Mark Townsend, Author at Global Finance Magazine

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Banking

Cutting The Cord In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest economy, but major economic, political and social challenges threaten the kingdom’s immediate economic future. Reducing its dependence on oil and gas is now a case of when, not if.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Investors Eye Irans Economic Comeback

The prospect of the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran has investors excited about the return of this market to the global economic community. But the message is: Proceed with caution.

Banking

New Reality In The Gulf: Austerity

Nations slash subsidies in the face of cheap oil and regional conflicts.

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Vietnam Shrugs Off Global Woes

Vietnam is emerging as one of the few bright spots among Southeast Asian economies buffeted by the slowdown in regional and global trade.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Suez Canal: Egyptian Economy Will See A Bump-upBut How Big?

At a lavish ceremony last month, the Egyptian government inaugurated the new Suez Canal, marking an expansion of the original project, which dates to 1869.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

GCC Sees Its Future In Trade

GCC Regional Report 2015 | Trade GCC With oil prices not expected to top $100 a barrel anytime soon, breaking down trade barriers is the one sure way to boost the GCC’s economic prospects.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

MERS Outbreak Threatens South Korea’s Economy

Trends | Economy & Disease In May, South Korea reported its first case of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The death toll had climbed to 24 as we went to press, making it the largest outbreak outside of Saudi Arabia, where the strain was first reported in 2012.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Vietnam Devalues The Dong Amid An Improving Economy

Vietnam | In May, Vietnam’s central bank once again devalued the country’s currency, the dong—the second such adjustment since January.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

HAS IRAN FINALLY COME IN FROM THE COLD?

Milestones | Iran It may have taken 12 years to reach, but the framework agreement struck between the so-called P5+1 (Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US, plus Germany), the European Union and Iran has enough momentum, say analysts, to yield a full accord by June 30.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

SINGAPORE | LIFE AFTER LEE

Milestones | Singapore During the state funeral cortege of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister, Singaporeans were urged to salute rather than take photos using their smartphones, a vivid reminder of the government’s preoccupation with political correctness.

Country Report

KUWAIT: A RACE FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION

Kuwait | Country Report Kuwait is at a crossroads. Despite huge financial reserves, the Persian Gulf state must speed up project implementation to revive a stagnant economy far too dependent on oil revenues.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

MIDEAST: REDUCING HYDROCARBON DEPENDENCE

Middle East | Emerging Markets Regional Review The drop in oil prices is likely to affect public spending in the rentier states of the Persian Gulf, and pressure is mounting on governments to reduce economic dependency on hydrocarbons.