Mark Townsend

Samsung is teaming up with South Korea's central bank to get a digital currency transaction infrastructure up and running.

Will Covid-19 derail Dubai's long-awaited Expo 2020?

Can Ether overtake Bitcoin as the world's top cryptocurrency?

The ranks of the wealthy continue to grow in the GCC, and with their wealth growing in complexity, too, they are demanding ever more from their wealth managers.

China's banking sector is already vulnerable to high levels of corporate debt and cutting reserve requirements means greater systemic risk.

Sovereign wealth funds are being tested over investment priorities.

Abu Dhabi's IPO market is heating up.

The UAE, led by Dubai, earlier created a number of offshore business parks dubbed “free zones,” which permit 100% foreign ownership.

Reshuffling at the top of Vietnam's leadership structure unlikely to lead to policy change.

Even as the pandemic fades, the GCC states will be challenged to revive their economies and again pursue regional integration.  

Already pressed fiscally, Oman’s new leader will need to walk a fine line to restore growth and avoid domestic unrest. 

The central banks will deploy distributed ledger technology to develop a proof-of-concept prototype with the aim of making regulation-heavy foreign exchange payments cheaper and more efficient.

Mohamed Aoun takes the helm at the new oil and gas ministry as pressure builds to increase output to bolster much-needed revenues to the state.

The country is home to major blockchain companies including the Ethereum Foundation, Polkadot, Cardano and Libra.

The Trump administration worked to persuade the kingdom to end the standoff, leading to an agreement mediated by Kuwait. 

News of the action pummeled the price of the XRP token at a time of surging demand for cryptocurrencies by institutional investors. 

The country joins a growing list of Arab states that recognize the Jewish state.

Once shunned by Wall Street, Bitcoin is going mainstream.

Although Vietnam suffers from weak healthcare infrastructure, the government’s rapid response to the outbreak minimized damage to the economy.

Investors remain unclear as to the precise role of CCB in the blockchain bond.

For now, Australia’s most vital exports, which include liquid natural gas, iron ore and copper, have not been affected by rising tensions with China.

Arabtec may struggle to meet the end of November deadline set by shareholders to formally submit liquidation plans to a court. 

The once-mighty cartel is struggling in the face of weak demand, a concerted push toward renewable energy and the market-pummeling impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Israel’s Economy Ministry calculates that the normalization of ties could increase exports to the UAE to US$300 million to $500 million annually while according to Moody’s Investors Services, UAE investments in Israel could reach US$350 million a year.

Outdated lending practices and a structural focus on government-related enterprises are keeping banks from backing the region’s beleaguered smaller companies.

Akulaku's ambitions are not limited to the Indonesian market it dominates.

German fintech Wirecard collapses amid fraud allegations.

Economic reforms are hampered by worries they might undo the tacit cradle-to-grave social compact between the monarchy and Saudi citizens that provides a safety net in return for political stability. 

The new prime minister’s resolve to tackle runaway government salaries faces an early test.

In an announcement on April 13, SoftBank cited a “deteriorating market environment” as the explanation for the abysmal results at its $100 billion Vision Fund. 

The postponing of major global events such as Dubai’s Expo 2020 and this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games will hit host economies hard.

A new IMF funding package and anticipated economic reforms offer a ray of hope for the kingdom’s battered economy.  

A sluggish economy, high debt burden and tensions among its neighbors challenge the new leader’s ambitious development plans.  

Russia and Saudi Arabia are boosting oil output at a time of falling demand.

Airlines across Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia slashed capacity and mothballed aircraft in a bid to stave off bankruptcy.

Experts are questioning the structure and true purpose of Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund.

UAE may become an even bigger player in the gas markets in the near future.

Guyana may soon become one of the top 10 oil producers in the world.

President Trump replaces NAFTA with a new trade agreement.

Blockchain is making inroads with mainstream financial institutions.

Sri Lanka's new president may be a strong man, but can he strengthen the economy?

Another real-world use for blockchain.

World economic growth is increasingly driven by Brazil, Russia, China and India.

The Arab Spring continues in Algeria.

Putting the war-ravaged country back together will cost $400 billion. With Assad still in power and US sanctions still in place, who will foot the bill—and reap the benefit? 

Iraq’s new government must push reconstruction forward, pull in new foreign investment and produce results for a battered population. Its time is limited.

As the region’s oil-and-gas dominance faces new challenges, the monarchies are betting that foreign capital will help carry their economies into a more stable, diversified future.  

Nations compete for foreign direct investment.

Smartphone-only bank makes a splash in the US.