Featured Articles

June 4, 2013

In the US money printing has driven the rise in the stock market and house prices and produced an illusion of recovery for the wealthy.
11:58 GMT
The ISM Index at 49 was actually at the lowest level since the depths of the global financial crisis in mid-2009.
Saudi Arabia’s nonoil producing private sector firms indicated rising input stock levels in May.
11:55 GMT
The operating conditions in Saudi Arabia’s nonoil producing private sector strengthened during May.
What Turkey and South Africa have in common are current account deficits
11:42 GMT
Messy politics, economic slowdown and a balance of payments deficit: four days of violent anti-government protests across Turkey are reminding investors of another emerging market - South Africa.
(Photo: Al-Ahram)
11:01 GMT
International Labour Organisation (ILO) forecasts 8.8 percent unemployment in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by 2015, putting region at risk of rising social unrest.

June 3, 2013

Qatari business butterflies
13:43 GMT
Qatar's business community remains cautiously optimistic despite global economic uncertainty and downward pressure on oil prices, according to the Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Business Optimism Index (BOI) survey for Qatar for Q2 2013.
Emerging markets status would see about $370 million flowing into the UAE, HSBC said.
09:05 GMT
The UAE and Qatar are in line for an upgrade to emerging-market status as early as this month, HSBC says, in a move that could help the two Gulf nations attract more investment.
People approaching retirement, aged over 55, are spending 8 to 11 per cent more on their weekly food shopping and public transport fares and other travel costs
07:30 GMT
Rising costs of living are squeezing the monthly budgets of pre-retirees and forcing them to dip into their savings pots just to continue repaying their debts.

June 2, 2013

Qatari National Bank
13:06 GMT
Peak growth and rising unemployment in the eurozone is prompting a change in policy direction away from budget austerity, QNB has said in a report.
One billion dollar stack
09:52 GMT
Robert Mundell, an economist and a 1999 Nobel Prize winner, and current professor at Columbia University and advisor to the Chinese government, has called for a new global currency.
Qatar targets GCC tourists with world-class facilities
06:13 GMT
Qatar is increasing its tourist numbers by 20 percent annually, according to Saeed Al-Hajri, chairman of the tourism committee of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and general manager of Ali Bin Ali Travel Bureau.

May 30, 2013

UAE becomes the most competitive Arab country in the world
14:00 GMT
The UAE has jumped eight places to 8th rank in the latest world competitiveness ranking published by Switzerland-based IMD World Competitiveness Centre on Thursday, from 16th position last year.
Private sector invests SR 28 bn in Saudi ports
13:00 GMT
The private sector has pumped additional investments in Saudi ports estimated at SR 28 billion, and helped the Kingdom generate an income estimated at SR 4 billion annually since the start of the privatization policy.
GCC integrated banking system proposed
11:37 GMT
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will soon study a proposal to integrate the banking system in the region, to make it easier for GCC citizens and companies to open bank accounts in all of the group's six-member countries.
Visitors will continue to spend the most of their travel money in New York
10:51 GMT
Visitors to Dubai are anticipated to spend some $10.4 billion (Dh38.25 billion) this year, the eighth highest expenditure in the world, MasterCard said on Wednesday.
European Central Bank
06:13 GMT
ECB’s Nowotny says world economy on track for second half recovery; Says should not overestimate effect of rate cuts at low level, adding focus should be on measures to provide more liquidity