Mark Townsend

The Middle East could prove a profitable oasis.

 Adnoc is capitalizing on buoyant demand, particularly in Europe. 

Microsoft is moving swiftly to consolidate its position in the AI race. 

The Swiss National Bank projects losses on foreign currency transactions of CHF131 billion, with another CHF1 billion in losses on positions held in Swiss francs.

Britain repeals post-2008 banking reforms, including the cap on bonuses for bankers.

Microsoft’s investment in LSEG comes at a time when big tech names like Google, Amazon and IBM are increasingly engaged in an arms race to deepen relationships with financial firms.

Ripple Labs hopes to facilitate real-time crypto-enabled payments in 35 African countries.

Citi, HSBC, Mastercard and Wells Fargo are among financial companies collaborating with the New York Fed’s Innovation Center in a proof-of-concept pilot using digital dollar tokens.

The appointments may bring the political instability and violent clashes that erupted after the 2021 elections to an end.

Analysts say the move by America’s oldest bank is further acknowledgment of the role of cryptocurrencies in global financial markets.

Although the precise remit has not been defined, the envoy will focus on the major funds in the Persian Gulf.

From January 1, 2023, tolls will increase by 15% for vessels including oil tankers, and 10% for dry bulk and cruise ships.

In a sign of China's rising strength, the Asian Development Bank announced it may stop lending to the world's second largest economy.

The growth of open banking continues to be limited by banks' aversion to risk and security concerns.

Investors may be fleeing Bitcoin but El Salvador's president seems determined to buy the dip.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading frenzied activity in Gulf equity capital markets.

Gulf banks remain on par with their Western counterparts.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has come under fire for his handling of the crisis.

Europe’s collective action could stoke investment in gas capacity in Algeria, Egypt, Oman and Qatar.

Jordan reboots its economy, and foreign investors take note.

The Central Bank of Kuwait has led calls for economic reform as political deadlock threatens a liquidity crunch. 

Private companies take a growing role, as innovations and data needs expand the sector.

Rising oil prices and falling wheat supplies play key roles in shaping the region’s strategic response.

Foreign companies will soon be able to own 100% of companies in most economic sectors.

The latest developments come as the UAE moves to tighten regulations following criticism that it is a hub for illicit financial activity. 

Citi is selling its consumer businesses in Asia and EMEA to local and regional competitors.

The resignations have highlighted the strong inclination of some US officials to trade in stocks based on privileged information.

Green bonds are so common it’s time for some quality control.

Blockchain-based technology disrupts the $6.6 trillion daily global FX market.

Miami has gotten exchanges including blockchain.com and eToro to relocate to the city as part of Suarez’s drive to create a crypto ecosystem and establish the city as a mining hub. 

Iran is experimenting with cryptocurrencies as a means of circumventing U.S. sanctions.

Analysts say the cryptocurrency’s spike in price has more to do with inflation fears than pent-up demand for nascent ETFs. 

Oil-rich nations continue to diversify their income streams away from fossil fuel-based enterprises.

The Taliban's return to power may usher in both an economic and a humanitarian crisis.

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.