Saudi 2015 Budget Based On Oil Price Around $60 – Analysts

For the 2015 budget, announced on Thursday, four analysts’ oil price estimates are in a range of $55 to $63.

Airbus Says Missing AirAsia Plane Was Delivered 2008

Airbus A320-200 flights are designed to be used intensively on short routes and are favoured by the low-cost airlines that run such routes.

Bisco Misr Takeover Bid Deadline Extended Until January 11

UAE-based private equity firm Abraaj has been battling Kellogg since last month, when the U.S. group scuppered its deal to snap up Bisco Misr.

Dubai Investments Sees $2.7bn Of Property Projects

Dubai Investments is seeking to profit from a market recovery in the emirate after one of the world’s worst property crashes during the financial crisis in 2008.

Saudi Arabia Said To Plan Bourse Opening To Foreigners In April

An official said that the regulator continues to expect the market to open to foreign investors in the first half of next year, though no specific date has been set.

AirAsia Search for Missing Plane Called Off After Day-Long Hunt

Rescue aircraft searching for the plane, missing for more than 12 hours, have returned to base, officials said.

Saudi’s Takween Says Negotiating Price In Savola Packaging Unit Buy

Implementation of the deal would depend on approval by related government agencies.

Saudi’s SAFCO Completes Work On Urea Plant

The plant was originally scheduled to start up in the third quarter of 2014, but was delayed due to construction delays.

Saudi Samba Financial Group Proposes H2 Dividend

The proposed figure is marginally higher than the SAR0.64 per share which the bank paid for the corresponding period of 2013.

UAE’s Marka To Buy Retail Outfit From Dubai World For $60m

The acquisition of Retailcorp will give Marka a network of 15 sporting goods outlets across the UAE, a statement said.

Dubai’s Non-Oil Foreign Trade Nears Dhs1 Trillion Mark

China was Dubai’s top non-oil foreign trade partner, followed by India and the US, figures revealed.

Syria Ready To Discuss Russia Peace Plan Talks, Opposition Dismissive

Although Russia has invited opposition groups to participate in peace talks it did not specify which groups were invited.

Bahraini Police Question Top Al-Wefaq Members Over Rally

The officials did not specify the nature of violation that occurred during the rally.

Saudi Finance Minister Says No Need To Create Sovereign Wealth Fund

At present, the surplus petrodollars of the world’s top oil exporter are mostly invested abroad by its central bank.

Saudi Ministry To Discuss Deficit Financing With Central Bank

A ministry statement said the government could cover the deficit with its huge fiscal reserves, but Alassaf told media that borrowing might also be used.

Saudi Finance Minister Says Can Endure Low Oil Prices Over Medium Term

Alassaf said everybody expected prices to rise eventually but there was a difference over when.

Build Greener To Tackle Climate Change, Arab Cities Urged

The speed of the urbanisation process has put additional stress on social services and infrastructure in a region already deeply vulnerable to climate change.

Are Security Concerns Restraining Cloud Computing’s Growth In The Middle East?

While cloud computing is expected to grow in the Middle East and Africa, concerns about security are pushing against that trend.

Iran Exits Recession With 4% Growth In Six Months, Rouhani Says

The International Monetary Fund expects Iran’s economy to expand 1.5 per cent in 2014.

HSBC Sees Bonds Gaining On Loans As Oil Curbs Cash

Bank liquidity may be affected by oil prices, says HBSC debt-capital markets head for MENA.

Saudi Arabia Plans To Raise Spending In 2015 Budget

The stock market rose in the minutes after the announcement, trading 0.9 per cent higher.

RAK Ceramics To Exit Sudan Business, Boost UAE Capacity

In November, chief executive Abdallah Massaad told Reuters that the company was working to exit its non-core businesses.

Kellogg Ups Bid In Battle With UAE’s Abraaj For Bisco Misr

Kellogg’s latest bid, for 89.86 Egyptian pounds ($12.57) per share, followed an offer earlier by Abraaj for 88.09 pounds.

NRIs Save Much More Than Other Expats In The UAE

A majority of UAE’s non-resident Indians save to support their children and parents, a new study showed.

Iraq Says OPEC Will Need To Step In If Oil Prices Keep Falling

Iraq’s oil minister Adel Abdul Mahdi did not specify the form of intervention that OPEC should adopt.

Kuwait Airways Firms Up $3.3bn Boeing Order

The new order will help Kuwait Airways expand its operations through the launch of new routes.

Etihad Completes Alitalia Purchase

The deal is expected to give Etihad greater access to the fourth largest travel market in Europe.

UAE Central Bank Says To Study Margin Lending In Stock Market

In a brief statement describing discussions at the board meeting, the central bank did not elaborate on how the study would be conducted.

Warplane Downed In Islamic State-Held Eastern Syria

The Observatory, which monitors Syria’s war with a network of sources, said the pilot was believed to have an Arab nationality.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Edge Up In Early Trade; Real Estate Strong

Dubai’s main index was up 2.2 per cent at 3,802 points with property stocks dominating trade.