Economy

While the recent bounce in major global equity markets has provided some short-term relief to battered GCC bourses, we remain medium-term bearish. Similar themes inform our views... 2008-12-01

We have said in the past that Gulf governments will push ahead with new projects, even in the face of rising costs, falling demand and plummeting confidence, in an attempt to sustain... 2008-11-27

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) recently released its latest consumer price index (CPI) statistics, which show that inflation has not yet turned the corner, although we expect that... 2008-11-27

As Qatar's exports are dominated by the hydrocarbon sector, lower oil prices clearly negatively affect the emirate's external outlook. Nevertheless, even if oil were to average US$50/bbl... 2008-11-26

We expect money supply growth to continue to slow over the course of H208 and H109, resulting in lower inflation rates. While asset growth in the banking system is stalling, loan... 2008-11-25

On November 19, Nasser al-Sheikh, director general of the Dubai Department of Finance, announced that the emirate had set up a committee to 'assess the impact of the global financial... 2008-11-21

We expect real GDP growth to fall to 4.9% in Iranian year 2008/09 (ending in March 2009), dropping once more to 4.6% the following year. Although the Iranian banking system is largely... 2008-11-21

On November 3, the Central Bank of Iraq cut interest rates by 100bps, to 15.0%. It has cut its policy rate from 20.0% in February 2008 to 15.0% at present, and we forecast end-2008... 2008-11-20

BMI View: The government will try to spend its way out of the current financial crisis, and growth will remain robust over 2009-10. However, diminished financial resources and a poor... 2008-11-17

BMI View: The basket peg arrangement will start to serve Kuwait better now that the dollar is strengthening, by reducing the cost of euro-denominated imports. However, the central... 2008-11-17