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☆ Gulf bourses mixed as China pessimism offsets higher oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 12 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets put in a mixed performance on Sunday as higher oil prices were offset by worries of faltering demand from China, the world's top crude importer. Oil prices - a major driver of Gulf financial markets - rose about 2% on Friday as Iraq voiced support for OPEC+ oil cuts ahead of a meeting of the group on Nov. 26. The retailer reported a third-quarter net loss of 202.9 million riyals ($54.1 million) compared to a net profit of 21.1 million riyals a year earlier. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) fell 1.7%, with Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA) down 2.5% and Misr Fertilizer (MFPC.CA) losing 4.6%. However, Credit Agricole Egypt (CIEB.CA) gained 3.7% as the lender reported a 121% jump in third quarter consolidated net profit.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Brent, Masraf Al Rayan, Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co, Md Manzer Hussain, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, OPEC, Qatar, Saudi Telecom, Human Resources, Commercial International Bank, Misr, Agricole Egypt, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, China, Iraq, Saudi

☆ Gay Games: Sporting and cultural LGBTQ event faces a conservative backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said. Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity. A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s top advisers and also a lawmaker, Ip has been one of the few Hong Kong politicians vocally supportive of the games. Meanwhile Chan Kwan-on, one of the Gay Games ambassadors in Hong Kong, urged critics not to jump to conclusions and come see for themselves.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, –, ”, Junius Ho, Peter Shiu, Lisa Lam, Alan Lang, Hong, Tyrone Siu, Xi Jinping, Hong Kong, ” Wayne Morgan, ‘, Lang, Regina Ip, John Lee’s, Ip, Chan Kwan, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Gay Games, Wednesday, firebrand, Beijing, CNN, Reuters, Gay, Valencia, Hong, Gay Sports and Movement Association, China’s Communist Party, ’ Gay Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, China, Hong, Australian, Taiwan

☆ Most Gulf markets end higher after US job market softens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A trader looks on near electronic boards showing stock market data at Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, November 8, 2020. Most Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including the UAE, peg their currencies to the U.S. dollar and follow the Fed's policy moves closely. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) gained 0.8%, with oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) rising 0.5% and Lumi Rental Co (4262.SE) finishing 1.7% higher. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) closed 2% higher, led by a 2.1% rise in Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA). On Friday, the lender reported third-quarter net income of 8.35 billion Egyptian pounds ($270.66 million), up 89% year-on-year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Detroit's, Jerome Powell, Ateeq, David Goodman, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Federal, United Auto Workers, UAW, Gulf Cooperation, U.S ., Saudi Aramco, Lumi, Reuters, Industries Qatar, Commercial International Bank, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, U.S, Gulf, UAE, Saudi, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

☆ World Bank Eyes Speeding up Loan Approvals Amid Bold Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Disbursements currently take an average of 27 months from the time the bank gets a loan request. Adding resources to the implementation stage of projects backed by the bank is another way of reducing the timeframe of disbursements, Mountfield said. The World Bank has launched a broader reform process that includes stretching its balance sheet as international threats from geopolitical tensions to global warming pile pressure on vulnerable nations. The United States, the bank's largest shareholder, has been urging the bank for months to take bolder and faster steps to free up resources. The study, carried out by international finance analytics firm Risk Control, found the bank's two main lending arms, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), have "significant headroom" to boost lending.

Persons: Rosario, Elisa Martinuzzi, Ed Mountfield, Mountfield, Disbursements, Jorgelina, Christina Fincher Organizations: Elisa Martinuzzi LONDON, Bank, Operations, Country Services, World Bank, Reuters, AAA, Rockefeller Foundation, International Bank for Reconstruction, International Development Association, IDA Locations: London, United States

For the international bankers, executives and officials who had gathered in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to make deals, the war raging in Gaza and Israel felt like a distant backdrop. Instead, when speakers took the stage, they praised Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to remake Saudi Arabia and focused on the future: artificial intelligence, longevity science, renewable energy. Israel has laid siege to the Gaza Strip and unleashed a fierce bombardment. That has prompted protests across the region, reinvigorating vocal Arab support for the Palestinian cause — including among many Saudi citizens. Yet Saudi officials have made it clear that they are determined to prevent all of that from casting a pall over Prince Mohammed’s plans for the kingdom, which include reshaping the economy to reduce dependence on oil and turning the country into a global hub for business and tourism.

