Finastra's Siobhan Byron on addressing financial inclusion, agility

Finastra’s Siobhan Byron on addressing financial inclusion, agility

Siobhan Byron, EVP Universal Banking at Finastra, highlights the role of open ecosystems, cloud, SaaS, and AI in accelerating innovation

Abu Dhabi’s IHC reports 18% jump in first half profit

Abu Dhabi’s IHC reports 18% jump in first half profit

The holding firm’s financial position is backed by its total assets of Dhs362.9bn as of June 30

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown extends deadline for CVC, ADIA consortium to firm up takeover bid

Hargreaves Lansdown said talks with the consortium “remain ongoing”

stock markets

‘Black Monday’ stock rout continues on US markets: S&P 500, Nasdaq crash 3%

All three major indexes registered their biggest three-day percentage declines since June 2022

Japan Nikkei stumbles

Asian stocks trampled as Nikkei crashes 13%

The scale of losses on Japan’s Nikkei had not been seen since the global financial crisis

Bitcoin plunges to multi-month lows on recession fears

Bitcoin, ether sink to multi-month lows as recession worries take hold

Crypto markets have benefited this year after the US regulators approved an exchange-traded fund

Gold

Gold’s run to record high may crimp demand: Insight

The combination of bearish and bullish factors for gold may end up having the effect of keeping the price in a relatively narrow range for the rest of the year

How vital is ESG in insurers’ sustainability reporting

Here’s why ESG is crucial for insurers’ sustainability reporting

Insurers face significant challenges related to climate change, impacting both value creation and emissions reporting

How neobanks are transforming GCC’s banking landscape

How neobanks are transforming GCC’s banking landscape

With a focus on innovation, user experience and financial inclusion, neobanks are rapidly gaining traction and challenging traditional banking models

Wio Bank’s CEO on banking in an era of evolving consumer needs

Wio Bank’s CEO on banking in an era of evolving consumer needs

Jayesh Patel says that the belief that neobanks struggle with profitability is a misconception while noting that digital banks can be profitable with a defined business objectives

GCC sovereign funds dealmaking at 15-year high

How GCC sovereign funds are conquering global markets

State investors accounted for 54 per cent of the $96bn deployed by sovereign funds – the highest rate since 2009

UAE central bank fines local bank Dhs5.8m for AML lapses

UAE central bank fines local bank Dhs5.8m for AML lapses

The central bank imposed the hefty fine after an examination found deficiencies in the bank’s AML/CFT policies and procedures

US Treasuries - stocks

US stocks stumble on Wall Street over recession worries

A manufacturing report spooked investors, sparking broad risk-off moves across markets

Inaugural 24 Fintech - mozn

Inaugural ’24 Fintech’ edition to host global finance industry leaders

24 Fintech is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 which positions the industry as a crucial element in achieving economic transformation

PIF signs 6 MoUs with financial institutions

Saudi’s PIF inks MoUs worth $50bn with financial entities

PIF signed the MoUs with key Chinese financial institutions, including the Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China

Alpha dhabi reports H1 2024 results Image courtesy WAM

Alpha Dhabi reports Dhs6.7bn in net profit for H1 2024

Despite a decrease in total gains to Dhs2bn, attributed to the de-recognition of PureHealth in 2023 and the adoption of corporate tax in the UAE, the group’s overall net profit remained strong

MNT-Halan’s Turkish deal to help expand consumer credit

Egypt’s MNT-Halan says Turkish acquisition to help expand consumer credit, factoring

Tam Finans operates through a network of 39 branches and has more than 40 per cent of the Turkish micro-leasing market

CBUAE banks savings deposits

CBUAE keeps rates constant, follows US Fed cue

The policy decision follows the US Federal Reserve’s announcement to keep interest rates unchanged

National Pulse invests in fintech firm Aleta Planet

UAE’s National Pulse invests in Singapore’s fintech firm Aleta Planet

The investment will pave the way for the payments firm’s expansion into the UAE, Middle East and Africa

US Fed

US Fed says rate cuts could come ‘soon’

US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday said “there was a growing sense of confidence” the central bank could cut rates in September

Boubyan Bank mulls merger with Gulf Bank

Kuwaiti lenders Boubyan Bank and Gulf Bank weigh merger

The boards of two lenders have approved the proposal and the Central Bank of Kuwait was notified of their plans

DFM

DFM announces 74% rise in pre-tax profit

The total trading value on the DFM rose by 4 per cent, to Dhs48bn, in the first half of 2024

Egypt-based B2B platform Cartona raises $8.1m

Egypt-based B2B platform Cartona raises $8.1m

The company, which has witnessed substantial growth since its inception, serves over 188,000 retailers across 17 Egyptian cities

Franklin Templeton launches 7 feeder funds in UAE

Franklin Templeton launches UAE funds to attract retail investors

The funds will be distributed in the UAE by locally licenced promoters, including onshore conventional and Shariah-compliant consumer banks

Turkey’s deputy governor says no rate cuts for now

Turkey not considering rate cuts now, says deputy cenbank governor

Since June last year, the central bank has hiked rates to 50 per cent and it pledged to remain vigilant to inflation risks

Dubai Airport

Airport lounge access tops UAE cardholder benefits

A significant percentage of UAE consumers indicated they would consider switching payment providers if they lost access to airport lounges

Tony Hallside, CEO of STP Partners

SME story: How STP Partners leverages tech in its financial solutions

Tony Hallside, CEO of STP Partners, a full-service DIFC-based prime broker, discusses the firm’s innovative prime brokerage services, strategic successes, and future plans in the dynamic financial landscape

Dubai Taxi Co Image Dubai Media Office

Dubai Taxi Company revenue up 14% as it completes 23 million trips

DTC said its taxi segment benefited from higher tariffs, and an increased number of dedicated airport taxis, in the reporting period

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) reports robust performance in H1 2024 GettyImages

FAB posts record H1 profit of Dhs8.4bn amid strong revenue growth

The bank’s profit before tax grew by 15 per cent year-on-year to Dhs10bn

Elon musk - Tesla

Tesla shares tank on back of dismal results

Trade analysts have rated Tesla’s stock a “hold” with a median price target of $212.50