Emirates Business Experts from Indosuez Wealth Management commented at a media roundtable that low oil prices could be an impetus for change and reforms across the hydrocarbon-based economies of the GCC region. “This is clearly a time to push for change in the GCC countries, as there is immense pressure on state revenues due to lower oil prices. Challenging situations …

Reuters Iranian oil flows to Europe have begun to pick up from a slow start after sanctions were lifted in January, but trading sources say a lack of access to storage part-owned by Tehran’s Gulf Arab rivals now looms large on a list of obstacles. European countries accounted for more than a third of Iran’s exports, or 800,000 barrels a …

TOKYO / Reuters A laggard in embracing the ‘fintech’, or financial technology, revolution, Japan is set to ease investment restrictions that could free up the flow of capital in an economy sitting on an estimated $9 trillion in individuals’ cash deposits. Strict regulation, easy access to credit due to rock-bottom interest rates, and weak demand for innovative financial services from …