Persons: —, Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s, ”, Yasir al, Prince Mohammed’s Organizations: Future Investment, Hamas, Gaza, Saudi Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Gaza, Israel, Saudi Arabia, East

☆ UniCredit beats third-quarter profit estimates, keeps 2023 outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Italian international banking group UniCredit stands on the facade of the group headquarters, located in the Porta Nuova district, as seen from the viewpoint of Palazzo Lombardia on September 29, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Italy's UniCredit on Tuesday beat third-quarter profit forecasts as higher rates boosted income, but kept its full-year profit goal, saying it needed time to decide how to best use this year's "exceptional" growth inearnings. Shares rose more than 2% in early trading. Income from the gap in lending and deposit rates, on which Italy in August slapped a surprise one-off tax, rose 45% year-on-year. After spooking investors in Italian banks with the extraordinary levy, Italy backtracked, giving lenders the option to set aside money as reserves instead of paying it.

Persons: Italy's UniCredit Organizations: Italy Locations: Porta Nuova, Lombardia, Milan, Italy

MUMBAI, Oct 21 (Reuters) - India's central bank has approved the appointment of veteran banker Ashok Vaswani as managing director and chief executive of Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS), the private lender said in an exchange filing on Saturday. Vaswani's appointment comes after billionaire Uday Kotak, who founded Kotak Mahindra Bank, resigned as the MD and CEO last month in a surprise move, citing personal reasons. Dipak Gupta, currently the managing director and CEO, will carry out the chief executive duties until Dec. 31, the bank had said last month. "I am delighted that the RBI has approved our recommendation, Ashok Vaswani, as the next CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank," Kotak said in the filing, describing him as a "world class leader" with digital and customer focus. KVS Manian and Shanti Ekambaram, the two most senior bankers at Kotak Mahindra Bank, will remain on the board and keep their current roles, Gupta added.

Persons: Ashok Vaswani, Vaswani, Vaswani's, Uday Kotak, Dipak Gupta, Kotak, Gupta, KVS Manian, Shanti Ekambaram, Siddhi Nayak, Ira Dugal, William Mallard Organizations: Kotak Mahindra Bank, Citigroup Asia Pacific, Barclays, Reserve Bank of India, Kotak, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI

ON TRACK FOR GOVT GDP TARGETThe recovery momentum suggests the government's full year 2023 growth target of around 5.0% is likely to be achieved. The key issue is what growth target the government will set and how much fiscal easing will take place." The statistics bureau said China would be able to hit the 2023 growth target if the fourth quarter growth tops 4.4%. Moody's Analytics has also raised its 2023 growth projection to 5% from 4.9%. The faltering property sector has hit some of the biggest developers in the country.

Persons: Matt Simpson, Zhiwei Zhang, Tingshu Wang, Frederic Neumann, Louise Loo, Ellen Zhang, Joe Cash, Kevin Yao, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Index, New, REUTERS, Nomura, JPMorgan, Analysts, Country Garden Holdings, HK, Global Research, HSBC, Oxford Economics, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Brisbane, U.S, Beijing, China, New Zealand, Asia

The war provoked by Hamas' attack on Israel has shaken American politics — and put the primary race in her wheelhouse. Iran has long supported Hamas, though U.S. officials say there's no conclusive evidence yet that Iranian agents were involved in the most recent attack. Ron DeSantis proposed state-level sanctions against Iran for its ongoing support of Hamas. Since before the war, Haley has gone after her rivals on issues such as U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion and how Washington deals with China. And, in keeping with how he treats rivals, Trump has given Haley a nickname, “Birdbrain."

