Banking

Greece sharpens knife for more cuts to secure latest bailout

Jun 28, 2011

Greek lawmakers are considering plans for €28 billion of fresh austerity cuts while the euro sinks. Read article Greece sharpens knife for more cuts to secure latest bailout

Emirates NBD appoints new chairman

Jun 27, 2011

Dubai appoints a new chairman for Emirates NBD, adding the UAE's biggest bank to the business empire of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Read article Emirates NBD appoints new chairman

Launch of Sharia facility in UAE set to boost Islamic investment

Jun 27, 2011

Islamic banks have an extra instrument for managing liquidity thanks to a new Central Bank facility. Read article Launch of Sharia facility in UAE set to boost Islamic investment

finance

Private equity embarks on the comeback trail

Jun 27, 2011

Deal-making and fund-raising activity is showing signs of life after a long slump. And in the Middle East an industry shake-up looks imminent.

Jochen Duelli

Dubai stock market hits a three-month low

Jun 27, 2011

Local markets took cues from a slide in international equities last week and traded largely flat. Read article Dubai stock market hits a three-month low

Insurance House ups foreign ownership limit

Jun 26, 2011

Days after its public listing, Insurance House will raise its cap on foreign ownership in the business to 25 per cent. Read article Insurance House ups foreign ownership limit

Call for closer ties to recover illicit cash for Arab Spring states

Jun 22, 2011

The World Bank is calling on countries to help each other return corrupt officials' money amid an asset-recovery bonanza in the wake of revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. Read article Call for closer ties to recover illicit cash for Arab Spring states

First Gulf Bank ups foreign ownership limits

Jun 22, 2011

First Gulf Bank allows international investors access to up to 25 per cent of its stocks, as the outcome of MSCI's review of the UAE's markets approaches. Read article First Gulf Bank ups foreign ownership limits

Central Bank sets deadline for reporting Libyan frozen assets

Jun 21, 2011

Details of any Libyan asset freezes within the UAE's banking system will be reported within a week, says a senior Central Bank official. Read article Central Bank sets deadline for reporting Libyan frozen assets

Opinions divided over rally by UAE lenders

Jun 21, 2011

What's Up: Banks take a tumble, but Union National Bank seems poised to benefit from lower bank lending rates and is less exposed to regulations on personal lending than other banks. Read article Opinions divided over rally by UAE lenders

ADCB takes action to win over investors

Jun 20, 2011

What's Up: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank shares climbed to their highest point in more than two years after it said it would make Dh1 billion from a stake sale in RHB Capital. Read article ADCB takes action to win over investors

Cheaper mortgage rates to test demand for property

Jun 19, 2011

As fears of stagflation loom in the UAE's property market, banks announce new rates to tempt buyers. Read article Cheaper mortgage rates to test demand for property

Iraqi bank chief says he fled after visit by al Maliki

Jun 18, 2011

A "cordial" visit from Iraq's prime minister led the head of the country's largest state-owned bank to flee. Read article Iraqi bank chief says he fled after visit by al Maliki

ADCB selling stake in Malaysian bank to Aabar

Jun 18, 2011

The deal will bring Dh2.57 billion profit for Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Read article ADCB selling stake in Malaysian bank to Aabar

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finance

Arab world will need to take care of itself
Jun 22, 2011
Focus: Contrast the efforts to rescue the euro zone with how much has been offered to troubled Middle East nations. It may be time for the region to have its own bank for reconstruction.

Frank Kane

finance

Nothing left to chance this time
Jun 13, 2011
Sovereign wealth funds have poured billions of dollars into ailing western banks in the past three years, but the chequered record of those investments leaves doubt about their willingness to support a new wave of bank re-privatisations.

Asa Fitch

finance

Financial noose tightens around dictators' necks
Jun 12, 2011
Once the bastion of dodgy money, Switzerland is leading the way in freezing assets deposited by corrupt leaders and, as other centres follow suit, stashing such loot is increasingly difficult.

Asa Fitch