New ADIB Global Sukuk Fund raises more than $160m

The fund was launched in October last year

Bitcoin climbs after inflation jump revives hedging argument

The largest cryptocurrency by market value rose as much as 3.1 per cent to $44,001 on Wednesday

Mideast’s biggest bank raised provisions and remains on alert

Qatar National Bank’s 2021 net income rose to QR13.2bn from QR12bn a year ago

Apicorp and IsDB partner in $1bn infrastructure financing initiative

The joint ‘Infra Initiative’ aims to incentivise more private sector investments and mobilise funding for utility projects

Nasdaq Dubai

Nasdaq Dubai records $23.1bn sukuk and bond listings in 2021

The 30 listings undertaken in 2021 were 15.5 per cent higher than the number of listings the previous year

One of the world’s biggest wealth funds targets sustainable finance

Kuwait Investment Authority has applied the ESG standard set by an independent globally-recognised ESG benchmark provider

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development announces investment in Thailand’s tourism, hospitality sector

The properties in which the fund is investing have more than 760 rooms combined

Brazil UAE

The role of SMEs in boosting the trade relationship between Brazil and the UAE

Small businesses account for 99 per cent of all enterprises in Brazil and 95 per cent of private sector companies in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange partners with FTSE Russell to create new benchmark indices

The FTSE ADX General Index will replace the ADX General Index, as of January 10

economy

Central Banks can shape the future of digital finance

CBDCs could serve a purpose that ordinary cash can’t, by creating a new channel for monetary policy

Hisham Khalid Tawfiq Abdulkhaliq

ADQ appoints new chairman of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

Hisham Khalid Tawfiq Abdulkhaliq Malak also serves as the undersecretary of the Department of Finance

Bitcoin declines to lowest level since December’s flash crash

Bitcoin has surged more than 500 per cent since the end of 2019

Saudi pension fund says returns hit 14%

The returns were due to its long-term portfolio allocation and market performance

Warba Bank nasdaq dubai

Warba Bank lists $250m sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The total value of the Kuwaiti bank’s sukuk on the exchange stands at $898m

UAE’s new digital bank Zand set to launch ‘imminently’ after Dubai Bank acquisition

Dubai Bank, acquired from Emirates NBD, will be relaunched as Zand

UAE looks to attract Asian firms to bolster crypto sector

The UAE has intensified its push to adopt the use of blockchain in recent years

EFG Hermes advises TPG’s Evercare Group on $72.4m IDC deal

IDC, a radiology and pathology diagnostics service provider in Pakistan, provides imaging and lab services across a national network of over 80 branches in 30 cities

Dubai World Trade Centre to become regulator for virtual assets and crypto

DWTC will be designing a comprehensive ecosystem for this sector within Dubai

Saudi food delivery company Jahez prices IPO at top of range

The company plans to sell just over two million shares to raise about SAR1.8bn.

dirhams

UAE Central Bank extends economic support measures until June 30

Prudential relief measures regarding banks’ capital buffers and liquidity and stable funding requirements will be extended by six months

Voices from the top: Josette Rizk, director of institutional clients, MEA, Invesco

Invesco’s client-centric approach has enabled its EMEA business to grow in assets under management

RAKBank appoints new CEO

Raheel Ahmed succeeds Peter England, who will retire after leading the bank for over eight years

Reddit says it filed confidentially for US IPO

The number of shares and proposed price range for an IPO haven’t been determined

Voices from the top: Raja Al Mazrouei, executive vice president, DIFC FinTech Hive

2022 will build on the roots of opportunities created in 2021

UAE Central Bank mulls emiratisation of some banking and insurance roles

The board also endorsed the criteria that govern banks’ loan exposure to the real estate sector

Saudi wealth fund PIF raises $3.2bn from sale of STC stake

The Public Investment Fund offered 120 million shares in Saudi Telecom at SAR100 each

Dubai plans to list district cooling firm Empower in IPO push

The government said last month it wants to sell shares in 10 companies, and it has been encouraging private and family-owned businesses to follow suit

Voices from the top: Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, Standard Chartered UAE

Standard Chartered recently announced its Q3 results which demonstrated a return to top-line growth

IHC’s Multiply Group starts trading on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

The group had assets of Dhs8.16bn and 3,240 employees as at end of September 2021

Bitcoin plunges over 20% in another sign of global market nerves

The swings in cryptocurrencies come amid a volatile period for financial markets