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☆ First Abu Dhabi Bank says it is not currently evaluating offer for StanChart
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

First Abu Dhabi Bank, the United Arab Emirates' biggest lender, said on Friday it was not currently evaluating an offer for Britain's Standard Chartered . News of the potential offer first came on Jan. 5, when FAB said it had considered a bid for London-listed Standard Chartered but was no longer doing so. StanChart's shares rose by 11% on Thursday after Bloomberg News reported that the Abu Dhabi lender is considering reviving the bid once a lock-up period that prevents it immediately doing so expires, offering $30 billion to $35 billion. "First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC notes the recent press speculation in relation to Standard Chartered and re-iterates that it is not evaluating a possible offer for Standard Chartered," the lender said in Friday's statement. It, however, added that it and related parties reserve "the right to announce an offer or possible offer for the company or make or participate in an offer or possible offer for the company," within six months of the date of this announcement.

☆ FAB deal with StanChart is trying to 'recycle' U.S. dollar oil money into financial services: Analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAB deal with StanChart is trying to 'recycle' U.S. dollar oil money into financial services: AnalystFirst Abu Dhabi Bank and Standard Chartered could come to an agreement closer to July, according to Head of Financials at Hermes Investment, Filippo Alloatti, after FAB said it was not evaluating an offer for the London-listed bank.

☆ First Abu Dhabi Bank could renew $35 billion offer for StanChart -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD) (FAB), the United Arab Emirates' biggest lender, could renew a potential offer for Britain's Standard Chartered (STAN.L), once lock-up rules from its previous aborted bid expire, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. A StanChart spokesperson declined to comment on the report, while FAB could not immediately be reached for comment. News of the potential offer first came on Jan. 5, when FAB said it had considered a bid for London-listed Standard Chartered but was no longer doing so. The Abu Dhabi lender is considering reviving the bid once a lock-up period that prevents it immediately doing so expires, offering $30 billion to $35 billon compared with StanChart's market value of $24 billion, Bloomnberg reported. Saudi National Bank in October announced it was investing up to $1.5 billion in Credit Suisse, representing a stake of up to 9.9%.

StanChart declined to comment on the reports of a fresh bid, while FAB did not respond to requests for comment. While StanChart's balance sheet, staff numbers and global footprint dwarf FAB's, it is worth half as much. StanChart's shares rose by 11% on Thursday after Bloomberg News reported that a possible FAB bid would value its target at $30 billion to $35 billion, a significant premium to the Asia-focused banking powerhouse's $24 billion market value. A second shareholder questioned whether FAB's shares would be attractive to British-based holders of StanChart stock. "I can't think shareholders would relish adding a small Gulf bank to Stan's current geographic mix," the investor added.

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☆ Earnings, M&A chatter lift FTSE 100 to record high, Entain tumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.7% to touch a record high of 7,943.68, while the midcap FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) inched up 0.1%. AstraZeneca (AZN.L) jumped 4.3%, set for its best day in nearly a year, after the drugmaker forecast earnings growth in 2023. Unilever (ULVR.L) rose 0.4% after the consumer goods giant reported quarterly underlying sales growth above expectations. Watches of Switzerland Group (WoS) (WOSG.L) slumped 13.1% after it gave its quarterly trading update. (This story has been corrected to say Watches of Switzerland Group gave quarterly trading update, not full-year in the third bullet and last paragraph.)

☆ European shares hit fresh nine-month high on earnings boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Ankika Biswas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) was up 0.8% at 0920 GMT, extending gains for a third straight session. Shares of Sweco AB (SWECb.ST), a Swedish construction and engineering company, jumped 11% to top the STOXX 600 following its upbeat fourth-quarter earnings. An over 5% gain in AstraZeneca (AZN.L) on 2023 earnings and revenue growth forecast boosted the healthcare sub-index (.SXDP). Of the 93 STOXX 600 companies that have reported earnings so far, more than half have beaten market expectations, Refinitiv data showed on Tuesday. Signs of economic resilience and better-than-feared corporate earnings have helped European stocks outperform their U.S. counterparts so far this year.

☆ Gautam Adani’s woes were in banks' plain sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

MUMBAI, Feb 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Gautam Adani’s recent woes have vindicated persistent doubts in India about the tycoon’s rise. The Indian group dismisses those claims as a “malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations”. By contrast, other big Indian groups like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (DBKGn.DE) and those carrying the Tata name are more popular with institutional investors. Fee-hungry international banks were much less picky. Deutsche, Barclays and StanChart pocketed $57 million of the $260 million of investment banking revenue generated by the Adani group since Dealogic records began.

☆ Cyber firm Wiz moving funds out of Israel due to judicial plans -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Israelis working in the hi-tech sector hold signs with the Hebrew words "No democracy, no hi-tech" as they demonstrate against proposed judicial reforms by Israel's new right-wing government in Tel Aviv, Israel January 24, 2023. The source, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Wiz, a unicorn with a value of some $6 billion, has concerns about growing uncertainty in the Israeli market in light of the proposed changes. Wiz declined to comment on the transfer of money out of Israel which was initially reported by Channel 12 news. The proposed judicial overhaul, which has yet to be written into law, would tighten political control over judicial appointments and limit the Supreme Court's powers to overturn government decisions or Knesset laws. On Monday, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron told lawmakers that institutional independence was vital for Israel's sovereign credit rating.

