Saudi Central Bank Predicts Stable Q2 Inflation

Saudi consumer prices rose two per cent from a year earlier in March.

Emirates Airline 2014 Net Profit Jumps 40% On Lower Oil Price

The airline’s Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said lower oil prices had saved Emirates around Dhs2 billion during the financial year.

Oman’s Bank Sohar Says $104m Rights Issue Oversubscribed

In total, shares worth OMR53.28 million were bid for under the capital increase, which saw 228.8 million new shares sold to investors.

Kuwait Finance House Says May Sell Malaysia Unit

It did not provide any details such as a timeline or a potential sale price of the unit.

Saudi Market Opening Will Take Time To Boost To Local Managers – Jadwa CEO

Jadwa, Saudi’s largest private investment firm, expects inflows to reach between $40 billion and $50 billion in the medium to long term.

Saudi Regulator Approves IPO Of Aviation Ground Handler

Saudi Ground Services Co, a unit of national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, plans to sell 30 per cent of its shares.

UAE’s Tabreed Seeks Shareholder Nod for Dhs1bn Bond Buyback

Tabreed said the bond buyback will be financed through a new loan it secured during a debt refinancing last year.

MasterCard Doubles Card Numbers In Middle East, Africa

Partnerships with governments have helped the company boost card numbers in the region, a senior official said.

US Regulator Sues Two UAE Traders For Allegedly Spoofing Gold Futures

Both individuals are traders of CME Group Inc’s gold and silver futures contracts on its Comex exchange in New York.

Saudi’s Riyad Bank Plans Capital-boosting Bond Issue

Saudi Arabia’s fourth-largest lender by assets, plans to issue 4 billion riyals ($1.07 billion) of bonds.

Saudi Privatisation May Accelerate, Says Tadawul CEO

Adel al-Ghamdi said he believed 10 companies might be possible candidates for privatisation

Dubai’s DP World To Start Benchmark USD Bond Meetings Thursday

Sources told Reuters last month that the firm could raise between $750 million and $1 billion from the senior unsecured Reg S/Rule 144A issue.

Saudi Sets Ownership Caps As $575bn Bourse Opens To Foreigners

A single foreign investor will be able to hold no more than 5 per cent of any listed company, while total foreign ownership of a firm will be limited to 20 per cent.

Bahrain Cabinet Approves $9.47bn Budget For 2015 -BNA

The budget assumed an oil price of $60 a barrel, forecasting a budget deficit of about BD1.47 billion for 2015.

Kuwait’s Burgan Bank Q1 Net Profit Rises 2%, Misses Estimates

Burgan made a net profit of KD17.54 million ($58.2 million) in the first quarter of 2015.

Saudi’s Al Muhaidib Buys Stake In Kuwaiti Building Supplies Chain Abyat

The deal will help Abyat expand into the wider Gulf region, with Al Muhaidib Group benefiting from an increased presence in the sector.

UAE’s ADIB Q1 Profit Up 10.1% On Higher Revenues

ADIB made a net profit of Dhs450.8 million ($122.8 million) in the first quarter of 2015.

Abu Dhabi’s Dolphin Energy Seeks Adviser For $1bn Loan -Sources

The firm is looking for what bankers termed “incremental finance”, sources said.

UAE Loan Demand Growth Moderating, Credit Standards Tightening -Central Bank

Lower oil prices had only a minor impact on UAE credit conditions, with no effect on demand for business loans or credit standards, a new survey shows.

Stock News: Saudi Arabia Rises On Oil, Egypt Falls On Tax Concerns

Brent crude hit a new 2015 high of $66.93 per barrel on Thursday before easing slightly on Friday.

UAE’s EIBOR Panel To Stop Fixing Rates On Saturdays

Currently, a fixing is scheduled for every day other than Friday.

Kuwait’s KIPCO Q1 Net Profit Rises By 17%

Net profit in the three months to March 31 was KD12 million.

Bahrain’s GFH Says To Buy Mall In Saudi Arabia For $48m

The investment will produce an average semi-annual cash return of 12 per cent, GFH said.

Bahrain Central Bank Puts Bank, Insurer Into administration

the central bank did not elaborate on why it took the action against Future Bank and Iran Insurance Co.

Saudi Central Bank Says Would Welcome Insurance Mergers

A number of Saudi insurance firms have been loss-making for years because of severe competition in the market.

RBS Returns Qatar Banking licence, Country Head Departs

RBS, 79 per cent owned by the British government, is shrinking its corporate and institutional banking business in the Middle East.

Global Investment House Says Files To Relist In Kuwait

The timing for the listing would be dependent on approval from Kuwait’s Capital Markets Authority.

Qatar Wealth Fund To Open New York Office As U.S. Portfolio Grows

The office opening is part of the fund’s strategy to shift its focus from Europe to Asia and the US.

High Living Costs Impact UAE Residents’ Ability To Leave An Inheritance- Survey

The majority of UAE residents want to leave behind an inheritance but only a fraction are confident of doing so, a new survey says.

Oman’s United Finance Gets Acquisition Proposal From National Bank Of Oman

Any deal would require the approval of the board of directors, the shareholders and the regulators, United Finance said in a statement.