Financial Services

Insurers in Brunei Darussalam are aiming to increase penetration rates in a number of key segments of their industry, looking to boost growth in what is already a highly competitive operating environment. However, to do so they will likely need to lift the sector’s profile among their potential client base.

Activity in Saudi Arabia’s capital markets is expected to increase next year, as companies look to broaden their corporate base and support expansion programmes by going public or seeking funds from bond markets.

El Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (BCRP) recientemente redujo su tasa de interés de referencia por vez primera en más de dos años. La decisión vino tras los primeros esfuerzos por impulsar los préstamos mediante la reducción de los requisitos de reserva de los bancos, una política que produjo apenas resultados modestos.

Lenders in Thailand are expected to adopt a cautious position in the coming months, keeping a close watch on household debt levels and monitoring the local economy’s return to growth following a contraction earlier this year.

Over the past six years, Kenya has posted significant growth in mobile phone financial services, and the medium-term outlook looks equally encouraging as operators move to offer traditional banking products such as savings accounts and loans. With the sector gradually converging with conventional financial services, the central bank is moving to strengthen its regulatory oversight, which could alter market dynamics.