Bahrain

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

Recently released figures from the Islamic Finance Information Service (IFIS) concerning global sukuk issuance clearly illustrate our long-held view that the market is not favourable... 2008-10-22

Bahrain's foreign minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa has said that all Middle Eastern states 'without exception' should form a regional organisation 'even if we don't recognise... 2008-10-01

Progress in the US towards a bailout of ailing financial institutions seems to have halted recent slides in GCC equity markets but we retain our bearish stance towards the region... 2008-09-29

The approval of a draft agreement on the charter governing the Gulf monetary union council by five ministers this week is broadly positive in terms of regional cooperation, but does... 2008-09-17

BMI View: Broadly speaking, we remain sanguine on the outlook for the Bahraini economy, forecasting above-4.0% growth for the next five years.

BMI View: A combination of economic malaise and disillusionment with foreign policy pose the most serious risks to stability. A reduction in either element would greatly reduce overall... 2008-09-17

BMI View: Times are getting tighter, but the Bahraini government will continue to record fiscal surpluses throughout our forecast period.

With Gulf equities falling further over the weekend, our bearish view on the region's stock markets continues to play out. The falling oil price (front month Brent crude has now dropped... 2008-09-15