After a banner year in 2014, Qatar’s capital markets endured a period of volatility in 2015. The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) ended 2015 down around 15% on the previous year, according to data from the exchange. Market participants and observers alike attributed the drop to fluctuating investor sentiment linked to the continued decline of energy...
After half a decade of strong growth, Qatar’s banking sector is well positioned to weather regional economic volatility in 2016. As of the end of the first half of 2015 the country was home to the third-largest banking industry in the GCC, boasting total assets of $293bn. The sector consists of 18 institutions, including six domestic...
The banking sector has seen steady, robust credit growth in recent years, even as macroeconomic indicators throughout the GCC have signalled a challenging period ahead. From end-2010 through December 2015 bank loans in Qatar expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19%, according to figures from Qatar Central Bank (QCB). By the end...
During her visit to Qatar in late November 2015, Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the IMF, issued a statement endorsing the regulatory work carried out by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in recent years. “Substantial progress has been made on enhancing financial sector regulation, including adopting the international regulatory...
After facing setbacks in 2015, Qatar’s multi-billion-dollar sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), is implementing a new strategy aimed at diversifying its asset base and restructuring its internal operations, with an increased focus on investments in the US and Asia. As the state continues to grapple with volatile energy markets and the declining...
Although Qatar continues to enjoys a healthy trade surplus, benefitting from its position as a critical energy supplier to a number of countries worldwide, export revenues in 2015 were dramatically affected by falling oil and gas prices, while the state’s import bill continues to rise as a result of major infrastructure construction and rapid...
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