Finance & markets

Though the Middle East region is home to a great deal of personal wealth, much of it is poorly managed, according to a recent report. (Image Corbis)

Growing business remains the priority of Middle East’s wealthy

by  — 10 September 2014

A new report by Standard Chartered Private Bank highlights the remarkable growth in the wealth of high net worth individuals in the region but warns of a general lack of personal wealth management strategies, particularly in terms of transferring wealth to the next generation. read more ›

HH the Emir approves increase in foreign ownership limits for stock listed on Qatar Exchange

by  — 7 September 2014

In a continuing bid to reform and develop the Qatar Exchange, a formal law has been issued raising foreign ownership limits on listed companies to 49 percent.  read more ›

Yacoub Hobeika, partner of KPMG Qatar and head of family businesses and enterprise, told The Edge that family businesses in Qatar have been exposed to the realities of the strategic and operational challenges by market competition.

Challenges facing family-run businesses

by  — 25 August 2014

KPMG’s Middle East and South Asia steering group for family businesses recently held a meet to address how the firm can best help develop family-run businesses. read more ›

HE Minister of Finance Ali Sharif Al Emadi (right) with HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, governor of QCB, in Tunis to attend the opening ceremony for Arab financial institutions. (Image Reuters/Arabian Eye)

Qatar’s bond markets bring longer domestic tenor option

by  — 8 August 2014

With at least USD210 billion (QAR764.4 billion) to be spent by Qatar’s government and corporate sector on development projects ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and no corollary room for accommodative currency moves, given the enduring QAR3.64 peg against the US dollar, it makes sense for Qatar Central Bank (QCB) to continue to mop up excess monetary liquidity through domestic bond issuances read more ›

Stéphanie Méry, director of financial services, S&P, said that the company expected moderate acceleration in lending growth after the slowdown in 2013.

Stable, low-risk rating from S&P

by  — 22 July 2014

Standard & Poor’s (S&P;) has classified the banking sector of Qatar (AA/Stable/A-1+) in group ‘4’ (the fourth-lowest risk category on a 1-10 scale) under its Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA) criteria.  read more ›

The rise of the Chinese Renminbi is an opportunity for Qatar

by  — 21 July 2014

As China embarks on liberalising the exchange rate, interest rates and the capital account, it is opening up to the world and is promoting the wider global use of its currency, the Renminbi (RMB). This could present opportunities for other countries, including Qatar, to benefit, states a new QNB Group report. read more ›

One of the key challenges for Emerging Markets on the road to becoming developed ones is sustaining superior growth rates over the decades it would take for income levels to converge with those of developed markets.

Can Qatar ever reach Developed Market status?

by  — 15 July 2014

As Qatar is formally included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index with a 0.45 percent weighting, analysts debate if this will be a precursor for the market to become a developed one, not if global market history is a relevant guide, writes Simon Watkins. read more ›

Non-hydrocarbon sector expansion contributes to Qatar economic growth

by  — 6 July 2014

Qatar’s economy accelerated in the first quarter of 2014, driven by strong growth in construction, financial services and trade, restaurants and hotels, according to figures released last week by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS). read more ›

MSCI announces list of Qatari stocks to enter its Emerging Markets index

by  — 15 May 2014

MSCI has announced the final list of Qatari stocks that will join the MSCI Emerging Markets Index upon the upgrade of the Qatari market, which will take effect on June 2nd 2014. read more ›

Middle Eastern involvement in M&A records lowest Q1 total since 2004

by  — 9 April 2014

According to Thomson Reuters' quarterly investment banking analysis for the Middle East region, investment banking fees reached USD120.3 (QAR438 million) million during the first quarter of 2014, down 17 percent from the previous quarter. read more ›

Qatar-Real-GDP-Growth 2012 - 2014

Qatar’s real GDP growth accelerated to 6.5 percent in 2013 on strong investment and higher population

by  — 7 April 2014

Qatar’s real GDP expanded at a buoyant 5.6 percent (year-on-year) in the last three months of 2013, spurred by double-digit growth in construction, wholesale trade and hospitality, and financial, real estate, and business services, according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS). read more ›

Qatar-real-GDP-growth-2012-1014

Qatar’s real GDP growth accelerated to 6.5 percent in 2013

by  — 2 April 2014

Qatar’s economy continued to maintain its strong growth momentum in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to QNB Group figures.  read more ›

Rising sukuk issuance from corporate and infrastructure sectors could buoy Gulf’s capital markets

by  — 17 March 2014

Growth in issue volumes in the Gulf's capital markets in 2014 will likely be steady versus the 2013 rate, although low yields could ultimately push up issuance. This is according to a report card Standard & Poor's (S&P;) Ratings Services published today, titled Increasing Corporate And Infrastructure Sukuk Issuance Could Lift The Gulf's Capital Markets. read more ›

GFCI-ranking-stability-2014

Qatar maintains top financial centre ranking in the GCC

by  — 17 March 2014

The latest Global Financial Centres Index, (GFCI 15), which measures the competitiveness of 83 financial centres has been published today by the London based Z/Yen Group. The index ranks Qatar as the top financial centre in the GCC, keeping the position it held last year. read more ›

Gunther Saacke, CEO, Q-Re, said, “Annual business plans are developed according to capital base, risk appetite, underwriters’ views on accessibility and profitability of business lines and regions.”

Q-Re’s registers strong 2014 renewals

by  — 16 March 2014

In an exclusive interview with The Edge, Gunther Saacke, CEO Q-Re speaks about their business model on property, casualty and speciality lines premiums.  read more ›

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