UAE Non-Oil Business Growth Edges Up In December-PMI

The measure of output growth climbed to 65.0 points in December from 62.8 in November, while new orders were at 65.4 points against 65.5.

Saudi December Non-Oil Business Growth Accelerates Slightly

The seasonally adjusted SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 57.9 points in December from 57.6 in the previous month.

Stock News: Gulf Sentiment May Stay Weak After Oil’s Plunge

Brent futures edged up early on Tuesday but traded below $54.

Massar Solutions Announces First Abu Dhabi Share Float Since 2011

The firm will seek to sell 240 million ordinary shares at Dhs2.4 ($0.65) each between January 11 and January 25, it said in a statement.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Fall On Weak Oil

Dubai’s index dropped 3.4 per cent as all but a handful of stocks fell.

Saudi’s SAFCO Halves Dividend For H2 2014

The figure is down from the SAR6 per share that the company paid for the corresponding period of 2013.

Abu Dhabi Finance Firm TNI Says CFO Resigns, Replacement Named

Rami Hurieh took over as CFO effective from January 4 after the departure of Jean Ayoub, TNI said in a bourse filing.

Rouhani Urges End To Iran’s Isolation

Rouhani’s call is in line with his preference for a greater public say on strategic matters, traditionally vested with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Kuwait Finance Minister: Oil Price Fall Won’t Slow Development Projects

Ministers said that the government will not abandon subsidy reform.

Bahraini Fund Mumtalakat Signs $500m Loan Deal – Sources

Signed just before the end of 2014, the loan is structured as a revolving credit facility.

Stock News: Markets Slide In Thin Trade As Oil Slips

Dubai’s index dropped 2.4 per cent with most stocks down.

UAE’s Dana Gas Says Receives $60m From Egyptian Government

Egypt has delayed payments to oil and gas firms as its economy has been hammered by almost four years of instability.

Dubai Says To Lift Spending 9% And End Deficit In 2015 Budget

Spending this year is projected at about Dhs41 billion ($11.2 billion), up from Dhs37.88 billion in the original budget for 2014, according to state news agency WAM.

Oman 2015 Budget Raises State Spending At Expense Of Big Deficit

Government expenditure this year is estimated at OMR14.1 billion ($36.6 billion), up 4.5 per cent from last year’s original plan, the ministry said.

Oman Postpones 2015 State Budget Announcement

A news conference on the budget was scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. local time.

Turkey Unit Of Kuwait Finance House Secures $350m Islamic Loan

The dual-currency murabaha transaction for Kuveyt Turk was arranged in two tranches.

Saudi King Undergoing Medical Tests In Riyadh Hospital

The monarch, who took power in 2005 after the death of King Fahd, has undergone surgery in the past few years related to a herniated disc.

Oman’s State Council Rejects Proposal To Tax Expat Remittances

The council said that such a tax would have a negative impact on the country’s investment prospects.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Mixed In Thin Trade

Dubai’s stock index edged up 0.5 per cent in relatively thin trade while Abu Dhabi’s bourse was up 1.6 per cent.

Bank Muscat Sells Oman Brokerage Business To Gulf Baader

The decision to sell the business was due to the bank’s review of “strategic alternatives and operational priorities”, a statement said.

Abraaj Pulls Out Of Bidding For Egypt’s Bisco Misr

Abraaj did not give a reason for its withdrawal from the bidding process, but said the orderly and transparent process had underlined growing investor interest in Egypt.

Saudi Takween To Buy Savola Packaging Unit For SAR910m

The purchase will be financed through a syndicate of Saudi banks, to be announced later and conditional on Takween shareholders’ approval, a statement said.

Oman To Announce 2015 State Budget On Thursday

Oman has been considering a range of spending cuts and tax rises, including a levy on the remittances of foreign workers.

Dubai Shares Drop Most In World As Gulf Markets Slump On Oil

The DFM General Index tumbled 5.4 per cent, the steepest retreat since December 16.

Kuwait’s CBK Cuts Stake In Boubyan Bank To 17.7%

The identity of the buyer of CBK’s holding in Boubyan was not immediately clear.

Qatar Says Holders Of 32% Of Songbird’s Free Float Support Bid

Songbird’s management earlier this month said an offer from Qatar undervalued the London based-developer.

Saudi Arabia Denies Rumours About Public Wage Cuts

Unnamed government official denies comments on social media about the government mulling a reduction in public expenditure.

Saudi’s Riyad Bank Recommends H2 2014 Dividend

The bank said that it will give a dividend of 35 halalas per share, down from 80 halalas from the same period last year.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Drop As Oil Hits Fresh Lows

Dubai’s index tumbled 5.0 per cent as most stocks declined.

Ajman Ruler Approves Increased Spending In 2015 Budget

The 2015 budget is around 23.44 per cent larger than the previous year, a senior official said in a statement.