Money & Business - Gulf Insider

1 year ago

Foreign Investors Inject $33.6m Into Bahrain Stocks Market In 2024

A recent report shows that foreign investors continue to pump money into Bahrain’s stock market, reflecting growing interest in certain local firms’ shares. Figures from the Bahrain Bourse revealed a net foreign purchase of $33.6 million in listed stocks during 2024, marking a clear trend of international funds entering the market. Net purchase transactions The fourth quarter alone saw net purchase transactions valued at $1.1 million. In a bid to breathe new life into trading activity, the Bahrain Bourse has announced the launch of a broad incentive programme, which will kick off on 2 February 2025. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Financial Services Sector Development Strategy (2022-2026), designed to broaden participation in the market and increase liquidity through new approaches. Kamco Invest reported that Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul recorded the highest net foreign purchases in 2024, totalling $6.3 billion. Abu Dhabi’s bourse followed with $5.4 billion, while Dubai’s market posted $572.5 million.

1 year ago

Saudi Arabia Allows Foreigners To Invest In Listed Companies Operating In Makkah And Madinah

The Saudi Capital Market Authority said that as per the decision, foreign investment in these companies would be limited to shares of these Saudi companies listed on the capital market, as well as to convertible debt instruments, or both. The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced that foreigners are allowed to invest in listed Saudi companies that own real estate in the cities of Makkah and Madinah, effective from Monday, Jan. 27. The Saudi capital market regulator said in a statement that this move aims to stimulate investment, enhance the attractiveness and efficiency of the capital market, and strengthen its regional and international competitiveness while supporting the local economy. “This includes attracting foreign capital and providing the necessary liquidity for current and future projects in Makkah and Madinah through the investment products available in the Saudi market, positioning it as a key funding source for these distinctive developmental projects,” the statement pointed out. The CMA decision follows the approval of the controls for the exclusion of companies listed in the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) from the meaning of the phrase (Non-Saudi) in accordance with the Law of Real Estate Ownership and Investment by Non-Saudis The CMA said that as per the […]

1 year ago

Bahrain’s Cash Habits Unveiled: Study Reveals Trends and Opportunities for Digital Payments

While Bahrain is at the forefront of digital payments, 17% of transactions of consumers surveyed are still in cash, according to the first edition of Visa’s ‘Where Cash Hides’ research in the country. The research, based on a survey of 2,800 individuals across GCC, examined the overall frequency of and motivations for cash usage. It identifies cash-heavy categories and proposes easier, more secure digital payment solutions for both consumers and local businesses. Key survey findings Cash in specific transactions (by % of consumers surveyed): In Bahrain, P2P transactions (28%) and everyday spending (14%) form a large portion of cash usage. Motivators for cash usage (by % of consumers surveyed): Implications and solutions: Malak Alsaffar, Visa’s Country Manager for Bahrain, commented, “Despite progress with digital payment adoption in Bahrain, around 17% of consumer transactions are still in cash. For Visa, this represents an opportunity to further drive financial inclusion and digitize commerce in the country. Visa’s Where Cash Hides research – which we conducted for the first time in Bahrain – pinpoints precisely where and how Visa, together with our partners, can help grow the digital economy. At Visa, we remain committed to supporting the Bahrain government’s cashless agenda and enabling […]

1 year ago

Did Hedge Funds Steal Half Their Investors’ Money?

A report released by LCH Research got widespread coverage with the Wall Street Journal making its headline, “Hedge-Fund Fees Eat Up Half of Clients’ Profits,” and Bloomberg chimed in with, “Hedge Funds Kept $1.8 Trillion as Fees, or Half Their Gains.” The coverage used words like “staggering” and “exploitation,” but I think this is an innumerate reaction Before getting to the right way to think about these numbers, I want to address the idea of forming estimates to the nearest hundred million dollars of the total return and total fees of all hedge funds since Alfred Winslow Jones invented them in 1949. It’s difficult even to define all hedge funds, and few of them disclose results to the public. The disclosures some make to databases are not complete enough to make accurate calculations. But LCH has access to a lot of non-public information and a solid reputation for accurate research. I don’t think they know the numbers to the nearest hundred million dollars, but there’s no reason to think their numbers are wildly wrong. Moreover the ratio of fees to investor returns is easier to estimate than the absolute dollar totals of either one. Let’s start with the numbers for 20 large hedge funds, which I think are more reliable than […]

1 year ago

59% of Americans Don’t Have Enough Savings for a $1,000 Emergency: Report

Most Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency expense, with inflation and high interest rates affecting their ability to save adequately, according to a recent survey by consumer services company Bankrate. A full 59 percent of Americans aren’t in a position to use their savings “to pay for a major unexpected expense, such as $1,000 for an emergency room visit or car repair,” said a Jan. 23 report from the company. This is up from 56 percent a year back. “We are essentially a paycheck-to-paycheck nation,” said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. “Fewer Americans have the equivalent of a financial safety net to cover inevitable unexpected expenses, despite low unemployment and steady growth.” To help alleviate the financial crunch, President Donald Trump issued an executive order for delivering “emergency price relief” for families and tackling the cost of living crisis facing America on his first day in office. The 12-month inflation rate, which has remained below 3 percent since July, has risen for the past three months. Bankrate said Americans have been struggling against a “number of economic headwinds” over the past several years, including a slowing job market and high inflation. In the survey, 73 percent of respondents blamed inflation, high interest rates, or a […]

