, missing 242

    Battling aftershocks and roads littered with gaping holes and blocked by frequent landslides, thousands of rescuers from all over Japan are trying to reach hundreds of people in stranded communities in the Ishikawa region. Two elderly women were pulled from the rubble, but hopes of finding other survivors are fading...
  • New PM announced by Kuwaiti ruler to end political stalemate

    Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who was sworn in as emir last month, named Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem Al-Sabah, a popular ex-foreign minister, as the new premier. He replaces Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah, son of the late emir whose death has raised hopes of a political shift in the country.
  • Dubai Duty Free achieves all-time record sales of over US$2.16bn in 2023

    DUBAI, UAE - The New Year began on a high note for Dubai Duty Free with the announcement of an all-time sales record of US$2.16 billion (AED 7.885 billion) for 2023, representing a 24.39 percent increase over the previous year and 6.4 percent up on pre-pandemic in 2019. December finished...
  • Private sector funding key to climate transition: World Bank

    The World Bank raised its target for climate-related projects from 35% of its annual financing to 45%. Given that the Bank's lending commitments in the most recent financial year were less than $130bn, the only way to get close to this target is by encouraging far greater private sector participation,...
  • Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank adopts AI

    The bank expects to enhance operations with AI tools.
  • Telefonica to cut 3,421 jobs

    The layoffs will reduce costs for the Spanish company.
  • UAE and Jordan discuss boosting trade and investment ties

    Amman, Jordan--The UAE and Jordan discussed enhancing trade and investment relations in order to stimulate joint economic growth and create more opportunities for cooperation between their business communities and private sectors. The discussions took place between in a meeting between Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for...
  • Jordan’s public debt rises to $46.1bn by Oct 2023 end: Ministry

    Dubai, UAE -- Jordan's public debt till the end of October 2023 has risen to $46.1 billion, 89.6 percent of the country's GDP. The Ministry of Finance said the government had borrowed $3.8 billion in the first ten months of 2023. In December, the government approved the 2024 budget with...
  • Turkey’s inflation rate nears 65 percent in December

    Turkey's official annual inflation rate ticked up to 64.77 in December, from 61.98 percent in November. But the month-on-month pace of increases of 2.93 percent was the smallest of the past six months.
  • ROSHN recognized as best place to work in Saudi Arabia for 2023

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- ROSHN Group has been recently recognized as "The Best Place to Work in Saudi Arabia" for 2023 by the globally recognized employer of choice certification program Best Places to Work, the company said in a press release. ROSHN achieved its ranking based on anonymous surveys conducted...
  • Qatari exports to clients surge in 2023 to US$412m: Tasdeer

    Doha, Qatar--The Qatar Development Bank's Export Development and Promotion Agency (Tasdeer), a subsidiary of the Qatar Development Bank, announced an increase in Qatari exports to its clients by over $412 million during 2023. In a statement released today, the agency highlighted its participation in eight international exhibitions over the past...
  • Dragon Oil starts oil production

    The Al Wasl field is its first oil discovery in Egypt.
  • Saudi Arabia set to open its first financial center

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is poised to launch its inaugural financial center, with unified and standardized policies and guidelines, Chairman of the Steering Committee at the Ministry of Finance, Abdul Aziz Al-Furaih said during the inauguration of the Leadership Forum for the Transformation to Accrual Accounting in Riyadh....
  • China’s new tariffs policy to hasten industrial transformation

    Beijing, China -- China's import and export tariff adjustments on some goods took effect on Monday, including implementing provisional import tariff rates lower than the most favored nation rates on 1,010 goods, implementing tariff rates on some commodities under agreements and applying preferential tariff rates to 43 least-developed countries (LDCs)....
  • Qatar’s industrial sector PPI down in Nov on lower oil prices

    Doha, Qatar -- Qatar's Producer Price Index (PPI) of the industrial sector in the country for November was 118.65 points, a decrease of 1.95 percent compared to October 2023. On Y-o-Y basis, PPI of November 2023 showed a decrease of 17.36 percent. The main four industry sectors by weight are...
  • Bitcoin crosses $45,000 for first time since April 2022

    Dubai, UAE--Bitcoin stormed above $45,000 on Tuesday for the first time since April 2022. Bitcoin touched a 21-month peak of $45,532, having gained 156% last year in its strongest yearly performance since 2020. It was last up 2.5% at $45,318 but remains far off the record high of $69,000 it...
  • UAE to press firms with 20-49 staff to hire at least one Emirati in 2024

    Dubai, UAE--The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has started implementing the cabinet decision to expand the scope of companies subject to Emiratisation targets, where more than 12,000 companies with 20-49 employees, are required to hire at least one UAE citizen in 2024 and another one in 2025....
  • Gupco begins pumping oil in Egypt

    The production started at the first well in the Gulf of Suez.
  • New investors throng Dubai Financial Market to open accounts

    Dubai, UAE--Brokerage firms at the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) opened 57,054 new investor accounts in 2023, marking a significant increase of 12.5% over the previous year, according to data released by the DFM. The growth was driven by a number of factors, including the strong momentum in the market since...
  • Israel’s Gaza assault to continue throughout 2024, says army

    The Israeli military spokesman said the army was currently "planning the management of the forces operating in the field" in the months ahead. He added some of the 300,000 army reservists would get a break from the conflict, with Israel seeking to boost its war-hit economy.
  • Iran-Azerbaijan trade registers 46 percent jump in 2022

    Tehran, Iran-- Trade between Iran and Azerbaijan has registered a 46 percent jump in 2022, according to the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Shahin Mustafayev, who is also the Azeri head of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, stated that the relations between the two countries are...
  • Visitors flock to Sheikh Zayed Festival, boosting exhibitors’ sales

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--Sheikh Zayed Festival is witnessing a large public turnout from citizens, residents and tourists from all over the world to celebrate New Year's Eve and welcome the new year 2024, which contributes significantly to increasing retail sales for exhibitors and commercial stores at the festival. During the celebration...