Investment Banks In Middle East To Remain Profitable In 2014- Report

Investment banks in the Middle East have been growing as regional markets continue to recover from the global financial crisis, says Frost & Sullivan.

Saudi Arabia To Give Egypt Up To $4bn More Aid

GCC states have given Egypt billions of dollars since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Proposes 14% Cash, 11% Bonus Share Dividend

The lender offered a 15 per cent cash dividend plus bonus shares of 10 per cent in 2012.

Iraq’s Investment Challenge

Can Iraq’s oil prospects offset foreign investor’s security concerns?

First Gulf Bank Q4 Net Profit Up 19%

The lender made a net profit of Dhs1.37 billion in Q4 2013, compared with Dhs1.15 billion in the prior-year period.

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Seeks $700m Loan

Waha has picked HSBC Holdings and First Gulf Bank to help arrange the five-year loan.

Dubai Islamic Bank Q4 Net Profit Up 66.2%

The bank made Dhs518 million in Q4 2013, up from Dhs311.7 million in the corresponding period the year before.

HSBC Oman To Pay First Dividend Since Merger

The bank made a net loss of 1.8 million rials in Q4 2013, compared to a net loss of 4.77 million rials in the year before period.

New Initiative Launched To Support Female Entrepreneurs

The new initiative Ro’Ya will help boost the rate of female entrepreneurship in the UAE, experts said.

NBAD Hires ANZ’s James Burdett As Group CFO

James Burdett was chief financial officer for ANZ.

NBAD Q4 Net Profit Edges Down

Net profit for the quarter was Dhs1.08 billion, slightly lower than Dhs1.12 billion in the year-ago quarter.

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.

Stocks News: Gulf Vulnerable To Further Profit-Taking

The Dubai index has dropped for two consecutive sessions but is still up in January.

Emirates NBD Comfortable With State Exposure – CEO

ENBD’s loans to Dubai government consist of Dhs91 billion out of a total loan book of Dhs238.3 billion.

Dubai’s Emirates NBD Misses Q4 Profit Forecast

A 26 per cent rise in net interest income was offset by a 40 per cent year-on-year jump in impairment allowances.

Dubai’s Mashreq Posts 38% Rise In 2013 Net Profit

The bank’s profit was boosted by a rise in net interest income and net fee and commission income.

ADCB Q4 Net Profit Jumps 40%

The bank reported Dhs879 million for the quarter, beating analysts’ estimates.

Saxo Bank Launches Social Trading Website

The Danish bank hopes the new platform will ‘transform trading into a social experience’.

Bahrain’s Mumtalakat Eyes New Investments As Portfolio Improves

The Bahraini wealth fund’s finances were hit by losses at struggling national carrier Gulf Air.

Kuwait Wealth Fund Favours Infrastructure Sector In West

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

Dubai Confirms Final Deal On $10bn Debt Restructuring

Lenders agreed to restructure about $6 billion of bank facilities while $4 billion will be repaid after bank creditors are satisfied.

BRIC Or MINT? Investors Suffer Acronym Anxiety

Former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill created the ‘BRIC’ family in 2001.

How To Have A Successful Meeting

Hazel Carter-Showell, founding director of CarterCorson, a UK based firm of business psychologists, says don’t be afraid to stand out in a meeting.

Egypt Will Return $3bn To Qatar This Year

Qatar, a firm backer of Mohamed Mursi, lent or gave Egypt $7.5 billion during the year the Islamist was president.

UAE’s CBI Seeks Shareholder Nod For $300m Rights Issue

The lender, 40 per cent owned by Qatar National Bank, is aiming to raise Dhs1.1 billion through the issuance of 787.9 million shares.

UAE Sets Rules For Covered Warrants

The conditions include a licensing regime for issuers of covered warrants and disclosure requirements.

National Bank Of Fujairah’s Net Profit Rises 28.6% In 2013

The bank’s profit rose for a fourth consecutive year, owing to its robust business performance.

Saudi Binladin’s Construction Products Arm Plans IPO This Year

The IPO listing is expected to take place before June this year, according to the company’s CEO.

UAE Banks Warned To Help Write Off Citizens’ Debts

Under the Debts Settlement Fund initivate, banks are required to waive 50 per cent of Emirati debtors’ loans.

Women In Finance ‘Are More Likely’ To Attain Board Seats

Women in the finance sector can assess the immediate financial impact on a business, which raises their credibility across boards.