Persons: CLIVE, — Nikki Haley, peppering, —, Haley, Donald Trump, ”, we’re, wouldn't, Israel, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, “, ” Ramaswamy, ” Haley, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Bill Strong, ” Strong, Nikki, doesn’t, Bruce Rauner, Rauner, She’s, Linda Marks, ” Marks, Thomas Beaumont, Elliot Spagat, ___ Meg Kinnard Organizations: Republican, United Nations, Department of Homeland Security, Israel, Saturday, Banking, Gov, Ukraine, Washington, GOP, Lockheed, Raytheon, Boeing, Trump, Disney, ” Former Illinois Gov, doer, Palestinian, Security, The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Associated Press Locations: Iowa, China, Russia, Israel, U.S, America, Mexico, Iran, Tehran, South Carolina, Florida, Ukraine, Taiwan, ”, Texas, United States, Gaza, Des Moines, Windsor Heights , Iowa, Boone , Iowa, San Diego

☆ Major Gulf bourses drop amid surging Gaza-Israel conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mohammed Salem Acquire Licensing RightsOct 8 (Reuters) - Major stock markets in the Gulf tumbled on Sunday amid worries that rising conflict between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel threatens to spiral. The index was dragged down by losses in all sectors, with Lumi Rental (4262.SE) down 5% and Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication (7040.SE) dropping 5.3%. Saudi Aramco Base Oil (2223.SE) (Luberef)dropped 6.8% and the world's largest Islamic bank by assets, Al Rajhi Bank(1120.SE) slipped 2.1%. The Qatari index (.QSI) fell for a third straight session, ending 0.6% lower, with most sectors in the red. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) plunged 2.6%, the steepest drop in nearly three months.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Md Manzer Hussain, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Lumi, Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication, Saudi Aramco Base Oil, Al Rajhi Bank, . Industries Qatar, Commercial Bank, Commercial International Bank, Finance, Digital, Financial, Telecom Egypt, Fawry Banking, Thomson Locations: Gaza City, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, East, Saudi

☆ JPMorgan doubles down on startup banking by scooping up SVB veterans. Here's the bank's plan to take advantage of the venture capital slump.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The March implosion of Silicon Valley Bank created a banking vacuum in the startup world. In 2019, the group poached four executives from SVB to work with venture capital funds and their portfolio companies. But these plans were accelerated by the collapse as customers fled to JPMorgan from SVB as well as First Republic, which JPMorgan now owns. First Republic also served emerging venture capital firms, an untapped client segment for JPMorgan's commercial bank. In some aspects, the breakdown of SVB strengthened JPMorgan's appeal to tech upstarts that had previously eschewed too-big-to-fail banks, Smith said.

Persons: John China, Melissa Smith, Smith, playbook, Jamie Dimon, SVB, Darya, fintech Organizations: Valley Bank, JPMorgan, SVB, West Coast, Bay Area, Silicon Valley Bank, Capital, fintech Aumni, Capital Connect Locations: Beijing, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Zurich, San Francisco, New York, Silicon Valley, West, SVB, Republic, Israel, fundraises

HONG KONG, Sept 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Global banks in Hong Kong are feeding on scraps. Bankers in Hong Kong are working on smaller issuances than they typically took on in the past, Dealogic data shows. Among the bigger ones in the works, courier SF Holding (002352.SZ) has filed for a secondary listing in Hong Kong and may raise up to $3 billion, per IFR. Fees on Indian deals are tiny, for example, and costs in Hong Kong are high. Overall investment banking fees in Hong Kong are set to come in at the lowest level in a decade too, Dealogic data shows, with HBSC top of the table.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Debtwire, Una Galani, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, UBS, Bank of America, Bankers, HK, SF, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, New York, Swiss, United States, China, brimming, Shenzhen, Asia, India, U.S, Asia Pacific, Japan

☆ World Bank chief sees $100 bln-plus lending boost from capital moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ajay Banga, World Bank president, participates in global infrastructure and investment forum in New York, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. They would include U.S. President Joe Biden's proposed $2.25 billion supplemental budget request for the World Bank, along with expected contributions from Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Nordic countries, he said. The bank is also examining other ways to expand lending, including providing more loan guarantees, lending against callable capital that is pledged but not paid-in, and special bonds that can serve as hybrid capital. China, India and Brazil got larger shareholdings in the bank in a 2018 capital increase and would likely want more say in a future capital increase, Banga said. "That is a pimple on a dimple on an ant's left cheek compared to what we need in the world," Banga said.

