Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank Q2 Profit Up 35.1%

The bank’s net attributable profit for the three months to June 30 was $125.9 million, compared with $93.2 million in the corresponding period of 2013.

Qatar Emir Issues Law Raising Foreign Ownership Limits For Stocks

The law, originally announced in late May, allows foreigners to own more than 49 per cent of a company in special cases.

Dubai Holding Completes $1.7bn Sale Of German Packaging Firm

The sale is one of the largest asset disposals by the state-owned investment unit since the 2009 debt crisis.

Paris-Based PE Firm Ardian Mulls $2bn Stake Buy From Abu Dhabi

Ardian has made a bid on portfolios that Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is looking to sell, Bloomberg reported.

Saudi Ministry Asks For $4bn Annually To Spend On Labour Reform

The goal of labour policy is full employment of the Saudi workforce, a report from the labour ministry said.

Dubai’s Emaar Posts 41% Rise In Net Profit For H1 2014

The Dubai developer’s net profit was boosted by increased revenues from its malls and hospitality businesses.

Bahrain’s Investcorp Sees Jump In Profit As Private Equity Drives Deal Flow

The alternative investment fund Investcorp posted a 25 per cent gain in annual net profit.

Oman’s ONIC Holding To Consider Ominvest Merger At Next Board Meeting

Ominvest said last month it had written to ONIC Holding about forming a strategic arrangement between the two firms

Foreign Buying In Saudi Stocks Jumps On Direct Investment Approval

The value of shares brought by foreigners through swap agreements rose to SAR3.53 billion in July, from SAR1.66 billion in June.

Saudi Pension Fund’s Return Falls To 8.1% In 2013

The fund’s return fell despite a strong rise in the Kingdom’s stock market, in which it is one of the major investors.

Dubai Investments H1 Net Profit More Than Doubles

In May, Dubai Investments divested a 66 per cent equity stake in Globalpharma, which contributed a profit of Dhs472 million.

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties Q2 Net Profit Up 168%

Revenue for the second quarter was Dhs2.19 billion, up 74 per cent year-on-year.

Kuwait’s Investment Dar Loses Protection Against Creditor Legal Claims

The court ruled that the firm had to repay all three groups of creditors the total amount of $1.56 billion under its restructuring plan.

Lenders May Exit Dubai World As It Seeks To Revise $25bn Debt Deal

The conglomerate plans to make its first big repayment early, in exchange for more time before a second and much larger obligation needs to be repaid.

Mideast Funds Bullish On Saudi, Bearish On UAE

The opening of the Saudi market to direct foreign investment is expected to attract a lot of active money.

Stock News: UAE Markets Mixed, Investors Bet On Property

The Dubai benchmark added 0.5 per cent in the first hour of trade with builder Arabtec rising 1.5 per cent.

Property Developer Damac Looks To List Shares On Dubai Bourse

The developer is offering its investors an option to convert its Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), listed on the London bourse into ordinary shares that would be listed on Dubai’s stock market.

India’s Capital Gains Tax Levy To Affect Dubai’s Property Market

The revival of the capital gains tax on Indians buying property overseas could have a knock on effect on Dubai’s residential property market, according to a real estate consultancy.

Twitter Assuages Growth Concerns For Now As Shares Soar 35%

Twitter reported a 124 per cent jump in quarterly revenue to $312 million, beating expectations for $283.1 million.

IMF Warns Of Potential Risks To Global Growth

The IMF warned that tensions arising from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could spill over to the global economy, prompting slower growth.

Middle East Investment In Europe Up 25% In H1 2014

Capital from the Middle East accounted for 13 per cent of the total cross border investment coming into Europe, a new report says

GCC Equity Markets Shed $21bn In Q2, Iraq Triggers Correction

The S&P GCC index dropped by 1.8 per cent during the second quarter of the year, according to a report by NBK.

Qatar State Spending Up 13% In Last Fiscal Year, Slowest In 11 Years

Expenditure rose to a record high of $63.6 billion in the year that ended in March.

Abu Dhabi-Listed Watania Says Majority Shareholders To Sell Stakes

It did not disclose the value of the deal, nor the size of the stake being sold.

Bahrain Telco Batelco Q2 Net Profit Slumps 22.4%

The company made a net profit of BD10.4 million ($27.6 million) in the three months to June 30.

Dubai’s Arabtec Q2 Net Up 11%, Misses Estimates

Net profit climbed to Dhs103 million ($28.1 million) in the three months to June 30 from Dhs92 million a year earlier, the company said in a statement.

Former CEO of Dubai’s Arabtec Trims Stake -Bourse Data

Ismaik cut his stake to 28.77 per cent from 28.85 per cent, the website of the Dubai Financial Market showed.

Saudi Bourse Opening May Double Fund Flows To Gulf

Other Gulf markets will also lure more foreign investment if the Saudi market opens, experts say.

Dubai Lender ENBD Trims Loan Growth F’cast Despite Bumper Q2 Profit

Dubai’s largest lender expects to see its lending grow by four to five per cent this year, the bank’s finance head Surya Subramanian told reporters.

Dubai’s Aramex Q2 Net Profit Up 12% y-o-y, In-Line With Estimates

Aramex posted a second-quarter net profit of Dhs80.8 million compared with Dhs72.3 million in the corresponding period of 2013.