DAVOS/ WAM Despite the challenges of 2023 and escalating geopolitical tensions, business leaders remain surprisingly optimistic for 2024, according to new research from Economist Impact and DP World, unveiled today at the World Economic Forum. The primary driver is a growing belief that technology will transform the efficiency and resilience of supply chains. Amid escalating concerns about protectionism, global fragmentation ...

BLOOMBERG European stocks and US futures retreated, while the dollar rose to a one-month high and bonds fell as the market digested the latest comments from central bank officials pushing back against bets on aggressive interest rate cuts. The Stoxx Europe 600 index headed for a five-week low, with retailers and banks leading the decline. Futures on the S&P 500 ...

BLOOMBERG Shell Plc agreed to sell its Nigerian onshore oil business to a consortium of local companies for more than $1.3 billion. If approved by the government, the transaction would fulfill Shell’s long-term goal of extracting itself from a challenging operating environment in the Niger Delta region, while retaining a presence elsewhere in the country. Beyond the initial price tag, ...

BLOOMBERG A new Baltic Sea wind farm that will power more than 1.5 million Polish homes is getting turbines made with greener steel that will cut their carbon footprint. Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s largest turbine maker, is partnering with ArcelorMittal SA to use recycled steel to build towers that blades spin on. They’ll be first installed in ...

DUBAI / WAM Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of Dubai’s Higher Committee for Development and Citizens Affairs, launched the ...

DUBAI/ WAM The UAE’s GDP is expected to expand by over 5 percent in 2024, exceeding the 2.8 percent growth expected for the global economy, according to Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings projections. Tatiana Leskova, Associate Director of Corporate Ratings at Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that “while the global economy remained subdued operating ...

DUBAI/ WAM Nasdaq Dubai has welcomed the listing of a US$600 million green bond by China Construction Bank (DIFC Branch). The green bond issuance targets combating climate change, represents China Construction Bank’s significant commitment to sustainable financing and highlights the growing synergy in green financing between China and UAE. To mark the issuance, Li Xuhang, Consul-General of the People’s Republic ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, CMA CGM Group, a global player in maritime, land, air and logistics solutions, and Ecocean, an innovative company serving aquatic biodiversity, have signed a scientific cooperation framework agreement that will see the installation of 48 Biohuts in Khalifa Port. Designed to restore biodiversity and promote ...

DUBAI / WAM DXB LIVE, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has announced that the third edition of the World of Coffee 2024 exhibition, scheduled to run from January 21-23 at DWTC, will see the participation of 1,650 companies and brands from across 51 countries. The three-day event, which is held in collaboration ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the UAE should be very proud of its role in achieving this historic outcome achieved at the 28th edition of the UN Climate Change Conference. “The vision, support and guidance of President His Highness ...