1 year ago

UAE Economy To Grow 4% This Year: IMF

The UAE economy’s near-term growth to is expected to remain healthy at around 4 per cent in 2025, despite lower-than-expected oil production related to OPEC+ agreements, according to the International Monetary Fund. This came in a statement issued by the IMF at the conclusion of a staff visit to the UAE to discuss economic and financial developments, the outlook and the country’s policy and reform priorities. The IMF said: “Near-term growth is strong and expected to remain healthy at around 4 percent in 2025, despite lower-than-expected oil production related to OPEC+ agreements. IMF UAE forecast “Non-hydrocarbon activity is boosted by tourism, construction, public expenditure, and continued growth in financial services. “Capital inflows remain strong, attracted by social and business-friendly reforms, and contribute to ongoing demand for real estate, which is driving further growth in house prices across different segments and locations. “Hydrocarbon GDP is expected to grow above 2 per cent this year, following OPEC+ decisions to sustain production cuts, and as the UAE implements a more gradual OPEC+ quota increase. “Inflation is expected to remain contained around 2 per cent in 2025 despite higher housing and utilities-related costs”. The IMF statement expected hydrocarbon revenue to decline amid volatile oil prices […]

1 year ago

ACRES 2025: Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition Sees Major Project Launches

The Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition “ACRES 2025” has witnessed the launch of an extensive portfolio of innovative and distinctive property projects designed to meet investor aspirations and set new standards across various real estate development fields. Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in collaboration with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department (SRERD), the exhibition underscores its position as a premier platform spotlighting the dynamic growth of the real estate sector in Sharjah and the UAE. During its participation as the Platinum Sponsor of ACRES 2025, Alef Group unveiled its new project “Al Mamsha Hamsa” at the exhibition. Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition ACRES 2025 Issa Ataya, CEO of Alef Group, said: “This project underscores our commitment to delivering premium residential communities in Sharjah where contemporary design meets tranquil landscapes to provide a refined lifestyle experience”. Al Mamsha Hamsa comprises three buildings with a total of 420 units spanning 50,000 square metres of built-up area. Each unit is meticulously designed to blend modern aesthetics with serene, landscaped surroundings. Strategically situated on the edge of Al Mamsha, the project boasts a dedicated podium level offering open views, swimming pools, landscaped gardens, and calming water elements that promote a sense of natural tranquillity. […]

1 year ago

China’s DeepSeek Bombshell Rocks Trump’s $500BN AI Boondoggle

This is a full-blown, scorched-earth free-for-all that has already racked up a number of casualties though you wouldn’t know it from reading the headlines which typically ignore recent ‘cataclysmic’ developments. But when President Trump announced the launching of a $500 billion AI infrastructure project (Stargate) on Tuesday just hours after China had released its DeepSeek R1—which “outperforms its rivals in advanced coding, math, and general knowledge capabilities”—it became painfully obvious that the battle for the future ‘is on’ in a big way. And this is not a battle that either side can afford to lose. Here’s how technology expert Adam Button summed it up: Click here to read more…

1 year ago

The Markets Are Ignoring Everything Trump Said To Focus Just On One Partial Quote

Davos got hard Trump treatment yesterday. He demanded that Saudi Arabia and OPEC lower oil prices to end the Ukraine war, and a rounded up $1 trillion in Saudi investments into the US despite those lower prices. Will Trump offer a US nuclear power and defence deal, and/or dealing with Iran, as quid pro quo? But Trump may have another motive to encourage OPEC to lower the cost of oil: “When oil prices come down, everything is going to be cheaper for the American people.” Shortly after his demand for lower oil prices, Trump turned to the Fed, demanding that rate cuts should follow immediately after oil. And interest rates should come down “a lot.” The dollar will probably not like that: even though Trump demanded that other central banks follow suit, he has less traction over them. The US president is certainly trying, though. Yesterday, Trump signed an executive order on digital financial technology. The decree primarily promotes private –and dollar-based– initiatives, but it also contains some sweeping actions against the efforts to develop central bank digital currencies, and not just in the US: “(v) including by prohibiting the establishment, issuance, circulation, and use of a CBDC within the jurisdiction of the United States.” […]

1 year ago

UK To Soften Tax Rules For Wealthy Foreigners After Millionaire Exodus, Rachel Reeves Says

The U.K. will soften some planned changes to its controversial non-dom tax rule following concerns of a millionaire exodus, the Treasury has confirmed. Britain’s 200-year-old non-dom regime permits people living in the U.K., but who are domiciled elsewhere for tax purposes, to avoid paying levies on income and capital gains earnings overseas for up to 15 years. The regime has long courted controversy, leading U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in her October budget to confirm that it would be abolished from April 2025, and that all long-term residents would be subject to inheritance tax (IHT) on their worldwide assets, including those held in trust. Speaking at a fringe event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Reeves said the government would soon put forward an amendment to the country’s Finance Bill, increasing the generosity of a rule which allows non-doms to bring money to the UK without paying significant taxes. “We have been listening to the concerns that have been raised by the non-dom community,” Reeves told The Wall Street Journal’s Emma Tucker when asked about recent departures of the ultra-wealthy. Click here to read more…

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Search Here

Foreign Investors Inject $33.6m Into Bahrain Stocks Market In 2024

Saudi Arabia Allows Foreigners To Invest In Listed Companies Operating In Makkah And Madinah

Bahrain’s Cash Habits Unveiled: Study Reveals Trends and Opportunities for Digital Payments

Did Hedge Funds Steal Half Their Investors’ Money?

59% of Americans Don’t Have Enough Savings for a $1,000 Emergency: Report

UAE Economy To Grow 4% This Year: IMF

ACRES 2025: Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition Sees Major Project Launches

China’s DeepSeek Bombshell Rocks Trump’s $500BN AI Boondoggle

The Markets Are Ignoring Everything Trump Said To Focus Just On One Partial Quote

UK To Soften Tax Rules For Wealthy Foreigners After Millionaire Exodus, Rachel Reeves Says

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