☆ Saudi Arabian shares drop on lower oil prices; Egypt rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian stock market closed lower on Sunday, in response to fall in oil prices on Friday amid concern about the European Union embargo on Russian refined products. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister warned on Saturday that sanctions and underinvestment in the energy sector could result in a shortage of energy supplies in future. The European Union has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia, reducing Russian energy exports. Saudi oil giant Aramco (2222.SE) sank 1.5%, while the world's largest Islamic bank by market capitalization, Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), dropped 1.9%. Qatar's stock index (.QSI) ended down 0.4%, with almost all its constituent stocks in negative territory.

But the market turmoil led its flagship Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) to abandon a $2.5 billion secondary share offering on Wednesday, prompting concerns at lenders. 1 lender, SBI says the bank has about 270 billion rupees ($3.3 billion) in loans to Adani Group. Bank debt forms 38% of the total debt of 2.1 trillion rupees at the top five Adani companies, according to a Jefferies report. Senior executives at six other Indian lenders, with exposure to Adani companies, told Reuters they had also decided to tighten the credit approval process for Adani. India's central bank has asked local banks for details of their exposure to Adani companies, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing government and banking sources.

☆ Exclusive: Indian refiners pay traders in dirhams for Russian oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Previous attempts by Indian refiners to pay traders for Russian crude in dirhams through Dubai banks failed, forcing them to switch back to the U.S. currency. Indian refiners typically buy Russian crude from traders at a price that includes delivery to India. An invoice for such a deal seen by Reuters showed traders asking for an average crude price including freight for Urals crude. Indian refiners mostly buy Russian crude from Dubai-based traders including Everest Energy and Litasco, a unit of Russian oil major Lukoil (LKOH.MM). India's oil secretary Pankaj Jain last month said Indian companies were not facing any problems in paying for Russian oil as the latest actions by the West do not impact the trade settlement mechanism.

☆ Breakingviews: Adani’s share sale U-turn spares only some blushes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG, Feb 2 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Markets have given Gautam Adani a big bloody nose, and his backers a partial reprieve. The tycoon’s decision on Wednesday to pull the $2.4 billion share sale at his flagship Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) was all but forced after a 28% plunge in the company’s share price the day after it closed the books. That danger was magnified on Wednesday with India’s regulator looking into possible irregularities around the share sale, Reuters reported exclusively citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Less than one quarter was due to pay down borrowings at the issuer and its unlisted subsidiaries, including Adani Airport and Adani Road. loadingCONTEXT NEWSAdani Enterprises on Feb. 1 said it is withdrawing its $2.4 billion share sale due to the “unprecedented situation and the current market volatility”.

☆ ADNOC eyes valuation of at least $50 bln for its gas business - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The state oil giant announced in November it was combining its gas processing arm and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) subsidiary into a single listed entity. ADNOC is eyeing a valuation of at least $50 billion for ADNOC Gas, though deliberations over valuations have not finalised and the company is yet to determine the size of the offering, said the sources close to the matter, declining to be named as the matter is not public. They said an initial public offering of ADNOC Gas could launch as soon as February, ahead of a slowdown in market activity during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which begins end of March. At $50 billion and above, ADNOC Gas' valuation would be broadly comparable to Italian energy group Eni (ENI.MI), U.S. Over the past two years, ADNOC listed petrochemicals company Borouge (BOROUGE.AD), fertilisers and clean ammonia products maker Fertiglobe (FERTIGLOBE.AD) and ADNOC Drilling (ADNOCDRILL.AD).

☆ Gulf stocks rise on hope of slower Fed rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Sunday after cooling U.S. inflation lifted expectations the Federal Reserve would slow its pace of interest rate hikes. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) rose 0.2%, supported by gains in financial and energy sector stocks. The Qatari Stock index (.QSI) rose 0.4%, with most of its constituent stocks in positive territory. The bank reported Tuesday a more than 22% rise in FY net profit, beating analyst's expectations. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) surged 3.7%, its highest intraday rise since November.

☆ Australian insurers receive over 8,000 claims after New Zealand floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As of Monday morning, Suncorp's Vero and AA Insurance brands have received about 3,000 claims, while IAG's AMI, State and New Zealand Insurance brands have obtained over 5,000 claims. Both the insurers expect the number of claims to rise further over the coming days, as the event continues to unfold and customers identify damages. IAG received 24,000 claims in the first three days of flooding in Sydney and across the New South Wales state last year. Local New Zealand insurers have yet to provide any details on claims received. ($1 = 1.5427 New Zealand dollars)($1 = 1.4085 Australian dollars)Reporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hundreds protest in Baghdad over Iraqi dinar's slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAGHDAD, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people demonstrated near central bank headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday to protest at the recent slide of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar that has triggered a rise in prices of imported consumer goods. Hundreds from different Iraqi regions waved Iraqi flags or carried banners demanding government intervention to stop the dinar's decline to around 1,620 to the greenback from 1,470 in November. Under the curbs that took effect this month, Iraqi banks must use an online platform to reveal their transaction details. [1/2] Police officers gather as Iraqi protesters demonstrate against the dinar's slide in value against the U.S. dollar, near the central bank in Baghdad, Iraq January 25, 2023. Dozens of anti-riot policemen were deployed around the central bank building and surrounding streets but no clashes or arrests were reported.

