UAE’s Mubadala 2014 Profit Drops On Investment Income, Provisions

The fund said in a statement it made a net profit of Dhs1.04 billion in 2014, down from Dhs1.45 billion in the previous year.

Bahrain’s BKIC Takes 10.8% Stake In Takaful International

BKIC bought 6.7 million shares of Takaful International valued at $1.52 million from Kuwait’s Osoul Investment Co, a statement said.

Dubai’s DP World To Buy Canada’s Fairview Container Terminal For $457m

The terminal, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, has a capacity of 850,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).

UAE Companies Law Eases Flotations, Seeks More Investment

The law reduces the minimum “free float” of shares in company flotations on the UAE’s two main stock markets to 30 per cent from 55 per cent.

Stock News: Stronger Oil Supports Saudi; Hollywood Deal Lifts Dubai

Brent crude oil futures reversed early losses to rally to $55.50 barrel.

Dubai Bank CBD To Buy $817m Of UAE Company Loans From RBS

The portfolio of loans was mostly to large United Arab Emirates-based companies.

Bahrain Launches Wakala Liquidity Tool For Islamic Banks

The one-week wakala contracts will allow the banks to deposit excess funds with the central bank.

StanChart Senior CEO Shankar Quits In Latest Management Change

V. Shankar has resigned as CEO of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Americas after 13 years at the bank.

Kuwait’s NBK Sets Price Guidance For Capital-Boosting Bond

The lender has set price guidance for the bond, which will boost its Tier 1 — or core — capital, at 5.875 per cent on Wednesday.

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank Appoints New Chairman

Hamad al-Humaidhi has been appointed the new chairman of Ahli United Bank.

Dubai Islamic Bank Makes Offer For Remaining Tamweel Shares

The bank currently holds 86.5 per cent of Tamweel.

UAE’s TAQA Slashes Capex Plans, Dividend, After Big Q4 Loss

The company lost Dhs3.63 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.

HSBC Bank Oman Completes Sale Of India Assets To Doha Bank

Shareholders of Doha Bank, Qatar’s fifth-largest lender by assets, approved the purchase in December 2014.

Abu Dhabi’s TDIC Delays Fundraising Plans For Huge Shopping Mall – Sources

The move by the Abu Dhabi state-owned investment fund casts doubt on whether this key part of the emirate’s infrastructure plans will go ahead.

GCC States Move Towards Introducing VAT

A legal team has been assigned to build a framework by May this year for the eventual introduction of VAT in the region.

National Bank Of Kuwait Sets IPTs For Benchmark Dollar Tier 1 Bond

The bond will be issued through a special purpose vehicle, NBK Tier I Financing Ltd, and be guaranteed by NBK.

Saudi’s Sidra Capital Opening Islamic Trade Fund To GCC Investors

The fund provides working capital to small businesses focusing on agricultural commodities, energy and metals, a segment often neglected by Islamic lenders.

Global FDI Flows Fall 8% In 2014 As Economic Growth Falters

Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the UAE, which although grew 25 per cent in 2014, did not reach the estimated amount of $14.4 billion.

Dubai’s Drake & Scull Proposes No 2014 Dividend

The company’s profit fell to Dhs100.7 million ($27.42 million) in 2014 from Dhs166.5 million a year earlier.

Saudi To Link Foreign Investment To Infrastructure Projects

Prince Saud K. Al Faisal said that under a new programme, the government would propose investments linked to such state spending plans.

Qatari Investors To Pay $5bn For 49% Shandong Dongming Petchem Stake

The cash will be used to finance a number of projects that Shandong is currently working on.

Saudi Aramco Says Signs $10bn Dual-Currency Loan

The loan will replace an existing $4 billion facility due to mature later this year.

Bahrain’s Mumtalakat, Investcorp Acquire Private School Network In US

Nobel Learning, which operates 176 schools across 18 states, was acquired from Leeds Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Gains Board Approval For $117m Rights Issue

The rights issue would be in addition to the planned Tier 1 bond of $300 million.

Agility Trims 2014 Dividend Despite 10% Q4 Net Profit Gain

The firm said in a statement on Sunday its net profit in the last quarter of 2014 grew to $45.7 million.

Qatar’s Bourse Says Plans Rights Issue Trading

The bourse gave no specific timeline for the reform.

UAE’s Islamic Banking Assets To Reach $263bn By 2019

Islamic banking assets in the Emirates crossed $1 billion in 2014, a new report says.

CEO Of Bank of London and The Middle East To Resign In June

Humphrey Percy, who has served as CEO since August 2006, will also step down as a board member of the bank, BLME said.

Credit Suisse Raises UAE Equities To Overweight From Neutral

The key risks for the UAE stock markets are an escalation of the military conflict in Yemen and renewed weakness in oil prices, Credit Suisse said.

Rising Costs Facing Mideast Firms In Fight Against Financial Crime

Many companies polled said that compliance costs had surged by more than 50 per cent over the last two years.