MENA's average GDP growth is expected to advance to 4.3% in 2011 and 4.4% in 2012 after the region posted a 3.3% growth in 2010, the World Bank said in its Global Economic Prospects Report 2011. The advance will be based on the continuity of domestic demand growth, higher exports and higher oil prices over the next two years. The report external environment improved with ongoing effects of stimulus programs. The higher oil prices in the year benefited developing oil exporters and have positively affected exports, remittances and tourism revenues. The World Bank also said that diversified economies of the region, experienced a pick-up in exports that supported in economic growth. |
Bahrain Middle East Bank made a USD 13mn full repayment of a loan obligation including a USD 1.4mn interest payment taking total repayments by the troubled lender to USD 43mn, the bank said in ... more
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the UAE's largest lender by market value, initiated a USD 17mn fifteen-year Uridashi bond, MENA's first ever, allowing the bank to directly access Japanese ... more
The GCC economies remain insulated from economic and political turbulence in the MENA region and globally but structural challenges continue to constrain sovereign ratings, ratings agency ... more