Stock News: Dubai’s Arabtec Extends Drop

Arabtec confirmed on Tuesday that it had laid off a “limited number” of staff to improve productivity.

France Wins $2.7bn Qatar Tram Deal, Discusses Rafale Jets

The deal will see the light rail system starting to operate in 2018-20 in Lusail City.

UAE Lender NBAD’s Head Of Asset Management Quits

Mark Watts, who joined the bank in 2010, resigned for personal reasons, sources said.

Stock News: Dubai’s Arabtec Hits Sentiment Across The Gulf

The company’s stock fell its daily limit of 10 per cent for a second session in a row.

Dollar/Saudi Riyal Forwards Jump On Iraq Conflict

One-year dollar/Saudi riyal forwards jumped as high as 50.50 points, their highest level since the Arab Spring uprisings hit the Middle East in March 2011.

Abu Dhabi’s Al Hilal Bank Plans $500m Capital-Boosting Sukuk

The transaction is earmarked to price in the area of six per cent, a document from lead arrangers showed.

Saudi’s SAFCO Says Plant Start-Up Delayed, Trims H1 Dividend

The delay in the start-up of the plant was due to construction work falling behind the original timetable, a statement to the Saudi stock market said.

Barwa Real Estate Selling Project To Qatari Diar For $2.5bn

The stake will be sold to Labregah Real Estate Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qatari Diar, the developer said in a statement on Qatar’s bourse.

Saudi Shipper Bahri Plans Long-Term Financing To Replace Vela Buy Debt

The purchase of Vela paves the way for a deal which makes Bahri the world’s fourth-largest owner of very large crude carriers (VLCCs).

Oman Power Firms To Start Trading Monday After IPOs Attract Demand

Al Suwadi Power Co and Al Batinah Power Co, each offered a 35 per cent stake to the public in offerings worth a combined $162.9 million.

Abu Dhabi Exchange Signs Bonds Listing, Trading Agreement

As per the deal, bonds can be listed and traded through the exchange by local and international investors, with NBAD using its account with Euroclear to process the transactions.

Saudi’s Almarai, Pepsico To Invest $345m In Egypt

The investment will be conducted through Egypt’s International Company for Agro-Industrial Projects.

Egypt Investment Minister Projects $10bn Foreign Investment Next Year

Gulf Arab allies have sent billions of dollars in aid to Egypt after Mursi’s fall, which analysts say saved the country from bankruptcy.

Different Arab money

Growth In UAE, Saudi, Qatar Drawing Global Funds To Set Up Shop

Nomura Asset Management and Lazard Asset Management have opened new offices in Dubai this year.

Qatar Central Bank Says To Be Flexible With Govt Bond Issues

Qatar’s central bank chief Sheikh Abdullah said future sales of government bonds with longer maturities would depend on both liquidity conditions and investor demand.

Former CEO Of Dubai’s Arabtec Says Will Hold On To Stake

Hasan Ismaik who resigned from Arabtec on Wednesday, holds a 28.85 per cent stake in the company.

Saudi’s Al Rajhi Capital To Launch First Sukuk Fund

Al Rajhi is the Kingdom’s biggest listed lender and the world’s largest Islamic bank,

Saudi Electricity Co Says Signs $13.2bn Interest-Free Government Loan

The loan has a lifespan of 15 years but there is a grace period of ten years before repayments begin, a statement to Riyadh’s bourse said.

Banque Saudi Fransi Says Completes SAR2bn Capital-Boosting Sukuk

The transaction, which will boost the bank’s Tier 2 – or supplementary – capital, will support Banque Saudi Fransi’s capital base and future growth.

India Plans To Pay $1.65bn Iran Oil Dues Via UAE Central Bank

Under the proposed new arrangement, the Reserve Bank of India would buy the dollars from authorised currency dealers, instead of the Indian oil buyers tapping the currency market.

UAE Ranks 12th Globally By Proportion of Millionaire Households

According to the report, 3.3 per cent of UAE households hold private wealth of at least $1million.

Dubai’s Arabtec Says To Protect Shareholders After CEO Quits

The company confirmed the appointment of Mohamed Al Fahim as Arabtec’s acting CEO for an unspecified “temporary period”.

Dubai’s Arabtec CEO Resigns; Fahim To Be Acting CEO

Dubai builder Arabtec’s share price plunged as much as 50 per cent in the last six weeks.

Almost 50% Of Middle East’s Finance Professionals Want To Change Jobs

A new survey finds that a quarter of finance professionals said that lack of career progression was one of the main reasons for changing jobs.

Saudis To Keep Reserve Management Strategy – Central Bank

The country’s net foreign assets are currently worth about $730 billion.

UAE’s RAKBANK Launches $500m Debut Bond Issue

RAKBANK, rated BBB-plus by Fitch, attracted books of over $1.5 billion for its offer.

Commercial Bank Of Qatar Tightens Guidance For Five-Year Bond

The lender has gathered more than $2.25 billion in orders for its bond sale so far.

Commercial Bank of Qatar To Price Benchmark 5-yr Bond On Tuesday

The lender has mandated Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, HSBC and Morgan Stanley to arrange the bond sale.

UAE’s RAKBANK Sets Initial Price Thoughts For Debut Bond Sale – Leads

The lender expects to price a deal this week, a document from lead managers said.

Up to 25% Of Top 50 Global Banks Will Launch A Banking App Store by 2016 – Gartner

Banks need to adopt a more simplified approach to apps in order for customers to fully grasp the concept, says Gartner.