Justin Keay

Levantine banks operate in fragile economies in a region facing severe upheaval. Some are finding a way through the chaos better than others.

Egypt and Lebanon may have very different economies but they have one thing in common: the importance of their central banks.

September saw a further weakening in the governing AKP party’s once-unassailable hold on power in Turkey, with respected former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan announcing he will establish a new pro-business, pro-West party, citing “deep differences” with the AKP, or ...

Armenia’s popular new government is undertaking an ambitious economic overhaul. The early reviews are good.

Election re-run results in blow to Turkey's ruling AKP.

Postelection, Turkey needs to take tangible measures to restore economic stability and government credibility and strengthen domestic capital markets.

Absence of election turmoil opens opportunity for economic reforms.
 

Slovakia bucks the global trend towards nationalism.

Greece's economy has improved markedly from the dark days of 2009.

Even with investor and public worries about corruption, the dynamic Balkan economies offer opportunities with the promise of EU membership.

Broadly positive developments last year suggest reform and economic development could take deeper root in 2019.

Greece makes a deal with its neighbor to change the country's name to North Macedonia.

Flexibility, consistent economic policies and strong regulation are some of the ingredients behind Poland’s ongoing expansion—which analysts say is likely to continue.

Theresa May struggles to hold her government together as next year's Brexit deadline looms.

After a difficult summer, Turkey’s currency and economy show new signs of strength, restoring consumer and investor confidence.

The Turkish economy's wild ride is finally calming down.

In the aftermath of revolution and civil war, the storied trading region seeks to convince investors it’s time to come back.

While political turmoil rages, Turkey’s financial sector keeps innovating, bucking conventional wisdom and keeping the wheels of commerce moving.

Erdoğan's political future is secure, Turkey's economic outlook is not.

Turkey's banks have had a good run but rising debts remain a worry.

An unexpected uptick in economic growth, a failed military coup and geopolitical tensions haven’t kept Turkey down. And the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, looks set to strengthen his hold on power with snap elections called for June.

Romania has a troublesome reputation but robust growth, and is working to raise its game through the tech industry and improvements to the business environment.

With popular elected leaders and strong growth in their economies, the sometimes-feisty CEE nations are standing tall—and keeping an eye on corruption and labor costs.

Slovakia's new prime minister Peter Pellegrini is struggling the escape the shadow of his predecessor who was forced to resign after the murder of a journalist investigating corrupt politicians.

New resource-extraction operations, Russia’s economic recovery and Asian investment are lifting prospects across the Caucasus.

As the Mediterranean island nation's economy has stabilized, so too have its banks.

The failure of UN negotiations aside, 2017 was a positive year of consolidation and growth for the Cypriot economy.

Czech PM Babiš is an outspoken billionaire while the Polish PM, Morawiecki, is more of a technician, who negotiated Poland’s accession to EU before going on to chair Bank Zachodni WBK, part of the Santander Group.

Turkey’s geographic and economic position in the middle—between East and West, developing and developed—has made it a hub for multinationals.

They are expected to grow by an average 3.3% this year, 0.9% higher than May’s forecast and a big improvement over last year’s 1.9% growth.

Defined loosely as the region spreading from Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria in the northeast, and including Egypt in the southwest, with Cyprus off the shore, the Levant sees many points of light despite the current gloomy outlook.

The country's economy has proven remarkably resilient after a series of crises rocked the country.

Turkey’s banking authority BDDK said total banking assets had increased 7.3% since the end of 2016, reaching a total of $826 billion. 

Since becoming president in December, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has embraced the West, the IMF and the EBRD normalizing relations with the country after a 10-year freeze.

What must be done to revive the  CEE region’s competitive edge in high-tech innovation?

Uncertainty about the UK's plan to leave the European Union is making Britain's business community nervous.

Cyprus is emphasizing sustainable growth and addressing problems such as high unemployment and nonperforming loans.

With the presidential referendum finally over, Turkish business wants to see its government get back to probusiness reforms.

After years of reform and a series of elections, the countries of Southeastern Europe are stable and starting to see a pickup in economic activity

Last year, after a difficult 2015, it seemed that just about everything that could go wrong for the South Caucasus actually did. In April, simmering tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the contested region of Armenian-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh exploded into renewed ...

Ever since Theresa May became Britain’s prime minister in the wake of last year’s fateful EU referendum, she has sought to define herself—and her government—as something more than just the executors of the “people’s will” in carrying out Brexit.

Even by the Balkans’ standards, the honeymoon accorded Romania’s new Social Democratic Party (PSD) government was brief after the party’s victory in the December 11 elections.

Negotiations in Geneva have resumed over the decades-old division of Cyprus.  

Romania’s voters gave an overwhelming endorsement to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the December 11 parliamentary elections. Now the challenge is to spur growth while keeping a lid on corruption. 

Western European banks and institutions are expanding financing for small and medium-sized companies in Turkey. 

Political turmoil is roiling markets abroad and at home, yet observers say fundamentals should leave the country well-placed to draw FDI when sunshine returns.

Cyprus offers some good news in the eastern Mediterranean, where good news has been scarce of late. 

Syria’s agony is imposing serious costs for neighbors in terms of refugees, lost trade and dampened investment.

If you think record-low interest rates are the result of years of expansionary monetary policices, think again. 

Despite the summer’s turmoil, Turkey’s economy retains appeal for investors, and its currency is holding firm.