Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Price pressures have eased across the Middle East Inflation pressures are easing in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The drop in global commodity prices has led to a fall in food price inflation across the region. Meanwhile... 19th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The UAE’s energy policy should help to ease supply concerns Today’s announcement that the UAE has approved plans for its first nuclear power plant should help to reduce fears that even more oil will have to be used for domestic consumption rather than exported... 18th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Jun.) Saudi Arabia’s headline inflation fell in June on the back of easing core price pressures and a modest drop in food inflation. 11th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt: economy could make or break the new president’s tenure The election of Dr. Mohamed Mursi as Egypt’s first democratically-elected president last month represented a significant step in the country’s transition. But as we expected, tensions between the new... 11th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Jun.) Egyptian inflation fell to a nine-month low in June on the back of weaker food inflation. Nonetheless, this is unlikely to pave the way for looser monetary policy – at least until the political... 10th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Pressures on the Egyptian pound mount Provisional data from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) showing no improvement in foreign currency reserves in June – as had been hoped – will keep pressure on the pound. With political conditions still... 9th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Political chaos to hold back growth in Kuwait Kuwait’s political crisis is showing no signs of abating as former Prime Minister Sheikh Jabir bin Mubarak Al-Sabah has been reappointed only four days after he resigned. For now, tensions between the... 5th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia HSBC/Markit PMI (Jun.) June’s PMI data show that Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector continued to grow robustly, bucking the trend in other parts of the world. Nonetheless, the data also suggest that a repeat of last year... 3rd July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE HSBC/Markit PMI (Jun.) The UAE’s PMI fell slightly in June but the headline index still point towards a modest improvement in private sector activity between Q1 and Q2. 3rd July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt: Investors too complacent on political risks Investor concerns over the risk of a disorderly devaluation of the pound are beginning to fade on the back of fresh hopes that the new Egyptian president will pursue an agreement with the IMF. However... 2nd July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What effect will Iran sanctions have on oil prices? We maintain our view that the imminent tightening of Western sanctions on Iran is unlikely to have anywhere near as large an impact on global oil prices as many had feared. Demand is weakening and... 29th June 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Oil-poor countries could still outperform in the long term The economic prospects for some of the resource-poor Arab countries are brighter than their current conditions suggest. Although political transitions are proving difficult, we still think that they... 28th June 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian markets rally, but political conditions are still fragile Egypt made a significant step in its transition yesterday following the announcement that the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi has won the presidential election run-off. Even so, we remain cautious... 25th June 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Oil prices in freefall Fears for the health of the global economy have sent Brent crude prices down by more than $30 per barrel in the past month, raising fresh concerns over the sustainability of the recent fiscal packages... 22nd June 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Outlook darkens for Egypt as political conditions deteriorate The Egyptian military is tightening its grip over political life in the country, casting doubts over the authority of the new president. Investors should therefore be concerned that recent... 18th June 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s rates on hold as political conditions worsen The decision by Egypt’s Central Bank (CBE) to keep interest rates on hold was understandably overshadowed by rising tensions following today’s recommendation by the constitutional court that... 14th June 2012 · 1 min read
