Commodities On The Rebound Demand Strategic Hedging
An upturn in manufacturing activity is sending the prices of commodities up as well, forcing multinational corporations to hedge more aggressively and strategically.
April 2017
Features
Corporate Capital Shops Abroad
Cash-rich corporations are once again seeking to expand through acquisitions, often looking abroad for synergies, and that’s driving the global M&A market.
Special Report: Risk & Insurance
Antiglobalization and rising nationalism are increasing political risks for multinational corporations, yet insurance policies don’t provide the needed coverage.
Payments Get Real
Corporate and banking entities are seeking faster, more secure payment systems, and experiments in the payments space are coming to fruition.
Award Winners
Best Investment Banks 2017: Deals of the Year
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for the world’s best investment bank deals.
Global Winners: Tacking Into The Wind
Details on the overall global winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best investment banks.
Sector Winners: Special Powers
Details on the sector winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best investment banks.
Cross Border Deals Drive M&A
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best investment banks for M&A (mergers and acquisitions).
Focused For Advantage
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best boutique investment banks.
Low Rates, High Volume
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for the world’s best investment banks for debt.
Bullish On Stocks Again
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best investment banks for equities
Bumper Year Expected
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for the world’s best investment banks for derivatives.
Back To Customer Service
Details on the winners of Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 awards for best US regional investment banks.
Global Salon
Q&A: Louis Pastina On Transformational Tech
Louis Pastina, who leads technology at consultancy Global Markets Advisory Group and previously served in technology and regulatory leadership roles at the New York Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange (GMAG), visited Global Finance to discuss dramatic changes in financial technology.
Middle East: Annual Supplement
Middle East Drive To Diversify
The need for economic diversification has never been greater, as governments around the Gulf look to shore up oil-depleted revenues and boost job prospects for their fast-growing populations.
Sovereign Bond Caravan Lopes Along
Sovereigns continue to lead debt issuance in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with further major issuances planned for this year, as countries look to plug deficits.
A New Economic Reality: Oil And Gas
Is Lebanon about to become the Middle East’s next oil and gas producer? After years of political deadlock, the government is about to reopen bids for offshore hydrocarbon exploration.
Can Public-Private Partnerships in MENA thrive?
A dollar of infrastructure investment can raise GDP by 20 cents by boosting productivity, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.
Fear And Loathing On The Road To PPP
The Middle East is fertile ground for public-private partnerships, especially for infrastructure investment, but legal and economic conditions remain an obstacle, and governments are skeptical about PPP benefits for long-term projects.
Gulf Real Estate: From Hi-Rises To REITs
The real estate investment market in the Middle East is exhibiting a resurgence and signs of maturity, with real estate investment trusts growing in popularity as an alternative source of capital.
Lebanese Banks Stand Tall Amid Uncertainty
The Lebanese economy was hit hard in recent years, mainly by spillover from Syria’s crisis. However, the financial sector has proven resilient and domestic political stability offers renewed prospects for growth.
Middle East Banks Seek Growth Externally
Middle Eastern banks are looking for merger and acquisition opportunities to help them bolster their balance sheets and expand into new product areas and markets.
Saudi King Signs $65 Billion In Deals During China Visit
Saudi Arabia forges closer trade and economic ties with China as part of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy.
Q&A with Saad Azhari, Blom Bank
Regional political and economic uncertainty has not impeded Lebanese banks’ expansion into countries such as Jordan, Egypt, and even Iraq, says BLOM Bank’s chairman and general manager.
Q&A with Freddie Baz, Bank Audi
Doing business in Egypt and Turkey is not for the fainthearted. Bank Audi’s vice chairman and group strategy director says success in these markets is about being able to absorb short-term shocks.
Q&A with Mohammad Al-Hashel, Central Bank Of Kuwait
An interview with Central Bank governor Mohammad Al-Hashel of the Central Bank of Kuwait on the country’s banking sector.
Q&A with Isam Al Sager, National Bank Of Kuwait
An interview with ISAM AL SAGER, NATIONAL BANK OF KUWAIT, about the bank’s plans to grow both inside and outside its home market.
Q&A with Fahad Alomran, Narmo Capital
An interview with FAHAD ALOMRAN, NARMO CAPITAL, about succession planning for family businesses in the Middle East.