Persons: Ajay Banga, Seth Wenig, Banga, Joe Biden's, I'm, David Lawder, Paul Grant, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: World Bank, Bank, Foreign Relations, International Development Association, MasterCard, CFR, Bank for Reconstruction, Development, Thomson Locations: New York, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Marrakech, Morocco, United States, China, India, Brazil

☆ Nomura is merely first in line for new China risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After all, Nomura is a minnow in China, ranking 82nd in investment banking in the country by net revenue in 2021, data from Dealogic shows. Like most of its more successful global investment banking peers, Nomura has an eye on deepening its business in China. It acquired a license for a majority-owned securities joint venture, Nomura Orient International Securities, in 2019. Follow @ugalani on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSAuthorities in China have barred Charles Wang Zhonghe, China investment banking chair at Nomura, from leaving the mainland, Reuters reported on Sept. 25 citing two sources with knowledge of the matter. Beijing’s investigation into Cong, former president of China Renaissance Holdings, resulted in the investment bank’s founder Bao being taken away by Chinese authorities in February.

Persons: Charles Wang Zhonghe, Nomura, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wang, Bao Fan, hasn’t, Xi Jinping, Banks, Cong Lin, Bao, Cong, Nomura’s Wang, Antony Currie, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Financial Times, UBS, HK, China Securities, Nomura, Commercial Bank of China, China, Apple, Nomura Orient International Securities, Authorities, China Renaissance Holdings, ICBC, Commercial Bank of China Ltd, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, China, Hong Kong, It’s, Singapore, People’s Republic

☆ Some foreign finance execs in China spending nearly a third of their working time studying 'Xi Thought,' report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The study of 'Xi Jinpeng Thought' in state-owned Chinese companies has been mandated. But now employees of foreign firms are being pulled into the 'study sessions' as well. First published in 2017, Xi Jinping thought lays out 14 principles by which China will prosper. China's President Xi Jinping Lintao ZhangIn addition to the pressure to study of Xi's doctrine, new laws have limited international banks' abilities to operate as normal in China. "Foreigners and foreign organisations in mainland China shall comply with Chinese law and must not endanger China's national security, harm the societal public interest, or undermine societal public order,'" the law states, per The FT.

Persons: Franklin Templeton, Xi, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Xi Jinping Lintao Zhang Organizations: CCP, Service, Blackrock, Bloomberg, BlackRock, Marxist, Deloitte Locations: Wall, Silicon, China

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Biden administration heralds the forthcoming release of five U.S. citizens detained by Iran, President Joe Biden is also confronting questions about the price being paid to bring them — and other detainees — home. But each time, officials have said bringing home Americans held by foreign adversaries is a core administration priority that necessarily comes at a heavy cost. Increasingly, the Biden White House has appeared willing to pay it. The Biden administration is, of course, hardly unique in prisoner swaps. The Obama administration in a 2016 deal that drew consternation granted clemency to seven Iranians charged in the U.S. in exchange for the release by Iran of four Americans.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Matthew Miller, “, Michael Waltz, they’ll, Trump, Donald Trump, who'd, Obama, there's, Siamak Namazi, James W, Danielle Gilbert, ”, It's, There's, Mark Frerichs, Bashir Noorzai, Nicolás Maduro’s, Antony Blinken, Iran wouldn’t, Ebrahim Raisi, Gilbert Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, WNBA, Biden White, Mideast, ”, Republican National Convention, Foley Foundation, Northwestern University, Justice Department, U.S ., U.S . U.S, NBC Locations: Iran, America, Russia, ”, U.S, Florida, Iranian, Washington, Venezuela, South Korea, Qatar, Northwestern

