Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain’s Investcorp posts 5% rise in annual net profit

Investcorp is giving up its wholesale banking license in Bahrain to convert itself into a holding company

Saudi accuses 32 people of spying for Iran

Saudi ‘well positioned’ to face uncertainty in global economy – central bank

A potential rise in Saudi bank rates will also have limited impact on growth, the central bank said

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund appoints new CEO

Khalid al-Rumaihi replaces Mahmood Alkooheji, who was CEO since Mumtalakat was established in 2006

Global trade war rattles GCC stocks

Tumbling crude oil prices also affected the markets

Banque Saudi Fransi quarterly net profit down 4.4% on Islamic tax provision

The drop came despite a 2.5 per cent rise in operating income

More regulatory oversight needed in the UAE’s capital markets – Daman Investments chairman

The UAE capital markets have suffered “major blows to their corporate governance framework” over the past two years

Abu Dhabi Financial Group and Shuaa Capital complete merger

The Abu Dhabi Financial Group also increased its authorised capital to $692m

MENA fund managers to boost UAE investments, bearish on Saudi

Dubai was one of the worst-performing markets globally last year, but has rebounded with its benchmark index up almost 15 per cent so far

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman says on track to implement VAT

No date was given for the implementation of the new tax

Dubai lender Emirates NBD to support Denizbank if capital increase needed

Emirates NBD now owns 99.85 per cent of the Turkish lender

Different Arab money

Saudi, UAE, Bahrain cut interest rates after Fed

The Federal Reserve lowered US interest rates for the first time in over a decade

Saudi’s biggest bank NCB posts 24% rise in Q2 profit

The bank reported a net profit of SAR2.69bn in the quarter ended June 30

Dubai regulator imposes its largest fine over Abraaj saga

Abraaj Investment Management Ltd and Abraaj Capital Ltd were ordered to pay the amount in the first major fines on the company that collapsed last year

Dubai’s DIFC adds 250 companies, 660 new jobs in first half of the year

The total number of active registered firms in the centre now stands at 2,289

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala says assets grew by 80% to $229bn in 2018

The results are the first since Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined Mubadala last year

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Q2 profit falls 11% on lower income

This is the first combined proforma financials after ADCB merged with Union National Bank and Al Hilal Bank

Oman issues $3bn bonds in its first foray in the international debt markets this year

Investors made orders worth nearly $14bn for the long five-year bonds

Can banks ‘weather’ climate change?

Environmental disasters can disrupt the economy and threaten financial stability

Saudi sovereign fund PIF to cut banks’ returns with new $10bn loan

PIF raised $11bn through a five-year loan last year and is in advanced talks to borrow $10bn more

Dubai stock market touches eight-month high

The Dubai index was boosted by Emaar, which saw strong gains following its China deal

Dubai regulator says Abraaj probe focused on senior management

Dubai’s DFSA has been investigating Abraaj Capital over a range of matters

Saudi Aramco to hold first investor call in August ahead of planned IPO

Aramco plans what would be the world’s biggest stock market listing in 2020 or 2021

Abu Dhabi shares surge on FAB’s strong earnings

First Abu Dhabi Bank reported a 5 per cent increase in net profit for the second quarter

UAE’s largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank posts 5% rise in Q2 profit

The lender said it expects mid-single digit profit growth and high-single digit growth in loans for 2019

Dubai lender Emirates NBD allowed to open 20 more branches in Saudi

Currently the bank has four branches in Saudi – two in Riyadh, one in Jeddah and one in Khobar

Dubai’s Emirates NBD’s Q2 profit surges on asset sale, forex gains

Second-quarter net profit jumped 80 per cent to Dhs4.74bn

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Omani plastics packaging manufacturer OCTAL secures $625m in loans

OCTAL will use part of the bank financing to refinance some of its existing debt and to fund expansion

PE firm Actis takes on management of two Abraaj funds

The transaction includes investments in 14 portfolio companies across the two funds

Emirates Strategic Investments, owned by Sheikh Mansour, plans debut dollar sukuk

The company has a portfolio of assets across different sectors in the UAE

Abu Dhabi financial centre ADGM issues regulations for robo-advisers

Robo-advisors provide investment management services using algorithm-based tools and technology