#Interest Rates

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Holds His Monthly Press Conference. (Image: Getty)

US Fed rate cut triggers GCC ripple effect – here’s what it means

Most GCC economies have been largely shielded from stubbornly high inflation elsewhere, and have implemented ambitious plans to diversify revenue sources and boost non-oil growth

Türkiye’s central bank holds rate at 50%, warns on inflation

Türkiye’s central bank holds rate at 50%, warns on inflation

The last time Türkiye’s central bank raised its main policy rate was in March when it hiked by 500 basis points

Here’s how GCC central banks are reacting to the US Fed’s rate cut

The Gulf region’s oil and gas exporters tend to follow the Fed’s lead on rate moves as most regional currencies are pegged to the US dollar

UAE central bank’s foreign assets up 2% in February

UAE slashes interest rates by 0.5% after US Fed decision

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) said it has reduced the base rate applicable to the overnight deposit facility (ODF) by 50 basis points, from 5.40 to 4.90 percent

Egypt’s central bank leaves overnight interest rates steady

Egypt’s central bank leaves overnight interest rates steady

The central bank said that the lending rate remained at 28.25 per cent, while the deposit rate stood at 27.25 per cent

Turkey’s Isbank CEO sees challenges ahead, November rate cut

Turkey’s Isbank CEO sees challenges ahead, rate cut in Nov

The growth plan comes as Isbank marks its 100th anniversary and as Turkish authorities seek to stamp out soaring inflation with high interest rates

Türkiye cenbank head maintains inflation forecasts

Türkiye cenbank inflation forecasts unchanged, vows tight policy

The bank has raised its policy rate by 4,150 basis points since June last year but has kept it unchanged at 50 per cent since March

Egypt’s inflation slows to 25.7% in July

Egypt’s headline inflation slowed to 25.7% in July

The central bank hiked interest rates by 600 basis points (bps) on March 6, bringing total increases in 2024 to 800 bps

Habib Bank on navigating volatility in 2024

Habib Bank AG Zurich 2024 outlook: Navigating volatility, seizing opportunities

Dr David Wartenweiler, CFA, the bank’s chief investment officer, gives insights into the market outlook for the remainder of 2024

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

IMF approves release of $820m for Egypt

IMF approves release of $820m for Egypt, calls for more reforms

The government raised domestic fuel prices by up to 15 per cent ahead of the IMF review, which had been postponed from July 10

Egypt’s central bank holds key interest rates steady

Egypt’s central bank leaves key interest rates unchanged

The central bank raised interest rates by 600 bps on March 6 as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund

Qatari lender QNB’s net profit rises by 7% in H1 2024

GCC’s biggest bank QNB reports 7% rise in half-year net profit

The banking group had QAR1.3tn in total assets in the six months ending June 30, a 5 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago

EFG HERMES - gcc economy - sector

EFG Hermes reveals five must watch sectors for 2024

Following the theme of its conference, EFG Hermes highlights opportunities available in frontier emerging markets

Oil starts week lower on signs of easing Middle East conflict

Oil falls after weekly gain on signs of easing Israel-Gaza conflict

Geopolitical risks including a feared broadening of the Middle East conflict pushed oil prices up by about 6 per cent last week

UAE money laundering prosecution office

UAE interest rates unchanged after US Fed announcement

The Central Bank of the UAE has said it would keep interest rates unchanged following a similar announcement by the US Federal Reserve overnight.

JP Morgan identifies top considerations for investors in 2024

JP Morgan identifies top considerations for investors in 2024

The private bank said to grapple with the prospect of more meaningful inflation in 2024 and beyond, investors might first look to equities

Turkish central bank raises inflation forecasts

Turkish central bank raises inflation forecasts, sees 70%-75% peak

Inflation hit a 24-year peak of 85 per cent last year and surged again in recent months as the lira weakened for a third year in a row

Most GCC central banks hold interest rates unchanged

UAE, Qatar central banks hold interest rates, tracking US Fed move

GCC central banks normally change their interest rates in lockstep with the US Fed as Gulf states’ currencies are pegged to the dollar

CBUAE - interest rate

UAE Central Bank holds interest rates steady as US Fed hits pause on hikes

The notification from CBUAE comes after the US Federal Reserve announced that it is maintaining its key policy rate unchanged

GCC central banks raise interest rates tracking US Fed move

GCC central banks raise interest rates in lockstep with the US Fed

GCC central banks normally change their interest rates in lockstep with the US Fed as Gulf countries’ currencies are pegged to the dollar

Qatari banks’ external debt

Qatari banks’ external debt: Is the problem over?

One of the main sources of concern for the Qatari banking system has been the build-up of external debt

UAE, Qatar central banks maintain key interest rates

UAE, Qatar central banks keep interest rates steady, tracking US Fed move

The move by the Fed to leave its benchmark rate unchanged suggests that higher borrowing costs have made some progress in slowing inflation

Bal Krishen Rathore

Power Letters 2023: Bal Krishen Rathore, chairman and CEO, Century Financial

Inflation and interest rate forecasts will remain crucial in 2023

gold

Gold treads water as traders cautiously await US inflation data

Spot gold was little changed at $1,674.62 an ounce as of 7.48am in Singapore

Gold

Gold steadies as Europe’s energy woes see greenback strengthen

Central banks globally are set to keep raising interest rates to fight inflation, weighing on non-yielding assets like gold

Bitcoin

Bitcoin loses momentum on weekend with support around 2017 high

Bitcoin dropped as much as 0.8 per cent to $19,591 on Sunday and was little changed as of 7.50am in New York

gold

Gold holds drop as Powell says rates likely to stay elevated

Bullion is heading for a fifth monthly decline, the longest such stretch in four years

Oil steadies as Traders weigh Russian pipeline halt, stockpiles

Oil extends 10% weekly drop as demand concerns spur caution

Investors have backed away from commodities in recent months as slowing growth feeds concern that energy usage will drop

US Federal Reserve

US Federal Reserve hike leads GCC to follow, but rate paths diverge again

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE moved in lockstep with the US central bank, raising their benchmarks by 75 basis points