Mirroring a trend seen across the Gulf, two Qatari lenders announced the country’s first bank merger in 2019. In April of that year Barwa Bank and International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) announced the finalisation of negotiations and clearance of regulatory requirements necessary to consolidate operations. The merged entity, which operates as Barwa...
Islamic financial services (IFS) are playing an increasingly important role in Qatar’s economy, and the sector is poised for growth as the gas-rich country continues to invest in infrastructure and the expansion of its energy sector. In 2019 the country’s first bank merger, between Barwa Bank and conventional lender International Bank of Qatar...
Qatari capital markets continue to play a major role in the national economy despite a gradual slowdown brought about by the slowing pace of infrastructure investment in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Nonetheless, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) enjoyed a strong year in 2019, following on from the previous year, in which it was the best...
The use of sophisticated algorithms in wealth management is leading to improved efficiency and transparency in the financial services sector, benefitting both providers and clients. In particular, so-called robo-advisory firms are disrupting the industry and helping to boost financial inclusion. Primarily concentrated in developed markets such...
The first cryptocurrency transaction in history was feted in just two words: “Running Bitcoin”, which came in the form of a tweet on January 11, 2009 by Hal Finney, a US software developer. Some 10 years and over 1600 initial coin offerings later, the world of crypto-, virtual and other digital currencies looks to have provoked an active...
Against a backdrop of sluggish global economic growth and ongoing tensions in the region, Qatar’s banking sector is proving to be strong and resilient, with growth in assets and profits reported by nearly all of the country’s listed institutions at the end of 2019.
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