Oman’s Bank Sohar Q1 Net Jumps 31%

Net loans and advances climbed 17 per cent to 1.31 billion rials, while customers’deposits increased 8 per cent to 1.41 billion rials.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Q1 Net Profit Up 15% On Investment Income

Net earnings in the three months to March 31 were SAR126.4 million ($33.7 million), compared to SAR110.1 million in the same period a year earlier.

Saudi Electricity Q1 Net Loss Widens 39% On Higher Costs

The company lost 913 million riyals during the three months to March 31, compared to 657 million riyals during the same period of the previous year.

Kuwait’s Zain Says Sued For $4.5bn Over Iraq Telco Buy

The company, which filed a lawsuit, claims Zain’s takeover had stopped the firm buying Iraqna, causing it losses of $4.5 billion.

Bahrain’s GIB Plans 2bn Saudi Riyal Note Issue

Gulf International Bank plans to issue floating rate notes with a lifespan of five years through a private placement in Saudi Arabia.

First Gulf Bank Rebrands For Expansion Drive

UAE lender says the rebrand signals its clear plans to grow.

Volatility Boosts Forex Trading Investment

Despite a recovery in yields across asset classes such as equities and real estate, the liquidity and volatility of the forex industry remains attractive to regional investors.

ADCB To Buy $122.5m SME Loan Portfolio From Mubadala GE

The portfolio, which comprises loans to SMEs in the UAE, will strengthen the bank’s position in the sector.

National Bank Of Oman Q1 Profit Rises 20%

The bank made a profit of $26.75 million in the first three months of 2014, according to a statement in Oman bourse.

Kuwait Finance House Q1 Profit Rises But Misses Estimates

Net profit rose to 26.06 million dinars in the first three months of 2014 from 23 million dinars in the same period a year ago.

China Says To Help Qatar Central Bank Buy Chinese Bonds

This is the latest step to widen foreign access to Chinese capital markets.

Majority Of UAE Parents Fund Children’s Education Through Current Income

The study found that the majority of parents in the UAE were financially ill prepared for their children’s education.

Etihad Toughens Stance On Alitalia Deal But Talks Continue-Sources

The Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has been looking at Alitalia’s books for a possible investment since the start of the year.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala 2013 Profit Jumps On Financial Investments

Mubadala, which has stakes in GE and private equity firm Carlyle, saw net profit tripling over the last year.

Saudi Retailer Jarir Says Board Recommends SAR1.83 Q1 Dividend

The figure is slightly higher than the SAR1.60 per share that the firm paid in the corresponding period of 2013

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank Considers Sale Or Merger

The deal, estimated to be worth $5 billion, would be the largest banking transaction in the region for the past 20 years.

Qatar Islamic Bank Posts 15% Q1 Net Profit Increase

The bank made a net profit of $92 million in the opening three months of 2014.

HSBC Bank Oman Says Agrees Indian Business Sale To Qatar’s Doha Bank

The deal is due to be completed in the second half of 2014, a statement said.

Oman’s Bank Muscat Q1 Net Profit Jumps 59%

The bank made a quarterly profit of 39.76 million rials ($103.3 million) in the three months to March 31.

Coca-Cola Sales Beat Estimates As China Volumes Soar

Global case volumes rose two per cent in the quarter while those in China rose 12 per cent, the company said.

Dubai’s Takaful Emarat Expects To Post Q1 Profit

The company’s past financial statements show it last reported a quarterly profit in the first quarter of 2009.

Dubai’s IMG Theme Park Gets $327m Islamic Loan

Proceeds will be used to expand the $1 billion Worlds of Adventure theme park.

Saudi Samba Financial Group Q1 Profit Up 7%

The bank attributed the profit rise to a drop in operating expenses.

Saudi Miner Ma’aden Q1 Profit Falls 48% As Metal Prices Drop

Ma’aden made a profit of 125.2 million riyals ($33.4 million) in the three months to March 31.

Saudi Banks Urged To Be Less Conservative

A conservative approach to lending has hampered the growth of the Kingdom’s banks, according to a new report.

Kuwait’s Gulf Bank Q1 Net Profit Climbs 10%

The country’s fourth-largest lender by assets said net profit for the first quarter was $31.1 million.

Saudi’s Yansab Q1 Net Profit Drops 16.7% On Lower Prices

Yansab said the profit fall was due to lower prices and higher sales and maintenance costs.

New UAE Law To Award 10% Of Government Contracts To SMEs

The law is expected to be enacted within three months or less, the UAE economy minister said.

Europe’s Top Banks Cut 80,000 More Staff In Post-Crisis Overhaul

Banks across the globe have shrunk radically since the 2008 collapse of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers sparked the financial crisis.

Qatar Lender CBQ Foreign Ownership Limit Upped To 25%

The bank did not state what its previous cap was but official data showed foreign investors owned 15.21 per cent at the end of Sunday.