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DUBAI / Reuters Saudi Arabia’s central bank said it had not banned trading of the Qatari riyal since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Doha, and said visiting Qatari citizens could exchange their currency. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of backing terrorism, which Qatar denies. …

Bloomberg Blackstone Group LP’s reach for $10 billion in energy assets is the firm’s latest bet that the US shale boom is just hitting its stride. The world’s largest alternative-asset manager agreed to buy Harvest Fund Advisors for an undisclosed amount, adding the firm’s 18-member team led by Eric Conklin to an investment empire that spans private equity, real estate, …

Bloomberg The resignation of Vishal Sikka as chief executive officer of India’s bellwether technology company masks the rot in India’s once feted export sector. While Sikka cited heightened acrimony with a cohort of founders at Infosys Ltd., the malaise is much deeper, and threatens to become a faultline for Asia’s No. 3 economy. Software services exports are experiencing their longest …

Bloomberg JD.com Inc. posted a wider quarterly loss as China’s second-largest online mall boosted marketing spending to drive sales at its mid-year shopping promotion. The net loss was $74 million in the three months ended June, almost double the 252 million yuan loss of a year earlier. Second-quarter sales jumped 44 percent to 93.2 billion yuan, helped by a partnership …

Bloomberg Asian emerging market currencies have been having their best year since before the 2013 taper tantrum, bolstered by pace-setting growth rates and attractive yields. But the Philippine peso has been left out of the party—ironically after it held up better than peers including Indonesia’s rupiah back in 2013. Unless things change, it’ll be a fifth straight year of declines …

DUBAI / WAM The Zayed Giving Initiative (ZGI), has launched a programme to mark World Humanitarian Day, which was on August 19, to promote the culture of volunteer work and humanitarian giving among the youth of various nationalities. Dr Adel Al Shameri, CEO of ZGI, said the new initiative will feature a package of charitable projects that will be implemented …

Dubai / Emirates Business DLD has strengthened partnerships with government entities as part of ongoing efforts to integrate Dubai’s various institutions, improve government performance, achieve highest standards of excellence, ensure customer satisfaction. Hamdan Hamad Al-Madhani, Director of Rental Relationship Regulation Department at DLD, said: “To achieve the desired level of integration, a workshop was organised where representatives from any DLD …

FUJAIRAH / WAM The newly established Fujairah Terminals, under the management of Abu Dhabi Ports, welcomed its first container feeder vessel, the Dubai Alliance. This is the first ship to arrive at the terminal, which is wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Fujairah …

ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM) has carried out a comprehensive campaign at old and new Al Falah as well as surrounding areas in collaboration with strategic partners. The campaign aimed to verify that stipulations set for protecting the appearance of the city are implemented, and removal of all distorting elements is carried out. The campaign focused …

DUBAI / Emirates Business The GCC projects market had a muted performance in the first half of 2017, but is expected to perform better in the second six months of the year as the region’s economies continue to adjust to lower oil prices. According to the latest data from MEED Projects, the region’s leading projects tracking and analysis service, $56bn …