Latest articles from Melissa Hancock

Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani

Qatar's CBG seeks diversified route to sustained growth

June 1, 2012

Qatar's impressive economic growth over the past few years, driven by the energy sector, looks set to slow down in 2012. However, the country's central bank governor is unfazed by such forecasts, as he says the private sector will now come to the fore in areas such as infrastructure, education, services and healthcare.

Qatar World Cup

Qatar plays in the banking big league

June 1, 2012

Qatar's infrastructure development projects – set to be worth $255bn over the next decade – and its hosting of football's World Cup in 2022 are set to provide a boon for banks already operating in the world's richest country by GDP per capita.

Lebanons central bank governor looks to maintain stability

Lebanon's central bank governor looks to maintain stability

May 1, 2012

The Lebanese banking sector witnessed slow growth in the first half of 2011, as political paralysis gripped the entire economy. The re-election of Riad Salameh as central bank governor helped boost activity in the latter half of the year, but with the country's political situation and the global economic climate still threatening to trouble Lebanese banks, how does he intend to stimulate growth throughout 2012?

Lebanese banks shrug off setbacks to stay on path to growth

Lebanese banks shrug off setbacks to stay on path to growth

May 1, 2012

Having endured an eventful recent past that includes a civil war, involvement in Middle East disputes and weathering the crisis in neighbouring Syria, Lebanon’s robust financial sector is growing at what the industry believes is a healthy pace. And with its banks highly liquid and well placed for the implementation of Basel III, good economic growth is forecast for 2012.

Kuwaiti banks seek regional salvation

Kuwait's slow progress forces its banks to look further afield

May 1, 2012

Efforts by the Kuwaiti government to boost the country’s sluggish economic growth have so far proven ineffective, leaving its banks to look towards the rest of the Middle East and north Africa for growth opportunities.

Middle Eastern banks look to move up a gear

Middle Eastern banks look to move up a gear

May 1, 2012

Armed with deep pools of liquidity, many Middle Eastern banks are exploring new avenues of growth, from expanding their regional presence to concentrating on innovation within the Islamic finance sphere.

Kuwaits growth challenge

Kuwait's growth challenge

April 2, 2012

Home to an estimated 9% of the world’s total oil reserves, Kuwait posted its 12th consecutive budget surplus of $18.9bn in 2011. But while the country's coffers are flush with cash, continued political infighting has stymied development, leaving the economy overly reliant on the oil sector and the country's basic infrastructure in need of improvement.

Kuwaits banks play the waiting game

Kuwait's banks play the waiting game

April 2, 2012

Kuwait's banks are struggling to recover from the significant losses made in 2008 and 2009, suffering with high levels of non-performing loans and a dearth of lending opportunities. The government's economic development plan was designed to both offer a lifeline to the banking sector and diversify the country's oil-reliant economy, but while banks are keen to get on board with the various projects, political indecision is slowing their progress.

Kuwait cover teaser

Will Kuwait's stock exchange watchdog show its teeth?

April 2, 2012

In an attempt to tighten its regulatory framework and instil greater confidence in investors, Kuwait’s parliament has approved its first independent capital markets regulator for the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Only time will tell if the move can resuscitate the market.

Libya hopes for privatisation boost

Libyan Stock Market chief looks to privatisation drive

March 1, 2012

The general manager of Libya's stock market says the recently reopened exchange will help to quicken the country's recovery from its revolution last year by reigniting its privatisation process.

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