Bahrain’s Investcorp looks to make direct investments in China, India

The company reported a 4 per cent rise in net profit for the year ended June 30

Tesla shares give up gains on renewed prospect of Musk buying Twitter

Saudi sovereign fund PIF buys stake in Tesla

The fund has bought a minority stake in Tesla at just below 5 per cent

Bahrain fund Mumtalakat exits US private education firm Nobel

Mumtalakat has used the proceeds from the stake sale to pay down debt

New criminal case filed against Abraaj’s Naqvi holds ‘no ground’, says lawyer

A second criminal case for a bounced cheque valued at Dhs798m was filed against Naqvi in the UAE

Different Arab money

UAE accounts for 59% of MENA start-up investment in H1

The total disclosed funding for start-ups across the MENA region fell 43 per cent to $112m in H1

Abraaj founder Naqvi faces second UAE court case over bounced cheque

Hamid Jafar has filed a second case against Naqvi, this time for a bounced cheque valued at Dhs798m

Saudi wealth fund PIF aims to raise between $6-8bn in first loan

PIF has been charged with helping to deliver Saudi’s Vision 2030 reform plan

Nasdaq Dubai to launch futures trading of 12 Saudi firms from September

The 12 Saudi companies have a combined market capitalisation of SAR859bn

Saudi banks’ deposits shrink as government pulls back funds

Eight of the top 12 Saudi banks reported lower deposits in their second-quarter earnings

Bahrain’s GFH says Al-Futtaim, Al Zarooni acquire minority stakes in The Entertainer

GFH said The Entertainer was valued at $150m

Abu Dhabi bank ADCB posts 12% rise in Q2 profit

The lender saw higher net interest, increased Islamic financing and non-interest income

Emirates NBD in talks to roll over $1.7bn loan

The 2016 loan, due in June 2019, saw the participation of 19 banks

HSBC appoints global banking head for MENA, Turkey

Gareth Thomas will succeed Matthew Wallace, who was recently appointed as HSBC’s head of global banking for Europe

Kuwait’s Agility submitted bid for part of Abraaj’s investment business

Potential bidder Cerberus Capital Management has pulled out after not getting enough investor support for its offer

S&P Dow Jones to upgrade Saudi stocks to emerging market next year

The move came in response to reforms of Riyadh’s market structure supporting foreign investment

Saudi largest lender NCB posts Q2 profit hike

The lender benefitted from increased fees, commission and investments

First Abu Dhabi Bank Q2 profit up 19%

The UAE’s largest lender beat analysts forecasts

Bahrain’s Bank Alkhair sells stake in Turkish investment firm

The lender received approval to transfer its 95.79 per cent shareholding of Alkhair Capital to Ankara-based A1 Capital

UAE business loan demand rising gradually – central bank

Demand for personal loans also rebounded slightly

HSBC, Credit Suisse to advise on Kuwait’s KFH, Bahrain’s AUB talks

KFH said last week it had invited AUB to begin a due diligence process for a potential merger

Bidders emerge for Abraaj’s investment unit after Colony Capital offer rejected

Bid have reportedly been submitted by Cerberus Capital Management, York Capital Management and Abu Dhabi Financial Group

Saudi grants banking licence to Commercial Bank of Iraq

The lender will be allowed to open one branch in the kingdom

Dubai Islamic Bank Q2 profit rises 14.6%

DIB is the third Dubai-based bank to report double-digit profit growth for the quarter

Dubai’s Emirates NBD sees Q2 profit surge 30%

Banks in the United Arab Emirates are expected to benefit this year as economic growth recovers

EU, US complain about GCC excise tax on carbonated, energy drinks

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain imposed the tax last year

Kuwait’s KFH invites Bahrain’s AUB to begin due diligence for merger

If the merger goes ahead, it would be the latest of several recent tie-ups to create stronger lenders in the region

Sovereign wealth funds face tougher dealmaking as protectionism grows

Combined sovereign deal value fell last year compared to 2016

UAE says sanctioned exchange houses not linked to Iran crackdown

The seven exchange houses were found to be in violation of central bank regulations

Criminal case against Abraaj founder dismissed by UAE court

The court case relates to a cheque for Dhs177.1m, which bounced

Here’s how the UAE’s VAT refund system for tourists will work

The system will be implemented in the fourth quarter of this year