Bloomberg New Zealand banks are calling on the Reserve Bank to delay implementation of new mortgage lending restrictions such as debt-to-income ratios as the housing market cools. Existing restrictions and rising interest rates are already slowing home-lending growth, and banks are concerned the introduction of further limits could have “unintended consequences,†the New Zealand Bankers Association said in a ...
Read More »US futures rise; traders on edge over war in Ukraine
Bloomberg US stock-index futures advanced as investors eyed cheaper valuations even as they remained concerned about global growth amid a raging war in Ukraine and an impending rate-hike cycle at the Federal Reserve. Contracts on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes added 0.5% each, after swinging between gains and losses at least six times. Europe’s Stoxx 600 gauge ...
Read More »European stocks set for first weekly gain since start of war
Bloomberg European stocks headed for their first weekly gain since the start of the Ukraine war as investors mulled central bank policy decisions and the outlook for economic growth. The Stoxx 600 Index was up 0.9% in London after briefly falling as much as 0.2% as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused continued volatility. Travel and leisure and mining stocks ...
Read More »FAB opens office in Iraq to expand its Mena footprint
ABU DHABI / WAM First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) will be expanding its regional footprint with the opening of a representative office in Iraq, as part of its targeted international growth strategy to facilitate regional trade flows and continually strengthen its global client service model. The UAE is one of Iraq’s most important trading partners, with the value of ...
Read More »Wizz Air Abu Dhabi unveils new route to Sri Lankan city
ABU DHABI / WAM Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of a new route from Abu Dhabi to Mattala, Sri Lanka, to introduce a new segment of travel by adding its first destination to South Asia. Michael Berlouis, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, commented, “Sri Lanka is an exciting destination that has everything; beautiful beaches, ...
Read More »UAE, New Zealand to boost trade ties
Dubai / WAM Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE Federal export credit company, has signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) with New Zealand Export Credit (NZEC) to boost bilateral trade relations and enhance the capabilities of SMEs in both countries to expand globally, without worrying about the payment risks due to commercial or non-commercial reasons. ECI and NZEC have ...
Read More »UAE focuses on building new generation of coders: Al Olama
DUBAI / WAM Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, has said that the UAE government is focusing on building a new generation of young coders, enhancing their capabilities and skills in the fields of coding and modern technology, and empowering them with tools and expertise. This aligns with the ...
Read More »UAE committed to Opec+ pact, existing mechanism: Minister
ABU DHABI / Agencies The UAE on Thursday affirmed its commitment to the Opec+ agreement. “The UAE remains committed to the Opec+ agreement and its existing monthly production adjustment mechanism,†affirmed Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, in a statement to Emirates News Agency (WAM). “The UAE believes in the value the Opec+ agreement brings ...
Read More »Masdar City, Mashreq join forces to support start-ups and SMEs
ABU DHABI / WAM Masdar City and Mashreq Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide financial services to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups based in the City. This will include easy access to NeoBiz, the bank’s first digital banking platform designed specifically for start-ups and SMEs. The MoU was signed by Abdulla Balalaa, Executive ...
Read More »Ramadan ’22: Sheikh Mohammed announces one billion meals drive
DUBAI / WAM HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of the “One Billion Meals†campaign to secure food aid for vulnerable communities in 50 countries. Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the campaign is an expansion of the UAE’s ...
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