Business confidence up across Gulf
Business confidence rose across almost all Gulf countries in the first quarter of 2010, according to the latest HSBC Gulf business confidence index. Only Bahraini business people saw a slight dip...
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Economic optimism soars, according to Merrill Lynch survey
Investor optimism about the global economy has soared to its highest level in nearly six years with portfolio managers putting their cash back into equity markets, according to the Merrill Lynch...
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New fixed term 1 year "Tracker" bond launched
Alliance & Leicester International Limited launched a new one year tracker bond today that pays up to 3.00 per cent above the Bank of England Base Rate. Available to both new and existing...
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Morgan Stanley positive on Middle East equities
Morgan Stanley has revised its recommendation on the MSCI Arabian Markets Index, recommending investors to begin increasing their exposure to Middle Eastern stocks as valuations are more...
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FPI offers online protection tool for region's IFAs
Friends Provident International (FPI) has launched the Middle East's first online application tool for protection business. The new system will ease and accelerate the process for advisers to...
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Citi reports Q1 revenues of US$24.8 billion
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) has reported net income for the first quarter of 2009 of US$1.6 billion and a loss per share of US$0.18, based on 5,385 million shares outstanding. Revenues of US$24.8...
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StanChart offers 'Lifebuilder' Plan in UAE
Standard Chartered Bank offers the new 'Life Builder Plan' in the UAE provided by the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO). The Plan offers regular saving insurance plans with guaranteed...
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HSBC to offer 75% mortgages
HSBC Bank Middle East Limited announced today that loan-to value (LTV) ratios have been increased to 75 per cent on its Flexi-Loan and EIBOR based mortgage products as well as on it HSBC Amanah...
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AXA Gulf reports a strong 2008
According to Jean-Louis Laurent Josi, CEO, "2008 was again an excellent year for AXA Insurance Gulf despite market turmoil. All our lines of business as well as all our entities in the Gulf...
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GCC to outpace developed markets
Emerging markets will continue to grow at a faster pace than developed markets in 2009, says a senior global strategist at J.P. Morgan.   “Our investment bank is looking for a GDP...
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RSA posts 43 per cent growth
RSA Asia & Middle East posted a growth of 43 per cent (30 per cent on constant exchange) in premiums for the year 2008 compared to the previous year. The results were led by Middle East...
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New law to foster data sharing
Emcredit, the UAE's first government-backed credit information services company, hailed the Federal National Council's approval of a draft Credit Information Law as a significant step in fostering...
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GCC Regulators' summit kicks off
The Complinet 3rd Annual Gulf Cooperation Council Regulators' Summit kicked off in Dubai yesterday with nearly 300 delegates attending the opening session. The keynote opening address was...
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Dubai government launches $20 billion bond programme
The Dubai government has launched a US$20 billion sovereign bond programme to secure funding for Dubai to meet its financial obligations. The first issuance, amounting to US$10 billion, was...
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Non-residents invest in National Bonds
Non-residents invest in National Bonds   According to National Bonds, the Shari'ah-compliant national saving scheme in the UAE, an increasing number of non-residents are turning to the...
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