REGULATION

Sep 25, 2023

Bahrain, BAGS CapitalBahrain-based asset manager BAGS Capital has become the first firm to secure an investment business category 4 licence from the central bank.

Sep 19, 2023

Bahrain, family office, licences, Central Bank of Bahrain, CBB, investment, regulations, influence The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has amended its investment regulations to cater for the growing influence of family offices.

Aug 29, 2023

Binance, crypto future, BahrainCrypto exchange operator Binance has been given regulatory approval to launch a futures product in Bahrain.

Aug 25, 2023

QatarThe Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) has launched an initiative to introduce securities lending and short-selling activity.

Aug 22, 2023

Lebanon, sovereign wealth fund,A parliamentary session in Lebanon to debate the creation of a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) has been cancelled following a boycott from the two main opposition parties.

Aug 18, 2023

Abu Dhabi, virtual, asset trading, platform, M2, UAE, financial services permission, FSP, licence, Abu Dhabi Global MarketM2, a virtual assets trading platform based in the UAE, has been granted a financial services permission (FSP) licence from the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

Aug 03, 2023

DFSA, fine, Mirabaud, AML, Middle East, Swiss, wealth manager, Dubai, financial watchdog, anti-money laundering, AMLThe Middle East branch of Swiss wealth manager Mirabaud has been hit with a US$3 million fine by Dubai’s financial watchdog for its inadequate anti-money laundering (AML) systems.

Aug 03, 2023

Nomura, digital assets, Dubai, virtual assets regulatory authority, VARA, approved, Japanese, bank NomuraDubai’s virtual assets regulatory authority (VARA) has approved a digital asset subsidiary of Japanese bank Nomura.

Jul 28, 2023

Turkey, FATF grey list, grey list, Financial Action Task Force, FATF, improve, money laundering, anti-money laundering, AML, counter-terrorist financing, CTFTurkey is reportedly close to being removed from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as a result of its efforts to improve its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regime.

Jul 14, 2023

The UAE’s Securities and Commodity Authority (SCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Banks Federation designed to boost the country’s asset and wealth management sector.

Pages

Opinion

Change brings progress and long-term opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Saudi_ArabiaNaomi Waistell, an emerging markets fund manager at Polar Capital, analyses change in Saudi Arabia – a hydrocarbon country with green ambitions and which is set on a major economic...

New income streams

Romil_PatelAlthough it is awash with oil and, therefore, capital, the Gulf region is at a critical juncture: it must diversify its...

Executive Interviews

INTERVIEW: ‘Financing is the blood of Iran’s economy’

Amid a fresh wave of American sanctions, Romil Patel spoke to Meysam Hamedi, director of financial markets and instruments at Iran’s Securities & Exchange Organization (SEO).

INTERVIEW: Totally mega

In 2016, global consulting firm PWC forecast the emergence of five global ‘megatrends’ in the next two decades. Stephen Anderson, its Middle East clients and markets leader, talks about their...

INTERVIEW: Protecting the investment

Rasmala’s trade finance fund recently passed $100 million in assets. Doug Bitcon, head of credit strategies, explains why he has to be hands-on.

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW: A natural interest in the topic

Since 2016, Guillermo Ortiz has been a chairman of Latin America’s BTG Pactual. The former central banker of Mexico talks to Nick Fitzpatrick.

Roundtables

Middle East Investor Roundtable 2020: Dimensions of diversification

Investors in the Middle East consider the tools that will be needed to navigate the Covid-19 crisis, the continued appetite for dividend and why it’s all about tech. Chaired by Romil Patel.

South Africa asset management roundtable: Global rebound on ice

Experts discuss the investment implications of the coronavirus pandemic, a delayed rebound in global growth and dealing with South Africa’s energy issues head on. Chaired by Romil Patel in Cape Town.

South African roundtable: Taking the bull by the horns

Our panel discusses Chinese investment in Africa, financial institutions’ contribution to economic sustainability and regulatory concerns. Chaired by Romil Patel in Cape Town.

ROUNDTABLE: Hooked to the global caravan

With the MENA region at a tipping point, our panellists talk about economic diversification, the impact of regulation and the delayed Saudi Aramco listing. Chaired by Romil Patel in Dubai.