Amid the global economic downturn linked to the pandemic, Qatar was able to draw on its strong track record of fiscal surpluses and its robust sovereign credit rating to fund an integrated and effective policy response that alleviated the most severe pressures on vulnerable businesses and households, and maintained economic stability.
More than a year after the initial onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Gulf banking sector is seeing an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), as lenders continue to deal with the economic fallout.
With liquidity levels strong and earnings solid, international ratings agencies and the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) have expressed confidence in the financial stability of the country’s banks, though external pressures remain.
While the banking and financial services sector in Qatar continues to be a significant source of growth in the country, recently released figures for the first half of the year suggest a mixed picture for industry earnings.
Two years ago, when the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) was upgraded from “frontier” to “emerging” market status, many rightly heralded this as a major step forward for the state’s capital markets.
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