February, 2020

• 15 February

  Citigroup keeps CEO’s pay unchanged at $24 million

  Bloomberg Citigroup Inc kept Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat’s total compensation at $24 million for last year, when the lender’s stock surged. Corbat got $1.5 million in salary and $22.5 million of incentive awards, consisting of cash and restricted stock, the New York-based bank said in a regulatory filing. The 59-year-old CEO, who’s led the bank since 2012, reassigned many ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  e-dirham services generate AED22.11b revenue in 2019

  

  DUBAI / WAM The e-dirham government services revenue exceeded AED22 billion, with AED13 billion coming from the e-dirham system and AED9 billion from service points, respectively, in 2019. The total number of transactions executed via the e-dirham system reached 49 million, including 15 million transactions through the system’s website, and 34 million transactions via service points, the Ministry of Finance ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  Adnoc Distribution net profit up 4.2% to AED2.22b in 2019

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM Adnoc Distribution on Wednesday announced that net profit for the fourth quarter of 2019 was AED496 million, an increase of 11.3 percent compared to same period last year. Ebitda for the fourth quarter of 2019 was AED658 million, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to the same period last year, driven by a solid operational performance ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  UAE a bridge to promote Korean culture to Mideast

  ABU DHABI / WAM Endowed with abundant cultural resources and a large-scale economy, the UAE will act as a bridge to promote Korean culture to other Middle Eastern countries, according to a top South Korean official. “The UAE is Korea’s first ‘Cultural Dialogue’ partner country in Mideeast and has shown an active interest in Korean culture,” wrote Park Yang-woo, Minister ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  Aldar sees 7% jump in net profit of 2019

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM Aldar Properties on Wednesday announced that it reported a 7 percent year on year increase in 2019 net profit to AED1.984 billion, driven by growth across both its development and asset management businesses. According to a statement issued by Aldar on Wednesday, the company’s Board of Directors recommended a cash dividend of AED0.145 per share, representing ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  Oil rallies amid signs virus spread is easing

  

  Bloomberg Oil extended its rebound above $50 a barrel as tentative signs that Asia’s coronavirus may be easing spurred speculation that the worst of crude’s sell-off could have passed. US futures rallied 2.2% in a second daily gain, having lost about 16% during preceding month amid fears the disease would slash fuel consumption in China. The latest data from the ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  BOE joins debate on financial rules amid UK-EU Brexit clash

  

  Bloomberg Two top Bank of England (BOE) officials suggested that the UK financial system’s rules may have to diverge from the European Union’s after Brexit — a topic that’s becoming as a major point of contention between the two sides. Outgoing Governor Mark Carney told Parliament that Britain’s view of EU regulation may change over time, especially since it will ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  Powell suggests Fed may lack ammo to combat next recession

  

  Bloomberg Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell came close to acknowledging that the central bank may not have the firepower to fight the next recession and called on Congress to get ready to help. The current low level of interest rates “means that it would be important for fiscal policy to support the economy if it weakens,” he told the House ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  Malaysia sees room to cut interest rates

  

  Bloomberg Malaysia’s central bank sees room to adjust monetary policy again after economic growth slowed to its weakest pace in more than a decade and the nation braces for the impact of the coronavirus on tourism and trade. Fourth quarter gross domestic product expanded 3.6% from a year ago, the lowest since the third quarter of 2009 and far worse ...

  Read More »
• 12 February

  ECB officials defend rates with eye on side effects

  

  Bloomberg Three of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) top policy makers defended their monetary stimulus even as they acknowledged that the negative side effects must be watched closely. President Christine Lagarde told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that she realises subzero interest rates and bond purchases can hurt savers and lead to overvalued asset prices such as real estate, but ...

  Read More »