Kuwait’s Burgan Gets Approval For Stake Buy In Maltese Bank

The lender has received regulatory approval to buy a 25 per cent stake in Malta’s Fimbank.

Jeddah’s Islamic Development Bank Sells $1bn Sukuk

The senior, unsecured notes priced at a profit rate of 1.535 per cent, arranging banks said.

UBP Snaps Up Lloyds International Private Banking Arm

Lloyds also said on Wednesday that it would close its business in Dubai and intended to withdraw from South Africa.

UAE Revives Plans To Build Currency Mint

The UAE’s currency, the dirham, is currently printed overseas in countries such as the UK and France.

Oman Considers Dollar Bond Issue In 2014 – Central Bank

The non-OPEC oil exporter’s only previous international bond was a $225 million Eurobond sold in March 1997.

Saudi Finance Minister Says 2013 Growth Will Top 4.4%

The International Monetary Fund forecasted Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth at 4.4 per cent, down from 6.8 per cent in 2012.

Ex-RBS MidEast And Africa CEO Joins Abu Dhabi Bank

Penney, who resigned from RBS in March, will join First Gulf Bank as head of its expanding wholesale banking division.

Kuwait Grants Oman $2.5bn In Development Aid

The Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development will supply the amount in annual installments over a 10-year period.

Indians In UAE Spend Heavily On Rent – Survey

Children’s education and travel are some of the other key expenses for NRIs in the UAE, finds new study.

Abu Dhabi Fund ADIA Turning To Emerging Markets

The fund raised its exposure limit on Chinese equities to $500 million from $200 million in the third quarter.

Stock News: Kuwait Makes Biggest One-Day Gain In Over Four Years

The Kuwaiti index climbs 2.1 per cent to finish at 8,322 points.

Dubai Fund ICD May Raise $2bn Loan Target After Heavy Demand

The loan has been marketed since mid-March, with $1.6 billion of the $2 billion target already pledged by the eight arranging banks.

Two Bahraini Banks In Merger Talks As Consolidation Picks Up

The merger between Al Salam Bank and BMI Bank will create a lender with assets of around BD1.7 billion.

Qatar Sovereign Fund Buys Stake In Russian Bank VTB

Qatar Holding, along with Azerbaijan’s SOFAZ and Norges Bank Investment Management, invested $479-639 million each in VTB.

Abu Dhabi Lender ADCB To Price Subordinated Bond

Early price talk for the 10-year deal, which is not redeemable for five years, was released at 230 basis points over five-year midswaps.

Qatar’s Doha Bank May Sell Bonds To Raise Capital – CEO

The lender had said in January that it would hike its paid-up capital by 50 per cent.

REVEALED: The Biggest Banks In Qatar

Taken from the Gulf Business Top 50 Banks, these are the biggest banks in Qatar by 2012 total assets.

IMF: Dubai Will Meet Debt Obligations

The International Monetary Fund’s regional report warns unemployment figures and diversifying economies are still an issue.

Qatar National Bank To Start India Operations

The state-owned lender expects to begin operations in the third quarter under the name of QNB India Private Limited.

Gulf Capital To Raise $360m From Islamic Loan

The funds raised will partly be used to buy a new vessel, refinance debt and pay investors dividends.

Abu Dhabi’s IPIC To Use $4bn Pipeline Payment To Repay Debt

The state-owned firm built a crude oil pipeline from Habshan to Fujairah in the UAE.

Inflation A Potential Risk For Saudi Economy – IMF

The IMF predicts Saudi’s overall growth to reach 4.4 per cent this year, due partly to an expected decline in oil output.

REVEALED: The Biggest Banks In The UAE

Taken from the Gulf Business Top 50 Banks, these are the biggest banks in the UAE by 2012 total assets.

Qatar Sets Up $1bn Energy Infrastructure Fund

The new fund will be run by Qatar Holding, Qatar Petroleum International and Qatar Electricity and Water Company.

Gulf Wealth Funds Raising Private Equity Investments

Average allocations to PE by the region’s developmental wealth funds have increased by 33 per cent in the last 12 months.

Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm Seeks $850m Loan

The hotel is raising the syndicated loan to refinance existing debt and provide new funds.

Britain’s Islamic Bank BLME Seeks Stronger Gulf Ties – CEO

The Bank of London and The Middle East plans to open an office in Dubai this year to help boost its capital markets.

Qatar Holding, Italy Fund Eyeing Versace

In April, Versace CEO Gian Giacomo Ferraris said the house may consider opening the company to outside investors to help fund expansion

Saudi Regulations Target Stock Market Speculators

The Capital Market Authority announced a series of measures designed to reduce the volatility of shares, make them harder to manipulate and improve the quality of listed companies.

Bahrain Needs To Cut Public Debt After 2012 Spending Boost – IMF

The Gulf state upped its original 2012 expenditure plan by nearly 19 per cent in September 2011.