Banking & Finance

The ECB suddenly accelerated ending its stimulus program

ECB left the option of raising interest open before the end of the year

US Inflation at its highest level in 40 years

"Goldman" warns the US economy could be in a recession next year

Egyptian food prices raise inflation to highest levels in 32 months

JP Morgan: There is a likely need to depreciate the pound

Bahrain’s banking sector to benefit from expected interest rate hikes

$ 217.5 billion in sector assets at end 2021, or 6.5 times the GDP

Saudi World Defense Show records deals worth SAR 29.7 billion

22 localization and capacity building agreements were announced

Digital banks in Kuwait make their presence felt

Digital banks will be subject to all supervision and control requirements

Alvarez on UAE banks: Assets and profitability are likely to grow in 2022

Banks are likely to keep reserves much larger than risk portfolios require

S&P: Interest rate hikes, economic acceleration to benefit UAE banks

Economic activity to accelerate in 2022 prompted by high and rising oil prices

UAE’s MoF receives leading Federal Entity excellence award

ًinning the award is an incentive to continue on the path of excellence

Oman achieves a budget surplus of 18 million riyals

Production and oil and gas prices contributed to strengthening the budget figures

Saudi Arabia’s actual budget deficit lower than 2021 estimations

Non-oil sector constituted 88% of the total increase in actual revenues

Washington bans any dealings with the Russian “Central Bank”

Norway removes Russian assets from $1.3 trillion wealth fund

Europe does not agree to ban Russia from “Swift”

Moscow plans to borrow less and use national wealth funds

SEBA Bank secures financial services permission from ADGM  

Dedicated office and expanded regional headcount to drive growth  

Oman’s banks confront challenges, to play role in “Vision 2040”  

The IMF welcomes financial sector’s resilience and ongoing reforms

UAE: Imposing income tax not currently on the table

The corporate tax on profits will replace several fees businesses currently pay

Gulf countries’ US bonds investments distribution at end 2021

The total amounted to $221.7 billion, with Saudi and Kuwait leading

Gulf funds reportedly bidding for stake in Starbucks Mideast

Two Abu Dhabi state funds and 2 private sector investors in the running

BNPL changing payment habits in UAE, Saudi, globally

BNPL is framed as an interest-free alternative to credit card payments