IMF To Cut Global Growth Forecast

The Eurozone debt crisis poses the biggest threat to the global economy, says IMF chief.

Dubai’s JAFZA Posts 20% Drop In H1 Profit

State-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) attributed the fall in H1 profit to rising costs.

Dubai’s DEWA Eyes Sukuk Issue In 2013

Proceeds from the issue will be used for repayment, said DEWA CEO, Saeed Mohammed al-Tayer.

REVEALED: Insights From The GCC’s Top Private Bankers

Experts from Emirates NBD, Falcon Private Bank, Lombard Odier, Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group and Julius Baer reveal their regional wealth management strategies to Gulf Business.

Kuwait’s Commercial Bank To Liquidate Investment Unit

CBK Capital is believed to have $53.5 million in capital and manages a Kuwaiti stocks fund and an Islamic finance fund.

Private Banking Special: Julius Baer

Middle East investors are still seeking high-yielding investments, says Daniel Savary, head of Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East markets at Julius Baer

Private Banking Special: Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group

Rohit Walia, executive vice chairman & CEO at Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group, Middle East and India, says that the group will focus on tapping the Islamic finance industry in Saudi Arabia.

Private Banking Special: Lombard Odier

Swiss bank Lombard Odier is aggressively increasing its footprint in the Middle East, says its head of new markets, Arnaud Leclercq.

Private Banking Special: Falcon Private Bank

Switzerland has lost its appeal to Gulf investors, says Eduardo Leemann, CEO of Falcon Private Bank

Private Banking Special: Emirates NBD

Mark McFarland, chief investment strategist, Private Banking at Emirates NBD, says its time for wealth preservation.

Credit Suisse Cuts Dubai Investment Banking Jobs

The investment bank is reducing staff in Dubai and relocating some jobs to Qatar, say sources.

GCC Investors Eye Global Bonds, Credit

Local investors are looking for fixed income investment opportunities outside the region, say asset managers.

Saudi Arabia May Run Small Budget Deficit In 2016-IMF

The IMF also cut its forecast for Saudi’s budget surplus this year from 16.5 per cent to 12 per cent, citing oil price movements.

Doha Bank Plans 50% Capital Raise In Q1 2013

The Qatari lender said that it will use the additional capital to meet strategic business requirements.

Bahrain’s Bank Alkhair Appoints New CEO

Following the arrest and conviction of its former chief executive, Khalil Nooruddin takes the reigns.

Qatar’s Central Bank Comfortable With Interest Rates

Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani estimates two to three per cent inflation for 2012.

Billionaires Get Richer But Millionaires Lose Money

A new report says the ultra-rich have increased their fortunes and successfully managed the global downturn.

Dubai’s DFSA Fines E&Y, Arqaam Over Iranian Art Valuation

E&Y and Arqaam were accused of failing to comply with international accounting standards.

Kuwait Aims To Boost Rainy Day Fund

The government plans to allocate around 25 per cent of state revenues into the fund.

Dubai To Issue Bond To Refinance Maturing Debt

The emirate has Dhs6.5 billion ($1.8 billion) of debt maturing in April 2013.

Spurring Growth In Iraq’s Banking Industry

William C. Keliehor aids financial development in Iraq, a country where only 15 per cent of the population has a bank account.

10 Biggest GCC Sukuks In 2012

As more regional and international companies turn to Islamic bonds to raise capital, Gulf Business lists the biggest Sukuks issued so far this year.

Qatar Islamic Bank Board Backs $1.5bn Sukuk Programme

The bank has hired HSBC, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and QInvest to manage the issuance.

EFG Hermes Shareholders Approve QInvest Deal

Egypt’s biggest investment bank, EFG Hermes and Qatar’s QInvest had reached an agreement in May 2012.

Deutsche To Trim ME Investment Banking Staff

The German lender is laying off several senior staff in Dubai, according to sources.

UAE’s First Gulf Hires Banks For $800m Loan

The loan facility will be used to fund the Abu Dhabi-based bank’s growth and expansion.

Dubai Group Eyes Stake Sale In Lafarge Venture

Debt-ridden Dubai Group is reportedly in talks to sell its 45 per cent stake in a joint venture firm with cement maker Lafarge.

RBS, Other Banks Sue Dubai Group Over $10bn Debt

The three banks failed to reach a restructuring deal with Dubai Group, the investment vehicle of Dubai Holding.

Daman Puts IPO On Hold Until 2014

The Dubai-based investment company blamed a lack of liquidity in the market for postponing its IPO and preventing Dubai’s full recovery.

Gulf Bank To Finance $2bn Kuwaiti Projects

The deals, in the oil and power sectors, will increase the bank’s market share in corporate financing.