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved measures Tuesday targeting Iran for its human rights record and placing restrictions on the country's ability to import or export its expanding arsenal of weapons. The resolutions will now go to the Senate, where it is unclear if the Democratic-controlled chamber will take them up. Amini had been detained for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely in violation of strictures demanding women in public wear the Islamic headscarves. Political Cartoons View All 1154 ImagesThe protests that ensued represented one of the largest challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. A security force crackdown that followed saw over 500 people killed and more than 22,000 people detained.

Persons: Mahsa, Amini, hadn’t, Biden, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S ., Senate, Democratic, Authorities, House Foreign Affairs Locations: Iran, Washington, Islamic Republic, Tehran, U.S

☆ How a single hard-charging CEO helped the US dollar take over the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Henry Farrell | Abraham Newman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Wriston's financial innovations helped create the modern Eurodollar market — a vast offshore realm of financial transactions in US dollars happening outside of US borders. As he explained in 1979, the "current banking network, with its Euromarkets and its automated payments system" seemed dull and technical, but it had immense political consequences. Wriston helped rebuild this clanking machine into an engine of transformation, welding disjointed national markets into a true world economy. It began to develop a new kind of sanction, which used its control of "dollar clearing" to force international banks to implement US policy outside its borders. Instead of the stateless, government-less world that Wriston envisioned, the internationalization of the US dollar became the precedent for a massive transformation of America's financial power.

Persons: Walter Wriston, Wriston, Friedrich Hayek's, Banks, Eric Sepkes, Eric Helleiner, Henry Holt, Helleiner, Henry Farrell, Johns Hopkins SAIS, Friedrich Schiedel, Abraham Newman Organizations: Citibank, Staff, of, Technology, Bankers, JPMorgan, Warburg, Federal Reserve, buccaneers, US Department of, Treasury, SWIFT, Society, Worldwide Interbank, Johns Hopkins, Politics, The Washington Post, School of Foreign Service, Government Department, Georgetown University, Henry Holt and Company Locations: London, of London, Europe, Argentina, New York, United States, Eurodollars, Italy, Japan, Soviet Union, America, Iran, Russia, Ukraine

The groups argued that banks cannot properly respond to the proposal, which would require lenders to hold more cash to absorb losses, without that analysis. The Fed drafted the rules with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The "Basel Endgame" proposal implements international capital standards agreed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. The U.S. central bank has estimated it will increase industry capital requirements by $170 billion. "These capital rules will have an impact on economic growth and that will affect large businesses and small businesses and their access to capital."

Persons: Rick Wilking, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Banks, David Solomon, Jamie Dimon, Morgan Stanley's, Dan Simkowitz, Pete Schroeder, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Tatiana Bautzer, Michelle Price, Paul Simao, Deepa Babington Organizations: Deposit Insurance Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, APA, Fed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Currency, OCC, Banking, Reuters, JPMorgan, FDIC, Republican, Financial, Bank Policy Institute, American Bankers Association, Financial Services, Institute of International Bankers, Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Westminster , Colorado, U.S, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. The transfer of the $6 billion was the critical element in the prisoner release deal, which saw four of the five American detainees transferred from Iranian jails into house arrest last month. Political Cartoons View All 1152 ImagesDue to numerous U.S. sanctions on foreign banks that engage in transactions aimed at benefitting Iran, several European countries had balked at participating in the transfer. Blinken’s waiver is aimed at easing their concerns about any risk of U.S. sanctions.

