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Kuwait: In Recovery Mode

Profitability at Kuwait banks has improved and the economy is on the up, but the need for more government capital expenditure and diversification away from oil remain concerns.

Kuwait Airways Signs Contract To Buy 25 Airbus Jets

The order includes 10 A350-900 and 15 medium-haul A320neo airliners.

New CEO Of Kuwait’s Top Bank Faces Sluggish Home Market, Gulf Rivals

Isam al-Sager was appointed as the new group CEO of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) earlier this week.

Kuwait Telco Wataniya Q4 Profit Jumps 46%

Wataniya made a net profit of 18.4 million dinars ($65.3 million) in the three months to December 31, 2013.

Kuwait’s KIPCO Q4 Net Profit Up 75%, Helped By Pay-TV Asset

Net profit in the three months to the end of December was 14 million Kuwaiti dinars ($49.7 million).

Kuwait’s NBK Appoints Isam Al Sager As New Group CEO

Al Sager, deputy group CEO at National Bank of Kuwait, replaces Ibrahim Dabdoub who is retiring after three decades.

Kuwaiti Oil Refineries Vulnerable To More Power Problems

Three of the country’s oil refineries shut down late last month because of power failures.

Kuwait’s Takaful Firms Struggle In Crowded Market

Gross takaful contributions in Kuwait grew an estimated 4.3 per cent in 2012 after 4.5 per cent in 2011.

Kuwait Faces Citizens’ Ire As It Eyes Cut In Lavish Subsidies

Spending at the current rate could outpace Kuwait’s revenues as early as 2017-18, the International Monetary Fund has warned.

Independent Entity Needed For Sharia Supervision -Kuwait Central Bank

Kuwait’s central bank governor has called for an independent legal entity to oversee Islamic financial institutions.

Kuwait Approves $12bn Bids For Clean Fuels Project

The Clean Fuels Project is a specification upgrade and expansion of Kuwait’s largest refineries.

Kuwait Seeks Saudi-Style Law Against Fighting Abroad

Estimations suggest some 1,200 Saudis have joined Islamist militants involved in Syria’s civil war.

Higher Spending Narrows Kuwait Nine-Month Budget Surplus

The IMF has warned that Kuwait’s expenditure could exceed oil revenues as early as 2017.

Kuwait-Airbus Deal On Track Despite Probe

Kuwait’s parliament voted on Wednesday to investigate all contracts signed by state-owned Kuwait Airways.

Kuwaiti Lawmakers To Investigate Airbus, Power Project Deals

Lawmakers want to investigate all deals agreed by Kuwait Airways, which is attempting the biggest overhaul of its fleet since 1990.

Kuwait To Invest $676m In Italy

The announcement was made by Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who is officially visiting the GCC.

Kuwait Finance House Q4 Net Profit More Than Doubles

Net profit rose to 26.4 million Kuwaiti dinars in the three months to the end of December compared to 11.8 million dinars a year earlier.

Kuwait’s Gulf Bank 2013 Net Profit Up 4%

Full-year net profit was 32.16 million dinars compared with 30.89 million dinars in the same period a year ago.

Kuwait’s Zain Posts Flat Q4 Profit, Forex Losses Bite

Zain said foreign exchange revaluations wiped $149 million from its full-year profit.

Kuwait Wealth Fund Favours Infrastructure Sector In West

The KIA is estimated to have around $386 billion under management.

Two Kuwaiti Refineries Stay Below Full Output After Shutdowns

Three refineries, close together on the Gulf coast south of Manama, were shut by a power outage on Wednesday.

Kuwait’s Shuaiba Oil Refinery Still Shut After Power Cut

The Mina Abdullah and Mina Ahmadi refineries have restarted but are not expected to return to full production until Friday.

Kuwait Investment Firm KIPCO Plans Up To $500m Bond Sale

The company has hired a group of international banks to help arrange the sale.

National Bank Of Kuwait Q4 Net Profit Drops 48%

BK reported a full-year profit for 2013 at $844 million, down from the $1.08 billion recorded for 2012.

Kuwait’s Zain Seeks New Loan As $867m Facility Nears Maturity

The $867 million revolving facility is due to mature in March.

Kuwait’s KIPCO Picks Banks Ahead Of Potential Dollar Bond Issue

The firm is the first Gulf-based issuer to announce plans for an international bond offering in 2014.

Shell Sells Stakes In Australian Gas Project For $1.14bn

Shell is selling the stakes to the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, a partner in the project.

Sager Is Frontrunner To Succeed Dabdoub At Kuwait’s NBK

Isam al-Sager, 58, is currently the deputy chief executive of National Bank of Kuwait.

US, Gulf Arab States Pledge $1bn In Fresh Syria Aid

An international donor conference in Kuwait is intended to help the UN reach a $6.5 billion aid target.

Kuwaiti Government To Keep Reviewing Subsidies

The government said last November that it would form a special committee to review its sometimes wasteful spending.