Bahrain’s Investcorp sells CCC Information Services

Investcorp sold the insurance industry software provider to US-headquartered Leonard Green & Partners.

Exclusive: Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Plans New Digital Acquisition

Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company, which owns a stake in Twitter, is planning a new digital acquisition, its chairman tells Gulf Business in an exclusive interview.

Saudi British Bank Q4 Net Profit Up 24.4%

The lender’s fourth quarter profit rose on higher operating income and a drop in expenses.

Riyad Bank Q4 Profit Misses Forecasts

The Saudi lender reported a rise of 4.1% in net with full year growth of 10.1 per cent.

Bank Of America To Increase Gulf Lending

The investment bank expects activity to pick up in the MENA region in 2013.

Doha Bank Sells Shares To Increase Capital

The Qatari bank will hold a local rights issue as it plans to match the capital levels of its peers.

Morgan Stanley To Trim Dubai Staff Amid Global Cuts

The bank plans to slash 1,600 jobs globally to reduce costs.

New UAE Mortgage Rules Seen Positive For Banks

The UAE central bank reportedly plans to issue broad regulations for the housing mortgage industry this year.

Oil Revenue Puts Kuwait’s Budget Surplus At $52bn

Total revenue for April-November was 21.6 billion dinars while spending reached a mere 6.9 billion dinars.

UAE Central Bank Plans Broad Mortgage Rules By Mid-2013 – Sources

The new regulations are expected to include the mortgage caps introduced by the central bank late last year.

QNB Posts 11.1% Rise In 2012 Net Profit; Plans To Hire Thousands

Qatar National Bank, the Gulf state’s biggest lender, made a record net profit of QAR8.3 billion last year.

Kuwait Investment Authority Had $261bn Assets In 2012

Kuwait’s Future Generations Fund is a nest egg for when the economy suffers shocks.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Completes $80m Land Sale

The company made a profit of SAR185 million on the sale of the land located near Riyadh.

Dubai’s DFM Up 20% In 2012

The Dubai bourse was the GCC’s best performing stock market.

Emirates NBD Islamic Unit In Rights Issue

Dubai’s biggest bank will offer 1.5 billion shares at Dhs1 each between January 25 and February 3.

Dubai Announces Drive To Develop Islamic Business

The emirate plans to form a committee to work on six major initiatives under the project.

Oman Plans To Merge State Pension Funds

The Gulf state aims to merge eight state-run pension funds to improve efficiency.

Qatar To Lend Egypt $2.5bn Extra In Aid

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani has said $0.5 billion will be a grant while $2 billion a deposit.

Citigroup CEO Corbat Names New Executive Team

The bank’s new organisational chart shows 13 managers under Corbat.

Bahraini Islamic Banks Complete Rare Gulf Banking Merger

Capivest, Elaf Bank and Capital Management House have merged after more than a year of negotiations.

Nakheel Issues $33m Sukuk As Part Of Debt Deal

The proceeds will be used to settle trade creditor claims against the Dubai developer.

Bahrain’s Arcapita Sells Stake In London Care Facilities

The investment firm is currently in the midst of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

UAE Banks To Push For Delay Of New Mortgage Rules

A UAE central bank circular issued last week said mortgage loans for foreigners should not exceed 50 per cent of the property value.

Egypt Committed To IMF Talks – New Finance Minister

Egypt is holing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to get a $4.8 billion loan.

Bahrain’s Alba Gets Loans To Pay Off $169m Bond Maturing In 2013

Alba received a five-year $85 million loan from Bahrain’s Gulf International Bank and a three-year loan from a group of banks.

Dubai Islamic Bank To Fully Acquire Mortgage Firm Tamweel

The Dubai-based lender already owns a 58.2 per cent stake in Tamweel.

Banking Special: Kuwait Faces Long And Winding Recovery

Kuwait’s gridlocked political situation is stymying its banking sector.

Banking Special: Good Growth Prospects In Oman

Oman’s economy and its banking sector are performing well.

Wealthy Gulf Investors Begin To Eye Africa

Africa’s vast lands, fast economic growth and a sense of political stability are all attracting regional investors.

State Spending Could Spur Oman’s Tiny Bourse

Oman’s stock index rose 1.2 per cent last year and outperformed Qatar and Bahrain.