Persons: —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, The Associated Press, Mideast Locations: Iran, South Korea, Qatar, U.S, United States, Eastern

☆ Major Gulf bourses fall amid China gloom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-Traders wait at the Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, November 8, 2020. The Qatari index (.QSI) fell for a third consecutive session, ending 0.1% lower, with most sectors in the red. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) was down 0.3%, with a 1.3% slump in oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE). The world's biggest oil company is considering selling a stake worth as much as $50 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) dropped 0.8%, snapping its winning streak from the six previous sessions, with most sectors in the red.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Md Manzer Hussain, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Qatar National Bank, Commercial Bank, Saudi Aramco, Wall Street, Saudi Basic Industries, Saudi Iron and Steel Company, Public Investment Fund, International Bank, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, China, Saudi, El

☆ Esmark CEO says has money in bank account for $7.8 billion US Steel bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( David Carnevali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Esmark Inc majority owner and chief executive James Bouchard said in an interview on Tuesday that his steel maker, which does not publicly report its earnings, has cash for its $7.8 billion bid for U.S. Steel Corp (X.N) sitting in his bank account. Esmark unveiled its offer on Monday after Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF.N), another steel maker, said on Sunday it had made a $7.3 billion offer for U.S. Steel, which the latter rejected. "I got $10 billion in cash in my bank account," Bouchard said. Bouchard, a former U.S. Steel executive, said Esmark was "the third largest steelmaker in the country", without elaborating with any figures. He subsequently bought back the Esmark name, trademark and intellectual property to create his latest steel maker, which he says generates over $500 million in annual revenue.

Persons: James Bouchard, Esmark, Bouchard, " Bouchard, David Carnevali, Josie Kao Organizations: Esmark, U.S . Steel Corp, Cliffs Inc, U.S . Steel, Thomson Locations: Cleveland, U.S, Russian, New York

☆ Instant view: Russia's rouble weakens past 100 per US dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian rouble fell past the psychologically key 100 per U.S. dollar threshold for the first time since March last year on Monday. FILE PHOTO: Russian rouble and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration photo taken March 10, 2023. MICHAEL WANG, DEPUTY PORTFOLIO MANAGER, MIRABAUD ASSET MANAGEMENT“The rouble has been underperforming all this year, partly on lower oil revenues but also because of capital flight. “The rouble remains under the selling pressure in the current global environment dominated by concerns about China, which is Russia’s most important trading partner.”“The sharp fall in Russia’s current account surplus leaves the rouble more vulnerable to global sentiment. The CBR (Russian central bank) may have to raise interest rates further to cool down domestic demand and slow down imports to stabilize the rouble.”

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Vladimir Putin’s, MICHAEL WANG, TIMOTHY ASH, Nabiullina, ”, PIOTR MATYS Organizations: REUTERS, CBR Locations: Russian, Russia, POLAND, China, Russia’s

☆ Venezuela's gold reserves fall nearly 12% in six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela's gold reserves fell by eight metric tons in the year's first half, central bank data showed on Friday, continuing a years-long reduction in the reserves amid a prolonged economic crisis. The drop in the first six months of 2023 brought the central bank's total reserves to 61 tons, down from 69 tons in December 2022. The gold reserves were valued at $3.65 billion at the end of June, down $261 million from their value in December. The central bank did not give details for the fall in reserves and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A share of the central bank's reserves have been in dispute in London courts.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Mayela Armas, Sandra Maler Organizations: Bank of England, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, London

HSBC (0005.HK) raised its near-term return on tangible equity goal to at least mid-teens for 2023 and 2024, from a previous target of at least 12% from 2023 onwards. It reported return on tangible equity of 9.9% for 2022. That reflected an environment where rising interest rates around the world are boosting lending income, while a global deal drought and volatile markets suppress revenues from investment banking and trading. The lender lifted its forecast for net interest income this year to be above $35 billion instead of $34 billion, although some analysts had looked for an upgrade nearer to $36 billion. ($1 = 7.7969 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Selena Li and Lawrence White; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Noel Quinn, Quinn, Selena Li, Lawrence White, Himani Sarkar Organizations: HSBC, Hong, HSBC Holdings, HK, Nationwide, Reuters, Sohar International Bank, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, HONG KONG, London, Britain, China, Asia, Oman, Russia, New Zealand

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