Featured Articles

September 6, 2011

The UAE markets could make new lows and while 1,450 is a critical support level for the Dubai market, 2,550 is good for Abu Dhabi. Any drop below these levels is going to trigger more downsides
UAE equities could face fresh selling pressure
08:30 GMT
The UAE markets are making a sideways move and the overall trend ranges from negative to neutral, if there’s a selloff on the international markets, the UAE markets which are already weak will be affected.
On a global basis, the rent of retail space in Beirut was less costly than in Luxembourg, Bogota and Stockholm and more expensive than in Santiago, Hanoi and Budapest, as reported by Lebanon This Week
Beirut shops pay 3rd highest rents in Middle East, 37th in world
06:47 GMT
According to property consultants Cushman & Wakefield, Lebanon was one of two countries in the Middle East & Africa region that posted increases in prime rents in the 12 months to June 2011, as rental values in the top shopping areas of Beirut proved resilient to external turmoil.

September 5, 2011

Baseeri said the sovereign debt crisis in the United States and Europe, the loss of the Libyan oil and inflation in China were the main causes for fluctuations in oil prices
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia boost oil output to ease prices
15:33 GMT
Had not a number of OPEC members, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, increased their oil production; so oil prices would have shot above current levels causing a global crisis and contributing to a recession in the global economy which is still recovering from the impact of the 2008 crisis.
Technology can reduce maintenance expenditure by decreasing lifecycle costs for the considerable investments made in aircraft
Technology can help Gulf carriers
15:30 GMT
Technology plays a crucial role in increasing profitability. Gulf carriers can potentially reap significant benefits by embracing solutions that can firstly be easily retrofitted into existing fleets to extend lifecycles and maximise efficiency of current airframes, and secondly equip new and upcoming aircraft to enhance overall performance.
Some estimates put the potential share of the Islamic segment at around 10 percent of Oman’s total banking sector, which currently has assets in excess of $40 billion
Branching into Islamic banking in Oman
15:28 GMT
As new Islamic institutions and conventional banks gear up to launch their sharia-compliant services, the central bank is in the process of developing the regulations needed to provide the proper environment and oversight for Islamic banks.
Motivation remains a crucial factor in cultivating a dynamic and productive workplace; it helps realise the full potential of all members of the organisation, while preventing employees from becoming disengaged at work
Survey shows 55 percent of GCC employees are not engaged at work
09:46 GMT
Employees who are not engaged are those who go through each workday putting time but no passion or energy into their work. Actively disengaged employees are worse as aside from being unhappy at work, they also manifest their discontent through their actions.
The UAE records the largest occupancy rate increase in all of MENA for the second consecutive month and Dubai remains one of the most steadily growing markets in the region
Dubai hotels top regional room yields
08:52 GMT
The emirate’s hotels topped the region’s occupancy charts for the month with 80.8 percent against 70.3 percent experienced in July 2010.
Members of the March 14 opposition have criticized the plan, saying it would allow Bassil access to $1.2 billion without supervision or accountability
Lebanese cabinet to discuss electricity proposal further
08:12 GMT
Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour said Sunday that discussions over the past few days had led to “preliminary conclusions that could see a happy ending for the proposal.”

September 4, 2011

The plan has thrown the government into paralysis, threatening Cabinet solidarity among ministers who supposedly belong to the new Parliament majority which ousted Hariri from the premiership in January
The Lebanese electricity plan.. will it be put into action?
15:55 GMT
The plan, which calls for the allocation of $1.2 billion to the Energy Ministry to build power plants capable of producing 700 megawatts, has exposed a split in the Cabinet between Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun on the one hand, and Mikati and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblat on the other.
Aframax tankers in the Med market are also used to lift crude oil from Syria but a violent five-month-old crackdown on pro-democracy protestors as well as existing sanctions have led to slower aframax trade there
Libya, Syria troubles add to crude tanker rate rout
15:34 GMT
The recent events in Libya offers promise for a return of Libya's crude supply to the market, but a quick return to meaningful volumes seems unlikely.
The stocks in the region selectively present a good buying opportunity, the markets in the region could see a minor upside as they are somewhere near the bottom but they will be driven by international events
Region’s stock markets may rise as oil prices hold firm
15:13 GMT
With the Eid holidays coming to an end, the investors might start building their positions. However, what direction our markets would take would largely be determined by the global investor sentiment.
50 percent of the world's production of industrial goods enters international trade whereas only 25 percent of the world's agricultural production is traded globally
Trade is vital for food security
12:48 GMT
Global integration allows us to think of efficiency beyond national boundaries; it allows us to score efficiency gains on a global scale by shifting agricultural production to where it can best take place.
Risk ratings suggest that Qatar is creditworthy and at low risk of external default
Qatar’s economy among the fastest-growing in the world
11:26 GMT
Qatar will continue to try to diversify its economy, particularly after its successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, but the bulk of private and foreign investment will be focused on the energy sector.
Community developments that are well managed and provide quality facilities and amenities will continue to outperform the market and attract the lion’s share of demand
Property sales will stay sluggish in Dubai
07:12 GMT
Rates are expected to see a fall of 10 to 15 percent across Dubai during the remainder of this year.

September 3, 2011

The government is looking into the possibility of raising the minimum wage, but nothing substantial has been done yet
Private sector in Lebanon rejects LL1.2 mln minimum wage
15:40 GMT
Earlier this year, labor unions began pressing the government to increase the minimum wage, which currently stands at LL500,000, to LL1.2 million following the rise of inflation rates and fuel prices.