Kids develop habits around money early, so we give our 3-year-old an allowance of $3 a week. We choose not to tie his allowance to chores to avoid turning chores into an optional thing. When I started reading books by authors such as Clifton Corbin, Beth Kobliner, Doug Nordman, and Ron Lieber about how to teach kids money concepts, I was shocked by how early they recommended starting. To me, an allowance gives my 3-year-old son the chance to practice handling money and make his own decisions about how to use it. As soon as he has the money to buy the item, we ask if he still wants to buy it.

☆ Gulf markets rise on China demand optimism
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets closed higher on Tuesday on expectations of economic recovery in the world's second largest economy, China, and smaller interest rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar, while Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar usually mirror U.S. monetary policy changes. The world's largest Islamic bank by market capitalization, Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), rose 0.8%. Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) continued its gains with a 2.3% rise and Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB.QA) rose 1.7%. Egypt has signed a $1.5 billion financing agreement with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation to fund its trading, including imports of energy products and essential commodities.

☆ Indian shares set to open higher; key earnings to provide direction
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Indian stocks were poised to open higher on Monday, tracking a Wall Street rally in the previous session, with shares also taking cues from the earnings of heavyweights such as Reliance. Financial stocks (.NIFTYFIN) could gain after robust quarterly earnings results from top banks over the weekend. Wall Street equities rallied to close higher on Friday, as upbeat quarterly earnings helped lift Netflix, while Google parent Alphabet climbed after announcing job cuts. ** India's top cement maker, UltraTech Cement (ULTC.NS), reported a 38% decrease in quarterly profit on Saturday, dented by a surge in expenses. ** Yes Bank (YESB.NS) reported a surprise 80% plunge in quarterly profit on Saturday as provisions for bad loans increased.

☆ Analysis: Iraqi PM walks diplomatic tightrope in crackdown on dollars smuggled to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Ahmed Rasheed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The New York Federal Reserve introduced tighter controls on international dollar transactions by commercial Iraqi banks in November. "Americans are using the dollar transfer rigid restrictions as warning messages to Prime Minister Sudani to stay tuned with the American interests. The new system has slowed down dollar transactions, said Nabil al-Marsoumi, economics professor at Basra University. Meanwhile the price of consumer goods has increased and the Iraqi currency has taken a beating. The Iraqi prime minister replaced the central bank governor after the slide in the dinar, the state news agency said on Monday.

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowToday's refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. If the Fed acts too aggressively and engineers a recession, mortgage rates could fall further than what current forecasts expect. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

☆ Oman's drilling services firm Abraj plans March listing on Muscat exchange
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Oman's oil and gas drilling services firm Abraj Energy Services plans to list up to 49% of its shares on the Muscat stock exchange in March through an initial public offering (IPO), a company statement said on Sunday. The IPO forms part of an exit plan recently announced by sovereign wealth fund, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), the state news agency said. State energy company OQ, the selling shareholder, is wholly-owned by the OIA, which expects to exit eight investments in 2023 to generate about $1.3 billion. A diversified oil and gas services firm, Abraj is the largest drilling contractor in Oman with a market share of almost 30 percent. States such as Qatar and Oman are now seeking to capitalise on investor appetite for Gulf IPOs and compete with more active regional exchanges.

☆ Major Gulf stocks rise on higher oil prices, China demand prospects
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf markets ended higher on Sunday, reflecting Friday's rise in oil prices driven by prospects that an upbeat economic growth outlook from China could signal increased fuel demand in the world's second-largest economy. Oil, which fuels the region's economies, settled up about $1 a barrel on Friday, with Brent crude at $87.63 a barrel, up $1.47 or 1.7%. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) rose 0.4%, supported by a 1.5% gain in luxury real estate developer Retal Urban Development (4322.SE) and a 0.8% rise in oil giant Aramco (2222.SE). Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), the world's largest Islamic bank by market capitalization, rose 0.5%. The Gulf's biggest lender Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA) continued its rally with a 2.3% gain and Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) rose 1.3%.

☆ India ICICI Bank’s profit jumps 34% in October-December
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Jan 21(Reuters) - India's ICICI Bank (ICBK.NS) on Saturday reported a 34.2% increase in net profit for the October-December quarter, on the back of improved revenues and healthy loan growth. Net profit for the quarter was 83.12 billion Indian rupees ($1.03 billion) up from 61.94 billion rupees in the same quarter a year earlier. That was in line with analysts' forecast of 81.25 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Net interest income, the difference between interest earned and paid, rose 34.6% to 164.65 billion rupees from 122.36 billion rupees last year. However, provisions and contingencies increased to 22.57 billion rupees from 16.44 billion rupees in the September quarter.

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