Middle East Archives

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Banking

Country Report: Saudi Arabia

OPEN FOR BUSINESS By Gordon Platt Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its stock markets to foreign investment, and it has reinforced its financial management team in preparation for this and broader economic reforms. Saudi Arabia, the ...

Banking

Sector Report: Middle East Telecoms

SOWING SEEDS OF CHANGE By Anita Hawser The Arab Spring heralded the beginnings of reform and showed the growing importance of social media in enabling communal action. The telecoms sector in the Middle East has been forever changed ...

Banking

Country Report: Kuwait

LONG-TERM VISION By Justin Keay Kuwait’s development in recent years has been driven by the state, with little FDI. However, upcoming elections promise a new government that could improve the business climate for foreign investors. When protesters ...

Banking

EM Regional Review: Middle East

THE ARAB SPRING’S COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES By Gordon Platt Countries in the region are evaluating the economic outcome of social and political upheaval—both the opportunities and the challenges. Commercial International Bank, Egypt’s largest private sector bank, ...

Banking

Fischer Still Seeking New Employment

NEWSMAKERS: ISRAEL By David Lipkin Former French finance minister Christine Lagarde may have secured the top job at the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF), but some fund insiders are still gunning for Stanley Fischer, governor of the Central ...

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SAFEST EMERGING MARKET BANKS IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2011

Global Finance names the Safest Emerging Market Banks 2011 in the Middle East NEW YORK, November 3, 2011 Global Finance...

Country Report

Country Report: Lebanon

WAIT AND SEE By Justin Keay Lebanon has tumbled from its economic boom in 2010. Investors are holding back to see how the new government fares. So far, its reform progress is less than impressive. But with the ...

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Central Banker Report Cards 2011: Middle East & Africa

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Angola José de Lima Massano Grade: B The performance of Angola’s economy depends more on oil prices than on monetary policy. José de Lima Massano, former CEO of Banco Africano de Investimentos, was appointed central bank ...

Country Report

Country Report: Israel

RESPONSIBILITY AND REFORM By Gilly Wright Responsible fiscal and monetary policies and a host of reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy have allowed Israel to become one of the world’s most attractive places for foreign investment. But change ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Emerging Markets Roundup: Middle East

BAHRAIN: PROTESTS IMPACT THE ECONOMY By Gordon Platt Political unrest in Bahrain in February and March may have cost the economy as much as $2 billion. New governor at Dubai International Financial Centre Essam Fakhro, chairman of the ...

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WORLD’S 50 BIGGEST BANKS 2011

Global Finance ranks the 50 Biggest Banks China Breaks Into The Top 10 NEW YORK, September 7, 2011 Global Finance...

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WORLDS BEST GLOBAL BANKS 2011

Global Finance names the World’s Best Global Banks 2011 NEW YORK, August 22, 2011 Global Finance magazine (GFmag.com) has announced...