Jaap Meijer

EFG-Hermes Plans Asset Sales After Deal With QInvest Collapses

EFG-Hermes Holding SAE, Egypt’s largest investment bank, said it will sell assets and cut costs after an agreement to create the largest Arab investment bank with Qatar’s QInvest LLC collapsed because of regulatory delays.

First Gulf Gains Most in Year Bank Loan Outlook: Abu Dhabi Mover

First Gulf Bank PJSC rose the most in more than a year on bets the Abu Dhabi-based lender will report improved first-quarter earnings as credit growth picks up amid an economic recovery.

UNB Drops Most Since 2009 as Dividend Lowered: Abu Dhabi Mover

Union National Bank PJSC declined the most in more than three years after the lender, whose shareholders include the Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments, cut its full-year cash dividend by 33 percent.

HSBC to UBS See Turkey Value Gain as CBQ Pays ‘Top Dollar’

UBS AG, Switzerland’s largest bank, and HSBC Holdings Plc said Turkish deals are becoming more expensive as investors such as Commercial Bank of Qatar QSC seek acquisitions to benefit from an accelerating economy.

U.A.E. Banks to Hold 10% Liabilities in Liquid Assets

Banks in the United Arab Emirates will be required to comply with four so-called “liquidity ratios” to help them withstand market disruptions and avoid a cluster of debt payments, according to new central bank rules.

Egypt’s Local Borrowing May Backfire on Economy: Arab Credit

Egypt’s increased reliance on local lenders to finance its budget shortfall may stifle any economic recovery by reducing the incentive of banks to lend to companies.

Dubai Islamic Bank Needs Capital to Avoid Downgrade: Arab Credit

Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC, the world’s oldest Shariah-compliant lender, may need to boost capital to absorb bad loans stemming from a real estate slump to avert a possible ratings downgrade.

Qatar National Bank Boosts Dividend After Net Misses Estimates

Qatar National Bank SAQ, the largest bank in the Middle East by assets, raised its dividend to 6 riyals a share as 2012 fiscal-year profit missed estimates.

SocGen Deal May Presage Alternatifbank Decline After Gains

Investors in Alternatifbank AS may be setting themselves up for declines after driving up the stock more than 60 percent since Anadolu Group started talks to sell the lender to Commercial Bank of Qatar QSC, according to analysts at Garanti Securities and Arqaam Capital Ltd.

Tamweel Plunges 10% on First Trading Day Since November 2008

Tamweel PJSC , the home finance company majority owned by Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC , tumbled 10 percent as it resumed trading more than two years after being suspended pending its reorganization.

"It will be hard for QInvest to build an investment banking platform that the EFG deal could have offered."

- Jaap Meijer on May 01, 2013

Turkey

Middle East

Egypt

Belgium

WTI Crude Recovers After Falling on Signs of Weaker Fuel Demand

Jobless Claims in U.S. Jump to Highest Level in Six Weeks

U.S. Stock Futures Decline on Jobless Claims, Home Data

European Stocks Little Changed Near Highest Since 2008

Japan GDP Jumps Most in Year as Consumers Open Wallets