Bloomberg Stocks kicked off the penultimate week of the year on a positive note after Republicans reached an agreement on the shape of US tax cuts. The dollar dropped and Treasuries headed lower. The S&P 500 Index rose to new highs Monday, and the KBW bank index rose to its highest since October 2007, as investors focussed on the progress …

Reuters Saudi Arabia’s stock market surged on Monday as cement firms climbed before the release of the government’s 2018 budget, which is expected to include an increase in infrastructure spending. The Saudi stock index surged 1.4 percent in active trade. Five of the 10 most heavily traded shares and six of the 10 top gainers were cement firms, with Najran …

DUBAI / Emirates Business His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), has launched the ‘DAFZA’s Strategy for Islamic Economy’ which is based on strategic initiatives involving the Islamic economy and halal sectors. The strategy will help attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the sectors and support the ‘Dubai – Capital …