Q&A with Bassel Gamal, Qatar Islamic Bank
An interview with BASSEL GAMAL, QATAR ISLAMIC BANK, about growth and drawing new customers to Islamic banking.
Q&A With Adel El-Labban, Ahli United Bank
An interview with ADEL EL-LABBAN, AHLI UNITED BANK, about banking in the Middle East.
Middle East’s Best Companies Hold On
Global Finance magazine’s 2017 list of the Best-Performing Companies In The Middle East shows some changes at the top of the rankings, with Israel gaining position while oil-producing countries struggle with low oil prices.
Middle East Supplement 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Country Report
Kenya: Primed For Growth
Sudan–Ethiopia Transport Corridor), consisting of a large port, a railway, oil pipelines, highways, international airports and cities, is a massive undertaking. Kenya has created a positive environment for foreign direct investment (FDI), as it looks to appeal to foreign multinationals. ...
Milestones
With May Elections, Korea Can Move Past Scandal
South Korea elects a new president in May, and after spending months ousting the sitting president, leftists may win the chance to lead the country.
Russia’s Central Bank Chief Unscathed Despite Cuts
Russia’s Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina retains the confidence of leadership despite shutting down some 400 banks, and even as she goes after larger financial institutions.
Trade Pact Sails Forward
Ratified by more than 110 of 164 member countries, the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) has gone into force, launching “a new phase for trade facilitation reforms all over the world,” according to the WTO.
Corporate Finance
Corporate Capital Shops Abroad
Cash-rich corporations are once again seeking to expand through acquisitions, often looking abroad for synergies, and that’s driving the global M&A market.
Newsmakers
Modi Empowered By State Wins
Wins by Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s ruling party in the month of March indicates strong support for his challenging reform plans
Three Women Rise To The Top Of Saudi Finance
Three women advancing to the top levels of the Saudi Arabian finance sector show the kingdom making progress in improving work opportunities for women.
GM Sells Europe Ops Back to Europeans
GM sloughs off its European brands to focus on Asia and US markets, boosting PSA Group to second-largest automaker in Europe
US Hedge Fund Activists Tackle CEOs
CSX is only the latest example of shareholder activists pushing for change in leadership.
Corporate Finance & Capital
New Institutions Push Long-Term Thinking
A new movement is pushing back against short-term investment and narrow focus on quarterly earnings.
Panda Bonds Thrive On China’s Low Rates
China’s huge bond market has only recently been tapped by foreign firms—through Panda Bonds, which soared last year.
More Rules, More Fines, More On Balance
Lenders have paid more than $300 billion in fines since the 2008 financial crisis; the growing regulations are slowly forcing stronger balance sheets.
China Feasts on Fintech as Asia Passes The West
The Asia-Pacific region surged past North America for funding of fintech enterprises in 2016, due to blockbuster China deals.
Corporate Finance & Capital: Capital Markets
Snap’s IPO had plenty of takers, even if the shares came without any power to influence corporate governance. Who were the buyers, and are they getting rooked?
Food Giants Fund Start-Ups To Co-Opt Competition
Multinational food conglomerates are launching funding operations to invest in—or buy outright—startups with a natural or healthful focus, to capture the credibility of these craft brands.
Sovereign Funds Go Local
Political pressure is on sovereign wealth funds to use investment to support local communities and infrastructure.
Tunisian Bank Receives ISO 27001 Certification
Tunisian Bank Receives ISO 27001 Certification
Blockchain Passes Japan Payments Test
Japanese banks piloted domestic and cross-border payments successfully through the Cloud with Ripple.
Regional Report
Japan Rethinks Trade In Face Of TPP Collapse
US withdrawal from the TPP was a shock to its top ally in the Pacific, and may push Japan into the trading arms of China.
China Will Win Trump’s Trade Game
President Trump’s more aggressive trade stance may backfire, and end up strengthening China rather than the US.
Sunnier Prospects For Latin America
With asset prices low while fundamentals are improving, Latin American economies are poised for a rebound.
Private Equity Gets Back Into Brazil
A positive macroeconomic outlook and a sharp decline asset prices are once again making Brazilian investments attractive for large international private equity firms, which are cautiously returning after three years of economic crisis.